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).
A new edition of the San Sebastián Film Festival begins today. Nine days packed with film scree nings, industry activities, meetings, forums and round tables, opportunities to meet people and to enjoy the talent of personalities from all over the world, who are getting together in San Sebastián for a few days.
A film festival provides the opportunity to watch films and for these to get seen by the media and for the film public to be able to enjoy the very best in cinema.
The present is important for our festival. The films that are made as a reflection of reality and that address subjects that citizens are concerned about are important. What is also im portant is the kind of cinema that is simply entertainment, and gives us the chance to get swept up in the stories that they tell us and that take us off to all kinds of different worlds.
However, it is also important to learn from the past, be cause the past helps us to understand the present. That is why, as usual, there will be screenings of classic films and a retrospective devoted this year to Italian crime films.
Last but not least we will also be looking towards the future and supporting new filmmakers. One of our sections, Nest, focuses on film students, and the New Directors section will be showing us the first and second films by directors from all over the world. Many of them will be back in San Sebastián in the next few years with their latest films or will take part in the major festival circuit.
This first day is one that we are really looking forward to here at the Festival management. We hope that all of you that are taking part will have some really good times and will get a lot out of it.
Let’s all go to the cinema!
José Luis Rebordinos.
Director of the SSIFF