29/10/2002 - The "Festival of Spanish and Latin American Cinema" begins on 8 November to bolster relations up with Europe

More than 60 Spanish and South American films will be showcased in Brussels and Namur from 8-19 November during the Spanish and Latin American Festival. Organised by Intercommunication, an association whose aim is strengthening existing links between Europe’s and Latin America’s film industries, the programme includes a competition where 16 recently produced Spanish features that have never been screened in Belgium before, will try to win the “Distribution Award”, (a cash prize of Euros 3000) towards the Belgian distribution of the winning title. The films include Buñuel y la mesa del rey Salomon by Carlos Saura, Vicente Aranda’s Joan the Mad and Agustìn Dìaz Yànes’ No News from God.
Ten films from Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Cuba, Venezuela and Mexico will take part in a separate competition, where the first prize is also Euros 3000.
Ten Belgian premieres are scheduled to unroll during this festival and they include Carlos Saura’s Salome, John Malkovich’s directorial debut, The Dancer Upstairs and Argentine Juan José Campanella’s El hijo de la novia.
The very first Belgica Award will be presented to an individual from the film industry who has distinguished him or herself in promoting Spanish and Latin American films in Belgium.
The festival also includes numerous industry meetings: on 7 November the focus will be on cooperation between Europe and Latin America, while 15 November will be dedicated to the perception of Spanish cinema.
Director Jorge Coscia, the president of INCAA (the National Institute of Argentine Cinema) will be in Brussels on 20 November to meet with representatives of Europe’s Regional committees and present the Raíces programme whose goal is to build links between Argentina and its European heritage by means of cinema and audiovisual productions.

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