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 programme of the 56th edition of the Gijón/Xixón International Film Festival presents as its principal new feature launch of the CROSSROADS –Zinemaldia | FICX cycle.
The main reason for establishing this synergy, as well as the geographical and historical ties connecting the two cities and their festivals, is to find alternatives to a problem which has appeared in recent years: The reduction in options for the screening of relevant films due to the rise in demand for exclusivity of content by international film festivals.
Thus, instead of fostering the competitiveness between festivals with a view to obtaining national and international premieres, the San Sebastian Festival and the Gijón/Xixón International Film Festival have decided to launch common spaces for cooperation to help foster the knowledge and circulation of especially interesting film works.
That, therefore, is what will be offered by the CROSSROADS - ZINEMALDIA | FICX cycle: A carefully-made selection of films coinciding with the programming lines of both festivals, and a window of collaboration enabling the joining of forces with the aim of increasing the visibility of key works for understanding contemporary cinema.
Thanks to this initiative, the audience at the 56th edition of the FICX will be able to enjoy five outstanding titles from among the films released worldwide in 2018, selected by the San Sebastian Festival. Part of the cycle contents will be revealed during the San Sebastian Festival, to run from September 21-29.