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).
The actresses Leticia Dolera and Anne Igarteburu will be hosting the opening gala tonight in the Kursaal which will be broadcast live on Spanish and Basque television as well as on the Festival web site. This year the gala will be directed by Manuel Palacios, together with Marta Murcia. He explained that this year they would be doing something really daring that had never been seen in San Sebastian before.
During the ceremony the Fipresci Grand Prix will be presented to Aki Kaurismäki, for Toivon tuolla puolen / The Other Side of Hope. The Official section jury will also be introduced and its president, the renowned actor John Malkovich, will give a short speech.
Director Wim Wenders and actress Alicia Vikander will also be at the ceremony to present Submergence, the film that will be opening the Official Section.
A new feature this year will be that the presenters will be wearing locally designed clothes to stress the Festival’s commitment to making local fashion more visible.