04/02/2015 - With the Ikusmira Berriak programme, in conjunction with other Basque institutions, the gathering is promoting production, new cinematic languages and training through four residency fellowships

José Luis Rebordinos (second from the left), at the Ikusmira Berriak presentation

Starting yesterday, 3 February, and up until 1 April this year, hopefuls will be able to present creative audiovisual projects in order to gain access to one of the grants offered by the Ikusmira Berriak programme, promoted by the San Sebastián Film Festival, Tabakalera-International Centre for Contemporary Culture, Capital of Culture (DSS2016), Donostia Kultura and the Basque Film Library Foundation. The individuals selected will live in Tabakalera de Donosti in San Sebastian and will receive support to help them to bring their projects to fruition; this aid could encompass production or cinematic language, as well as screening for the film or training.

The call for entries is aimed at new filmmakers and innovative audiovisual projects in the Basque Country, as well as at people taking part in one of the initiatives that are already under way, such as the Kimuak selection of short films, the Labo annual screening (the selection of experimental shorts at the French Clermont-Ferrand Festival) and the International Film Students Meeting (EIECINE), which takes place during the film gathering in San Sebastian.

Those interested in applying should sign up and propose their ideas via the initiative’s website. The result will be made public in May 2015: one project will be selected in each of the above groups, plus another for Basque directors, and the people behind the projects will all be signed up for the San Sebastián Film Festival on 21 September. The chosen few will be able to participate in the gathering’s industry activities and in the EIECINE master classes.

After this, the four selected individuals will develop their ideas, over one month, in the Tabakalera facilities. Once this period has elapsed, they will present the result at a pitching session in front of Basque production outfits, and if the companies accept them, they will be awarded post-production aid. The finished works that come out of this initiative will be screened in the various sections of the San Sebastián Film Festival. 

(Translated from Spanish)