Zinemira-Basque Film Showcase to feature five premieres

For the second year running, Zinemira-Basque Film Showcase will propose an overview of the most interesting Basque movies produced in the last 12 months, with an overriding presence of non-fiction films.

Zinemira-Basque Film Showcase is a section organised by the San Sebastian Festival and the Basque Government Department of Culture. It is sponsored by EITB (the Basque TV and radio network) and includes the collaboration of the producers'' associations Ibaia and APV. This section is part of the Festival''s general programme and will run for the entire length of the edition.

The section is structured into Premieres - worldwide releases - and Films of the Year. Zinemira''s signature event is the Basque Film Gala, at which the Zinemira Award will be presented to one of Basque cinema''s outstanding personalities.

Furthermore, the Zinemira programme will include the first screening of the new Kimuak 2010 catalogue, encompassing a selection of the best Basque shorts of the year. Kimuak is a Basque Government programme managed by the Filmoteca Vasca devoted to the international promotion and diffusion of Basque short films. This event is exclusively open to professionals.

Basque Film Gala and Zinemira Award

The Basque Film Gala will take place at the Victoria Eugenia Theatre on September 22nd. The film Prohibido recordar/ Debekatuta dago oroitzea (To Remember is Forbidden) directed by Txaber Larreategi and Josu Martínez, will enjoy its premiere at this event.

Actor Álex Angulo will receive the Zinemira Award 2010, a yearly homage to the career of a Basque movie personality, at the Basque Film Gala in the Victoria Eugenia Theatre. Álex Angulo (Erandio, 1953) is one of the Basque Country''s most popular actors. His career began in 1971 with the independent theatre group Cómicos de la Legua in Bilbao, before going on to join the Karraka group in 1980. He debuted in cinema with La fuga de Segovia (1981) by Imanol Uribe, Zinemira Award-winner in 2009. With his great friend Álex de la Iglesia, he shot El día de la bestia in 1995, a part for which he bagged a Goya nomination as Best Actor. From then on he started receiving scripts for film, television and theatre. Blas Castellote, his character in the Periodistas TV series, earned him a great deal of popularity.

He is one of a handful of actors to have provided unselfish collaboration to young directors by participating in countless short films. In 2010 he will present Óscar Aibar''s El Gran Vázquez (The Great Vázquez) in the Festival''s Official Selection.

PROHIBIDO RECORDAR / DEBEKATUTA DAGO OROITZEA (TO REMEMBER IS FORBIDDEN) (Gala del Cine Vasco)Dirección: Txaber Larreategi, Josu Martínez

AMERIKANUAKDirección: Nacho ReigLA PLAZA DE LA MÚSICA (THE MUSIC SQUARE)Dirección: Juan Miguel Gutiérrez

SAGARREN DENBORA. 25 URTE DESERRITIK ITZULTZEN (APPLE TIME, 25 YEARS OF EXILE)Dirección: Josu Martínez, Txaber LarreategiIntervienen: Kristiane Etxaluz, Alfonso Etxegarai

TTAUP, TTAUP! Arraun kolpeka TTAUP, TTAUP, The Beating of the Oars) Dirección: Eneko Dorronsoro

Films of the Year

80 EGUNEAN (FOR 80 DAYS)Dirección: Jon Garaño, Jose Mari GoenagaIntérpretes: Itziar Aizpuru, Mariasun Pagoaga, Jose Ramón Argoitia, Zorion Egileor, Ane Gabarain

MUGALDEKOAK (MUGALDEKOAK-LA RED COMÈTE)Dirección: Fernando Bernués, Mireia GabilondoIntérpretes: Mireia Gabilondo, Isidoro Fernández, Matxalen de Pedro, Iñaki Beraetxe, Sara Cozar, Iñaki Ricarte

SIMPLEMENTE (SIMPLY)Dirección: Jon AnduezaIntervienen: Dani Loredo, Ana Mota, Saioa Larrea, Alberto Hermoso, Urtzi Urrutia, Iñigo Hermoso