Spanish arthousedistribbery Golem Distribucion has taken theatrical and home entertainment rights to docu-feature Bertsolari, which world preems today at San Sebastián.

Screening out of competition in fest’s Official Section, docu turns on the ancient Basque tradition of oral poets who improvise poetry in public.

AsierAltuna, co-winner of the San Sebastián youth award in 2005 for AupaEtxebeste!, a broad black comedy, directs Bertsolari, a co-production between Altuna’s own shingle Txintxua Films and Basque pubcaster ETB.

Golem aims to release BertsolariOctober 14 in Spanish theaters.DVD and VOD rights will be put through Golem-co-owned distrib Cameo and online service Filmin.

Bertsolari is the latest in a flurry of unannounced pickups, inked during the last months by the Pamplona-based exhib- distributor.

New deals mark Golem as one of Spain’s most acquisitive upscale distributors. They also continue its long tradition of picking up titles from major festtopping international auteurs.

Japanese helmer-writer HirokazuKoreeda’s drama I Wish,which Golem pre-bought from Wild Bunch, makes its European premiere in San Sebastián Official Section,competing
for fest’s Golden Shell award.

Sold by Cologne-based Match Factory, Fin Aki Kaurismaki’s French-language comedy Le Havre, a Competition standout at Cannes, screens in the Zabaltegi- Pearls section.

Acquired from Memento Films, AsgharFarhadi’sNader and Simin: A Separation - winner of the Berlinale’s Golden Bear and Iran’s submission in the foreign- language Oscar race - also screens at Zabaltegi-Pearls.

Playing in San Sebastián’sHorizontes Latinos sidebar is Chilean Cristian- Jiménez’s sophomore picBonsai, a project which Golem tracked for many months after it took the main award at March’s Films in Progress in Toulouse. Golem picked up Bonsai from France’s Rezo Films. It is produced by Bruno Bettati’sJirafa.

Many of Golem’s movie acquisitions are pre-buys.“Our editorial line makes us stay loyal to established auteurs, following very closely their new productions before they are completed,” said Golem cofounder Josetxo Moreno.

“We are very happy about our strong presence at this year’s San Sebastian,” Moreno said.“It is a great marketing platform for backing movies to be released in Spanish theaters.”

Beyond its San Sebastian screenings, Golem has also acquired Polish helmer- MalgoskaSzumowska’sElles, starring Juliette Binoche as a journalist who investigates prostitution among university students.

EMILIANO DE PABLOS