Recognition of the work of Altuna and Esnal at the grand gala that has honored the entire Basque cinema
The Basque cinema has enjoyed its great festival at the San Sebastian Film Festival. As every year, the Basque audiovisual has taken the opportunity to celebrate the past and look to the future. Moreover, at the festival that brings together a wide variety of industry workers, the Victoria Eugenia theatre, this year everyone has remembered the genocide that Israel is practising thousands of kilometres from Euskal Herria, in Palestine.
Atthe heart of the Basque Film Gala is the Zinemira Prize of Honor awarded to a prestigious name of our industry. This year it has helped us to go back 20 years, having been awarded by the directors Asier Altuna and Telmo Esnal , who marked one of the milestones of Basque cinema.
Yesterday Altuna, in full actuality, brought to the Festival the premiere ofKarmele and today, again the protagonist looking back, with the Aupa Etxebeste osped two decades ago, together with Esnal, who premiered at the Festival itself, ending a long decade without Euskera.
As the actors Iban Garate and Ramon Agirre have recalled, the comedy "Aupa Etxebeste" was a work that was stuck in the imagination of all Basques. Then, together or separately, they left us memorable fictions and documentaries that have served as a showcase for Basque culture.
Esnal and Altuna have shared it with all the artistic group that made "Aupa Etxebeste" and, even earlier, at that time "when they were young," he has dedicated the award to all those who shared the illusion.
For both of us to make films in Basque is quite natural. Of course? Cinema has always been made between families.
Basque Film Gala
Asier Altuna and Telmo Esnal, who directed "Aupa Etxebeste" 20 years ago, have received the 2025 Zinemira Award
The directors who opened the way to the Basque language have received a well-deserved tribute at the Basque Film Gala, within the framework of the San Sebastian Film Festival, where the actors Iban Garate and Ramon Agirre have been awarded the award.
The New Authors Awardawarded by EITB has been awarded to Sara Fantova. The recently released Jone, sometimes (in addition to the Zinemira section, which can be seen in the halls of the Basque Country), has been meritorious enough to mention what is expected to have a significant trajectory for the young Bilbaíno.
Unai Iparragirre , director of ETB, has awarded the award to the beginner, who has valued the success of Basque and Basque production and congratulated the entire sector: "You are ambassadors of our country, our customs and our reality and our language around the world."
Fantova 's work has deepened her edadism and family relations. Aware of the need for "trust and support" in the beginnings of new ways, especially in the making of a film, she has thanked those who allow her to make her way, from the family to the popular movement such as the Bilboko Konpartsak.
Basque Film Gala
Sara Fantovas, director of "Jone, sometimes" has won the EITB New Authors Award
EiTB rewards authors who have a long way to go at the annual Basque Film Gala, and this year its first work has been for the bilbaine filmmaker who brought it to the cinemas. He has thanked all those who have given him "confidence and support."
Sara Cozarand Joseba Apaolazahave remembered a series of facts that make this Festival historic and that we have been thinking about throughout the week: a total of 38 Basque productions; 25 in Basque and three of them in the Official Section (with the participation of EITB); and for the first time a series in Basque in the main section of the festival: Zeru ahoak.
The SGAE Awardfor the Best Screenplay of the Year has been for Borja Cobeaga for "The Aitas." The Donostiarra has promised to continue writing films but will not stop directing them.
President Alfonso Benegas has awarded the EZAE Award to the most successful film at the box office,Infiltrada . Director Arantxa Etxebarria has dedicated the award to the producers themselves, whose producer has assumed the recognition offered by the public, a broad audience.
The world of Basque cinema has also paid a great tribute to Aintzane Perez de Palomar, who has been involved in the production of so many films.
Before delivering all the awards and opening the way to the tributes, the audience has been stunned by the ZETAK group. That was the big surprise of this year. Pello Reparaz has brought to the world of cinema a show about myths gathered at the Victoria Eugenia theater.
Basque Film Gala
Myths also rooted in Basque cinema, in the hands of ZETAK
The beginning of the Great Basque Film Gala has been a surprise. Joaldunak, Pello Reparaz and Yune Nogeiras have brought a small part of the Mitoaroa show to the Victoria Eugenia theatre.
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