Z365" or "Festival all year round" is the new strategic point of the Festival in which converge investigation, accompaniment and development of new talents (Ikusmira Berriak, Nest); training and cinematic knowledge transfer (Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola, Zinemaldia + Plus, Filmmakers' dialogue); and investigation, disclosure and cinematic thought (Z70 project, Thought and Discussion and Research and publications).
José Ángel Herrero-Velarde of the Festival Management Committee confirmed that now that the Pearls and Specials sections no longer formed part of Zabaltegi, it remained what it had always been: “a rich, colourful, varied section with no formal rules or limitations of any kind.” Last year the New Directors section of first or second films also split off from Zabaltegi for the first time, and this year its seventeen films are competing for the Kutxa New Directors Award and the Desigual Youth Award.
The Pearls section has also now struck out on its own with a selection of some of the most critically acclaimed films not yet released in Spain that are opting for the Wuaki TV Audience Award. There is no change however in the traditional get-togethers at the Sala Club in the Victoria Eugenia where directors, actors and producers can discuss their work with the audience.