After two years marked by the restrictions of the pandemic, the San Sebastian Festival is finally breathing a long-awaited normality to properly celebrate its 70 years of activity. From today until next Saturday, September 24, the San Sebastian event will host nearly 200 films, of which 17 will compete for the long-awaited Golden Shell.
Four of them are Spanish and have drama as a common element: Suro, by Basque director Mikel Gurrea, about a couple of urbanites who move to the countryside and a conflict breaks out there; La maternal, by Pilar Palomero, who delves into the life of a minor who is a single mother; Wild Sunflowers, by Jaime Rosales, about a young mother who struggles to find emotional stability and The Rite of Spring, in which Fernando Franco naturally approaches the figure of the sexual assistant.
Other names that will fight for the grand prize are Sebastián Lelio, Diego Lerman, Marco Martins, Christophe Honoré, Laura Mora, Hong Sang-soo or the Austrian Ulrich Seidl, who has raised controversy with his Sparta, canceled in Toronto after arising suspicions of exploitation and mistreatment of minors during filming. There will be more Spanish cinema like the inaugural Modelo 77, already out of competition, with Alberto Rodríguez directing some prisoners who fight for their rights during the Transition.
Paco León will premiere his review of the Wizard of Oz in Rainbow at the Velodrome and will present the opening gala together with actress Loreto Mauleón. There will also be a documentary about Joaquín Sabina Feeling it a lot, by Fernando León de Aranoa. Rodrigo Sorogoyen will make an impact with As bestas and Juan Diego Botto will do the same with the drama about evictions In the margins, which marks his debut behind the camera. And Isabel Coixet will address in El sostre groc the sexual abuse committed in the Aula de Teatre de Lleida between 2001 and 2008.
Juliette Binoche and David Cronenberg, recipients of the Donostia award, will walk the red carpet. Penélope Cruz will receive the National Film Award, and Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger will land in San Sebastián to present Marlowe , the film that will close the competition.
From the Perlak section, among others, Alejandro G. Iñárritu, the Dardenne brothers, Hirokazu Koreeda and François Ozon will be present. Glenn Close, who was to preside over the official section jury, will be dismissed due to a “family emergency” and his place will be taken by Argentine producer Matías Mosteirín.
