SPAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY, AND MEXICO ARE THE MOST REPRESENTED COUNTRIES IN THE OFFICIAL SECTION, WHICH GRANTS THE DANZANTE AWARDS, SERVING AS QUALIFIERS FOR THE HOLLYWOOD OSCARS.
HE OFFICIAL SECTION INCLUDES A TOTAL OF 30 DEBUT FILMS AND WORKS FROM SCHOOLS, AND IT ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE STRENGTH OF FEMALE FILMMAKERS, ESPECIALLY IN THE DOCUMENTARY SECTION.
“THE SELECTION FOR 2024 REFLECTS THE GLOBAL REALITY OF SHORT FILM: DIVERSE VOICES, VARIED THEMES, AND MULTIPLE COUNTRIES RESULT IN AN EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH-QUALITY LINEUP,” EXPLAINED ESTELA RASAL, DIRECTOR OF THE FESTIVAL
A total of 78 short films make up the official section of the 52nd Huesca International Film Festival. The selection, drawn from over 2,000 submissions, is divided into three competitions: 32 in the Ibero-American category, 30 in the international category, and 16 in the documentary category. The film event in Alto Aragon will showcase works from 30 countries across America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, with Spain leading the representation with 25 entries, followed by France with 11, Germany with 10, and Mexico with 6. A wide diversity of themes, authors, genres, and formats that, in the words of Estela Rasal, director of the festival, “reflects the reality of short films worldwide.”
The list includes titles that have won the Goya Award or have been recognized by prominent festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno, Sundance, and Clermont-Ferrand (winner of the Pepe Escriche Award for this 2024). A mix of directors combining established names with emerging talents; in fact, debut films and works from schools (30) represent nearly 40 percent of the total; a fact that underscores the potential of the Huesca event as a talent incubator, as well as the quality of these newcomers who raise the bar year after year for the preselection team.
The thematic kaleidoscope showcased on screen this year delves into a wide array of topics relevant to current events and recent history. Particularly noteworthy is the surge in prominence of comedy within the international category, a genre often faced with greater challenges in gaining recognition at major film festivals. Concurrently, documentaries leverage the audiovisual medium to its fullest potential, offering multifaceted perspectives on reality, with a predominant focus on the impact of war.
Female voices continue to make strides in sharing their narratives, a development especially pronounced in the Ibero-American competition, which features ten female directors, and in the documentary category, where gender parity is nearly achieved: seven films are directed by women, eight by men, and one collaboratively directed. “It’s crucial for us to hear and see everyone’s perspectives. As a festival, we’re delighted that cinema contribute to broadening our vision with the other half of the world,” Rasal asserts.
ONE OF THE SIX OSCAR-QUALIFYING FESTIVALS IN SPAIN
The Huesca International Film Festival stands as one of the six festivals in Spain accredited by The Academy in Hollywood for Oscar pre-selection. This recognition, coupled with over half a century of history, a consistently strong turnout each edition, and a prize pool exceeding €24,000, consolidates its position as a “worldwide benchmark festival, which entails both responsibility and pride,” according to its director.
The Olimpia Theater will serve as the main venue for the free competition screenings, a cultural emblem of the city where attendees can enjoy the films on the big screen, as well as engage with their creators who come from various parts of the world for their presentation. The Audience Award, sponsored by Aragón TV, will be determined by votes cast by the viewers.
In addition to the physical event, the festival offers an online format (established and maintained since 2015) to cater to those unable to travel to Huesca, effectively expanding its reach internationally. This dual approach has successfully broadened the festival’s scope while seamlessly integrating with the in-person audience experience.
