Spanish Film Festival – It’s Fiesta Time!
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It’s fiesta time with the return of the Spanish Film Festival! Lovers of world cinema should be delighted with the curated program of 30 of the finest new movies and a retrospective of 9 movies from Spain and Latin America.
The Spanish Film Industry is quite similar to those of the French and Italian film industries, except the main difference is that the Spanish produce broader based films.
“The Spanish film industry has these deep connections with Latin America and they’re also co-producing films together,” explained CEO of Palace Cinemas, Benjamin Zeccola. “They have a culturally rich context and a really wonderful diversity to them. The geographical spread and basis for storytelling is much broader in the Spanish Film industry.”
Locally produced Spanish speaking films fare well in their home countries up against the big blockbusters from Hollywood. The movies are often remade from Argentinian Spanish to Mexican Spanish as audiences prefer to watch films in their own accent.
“That’s quite a phenomenon and they are very popular. That’s why there are 500 – 600 Spanish speaking films produced each year, but when you whittle it down to the crème del la crème and really focus on films like in our festivals, the top 20 or 30 new films are of really high quality.”
Zeccola enthused that this is the most exciting Spanish Film Festival to date as the lineup is simply extraordinary with so many great films.
“From the opening night film called The Movie Teller to the centerpiece event called The Teacher Who Promised The Sea, the movies are so moving and so beautiful. They’ve won awards all over the world and it’s a stunning lineup!”
A standout movie not to be missed is a drama called Something Is About To Happen and when Zeccola was asked to divulge what happens in this movie he laughed, “I am not going to spoil it!” He describes this film as a surreal black comedy thriller which delves on an IT worker who loses her job and decides from then to only work for herself.
“She grabs the proverbial Spanish bull by the horns and wrestles a journey out of life. She’s an inspirational character and it’s a love story and a revenge tale.”
Comedy drama Just One Small Favour is a clash of classes. When the maid to a very rich family passes away, she asks just one small favour. Chaos, comedy and drama follow when the favour is revealed, questions are asked, and secrets come out.
When asked whether non-Spanish speaking movie goers should attend this film festival Zeccola was adamant – a definite yes. “It would be like travelling through Spain and Latin America through the festival. Two hours of immersion, the films are subtitled, and it would be a shame to miss out on such magnificent entertainment.”
ZECCOLA’S HOT PICKS
THE MOVIE TELLER – A beautiful award-winning film with an all-star cast including Berenice Bejo who starred in the multi–Academy Award winning The Artist. It’s moving and touching in the same way as Cinema Paradiso was.
THE TEACHER WHO PROMISED THE SEA – Set in 1930’s regional Spain this drama delves on a teacher whose innovative teaching methods anger the conservative elements of society. Based on a true story and traverses the past and present.
UN AMOR – A story of bittersweet love and power in rural Spain. A woman who escapes city life to a small village experiences hostility from her landlord. Is it possible for a devouring passion to endure?
Jun 19 – Jul 10. All Palace Cinemas.
www.spanishfilmfestival.com
