OVER FIFTY FILMMAKERS GATHER IN THE CAPITAL OF ALTO ARAGÓN TO DEFEND THE 79 SHORT FILMS COMPETING FOR THE DANZANTE AWARDS, QUALIFYING FOR THE OSCARS.
CARMEN BARRANTES AND JORGE USÓN WILL BE THE HOSTS OF THE INAUGURAL GALA (JUNE 9TH, 9 PM), WHERE THE CIUDAD DE HUESCA CARLOS SAURA AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO PABLO LARRAÍN AND THE PEPE ESCRICHE AWARD TO VENTANA SUR
Huesca will become, once again, the capital of cinema with the opening of the 51st edition of its International Film Festival on Friday, June 9th. The oldest film festival in Aragón and one of the six in Spain that qualifies for the Oscars in the short film category, starts its screenings at the Olimpia Theater. The official short film competition will begin on Saturday with two daily free screenings for all audiences (5 PM and 7:30 PM at the Olimpia Theater). A total of 79 films will compete to win one of the three Danzante Awards on June 17th, which comes with a prize of 5,000 euros for each winner, along with the preselection for the most prestigious awards in the film industry: the Oscars.
The Official Section of the festival has doubled the presence of filmmakers this year, with over fifty directors from all around the world coming to Huesca to present their works to the audience. This edition stands out for the significant weight of debut films, reaching a total of 36, which demonstrates the higher level of emerging filmmakers and the notable importance of the festival as a launching platform for their careers. “These are very important figures. They show the global appeal of Huesca within the cinema industry. Any filmmaker knows that winning an award here can be a definitive boost to their career,” says Estela Rasal, who takes the helm of the festival for the first time after a decade on the management committee.
CARMEN BARRANTES AND JORGE USÓN AS MASTERS OF CEREMONIES
The first event will be the inaugural gala (9:00 PM and broadcasted by Aragón TV) hosted by Max Award winners Carmen Barrantes and Jorge Usón. Under the esteemed direction of Elena Gómez, the artistic director of Zazurca Artes Escénicas, the ceremony will feature live music and dance, along with a scenography that will pay tribute to one of the greatest figures of Spanish culture: the Huesca-born maestro Carlos Saura. The evening will revolve around the awards for Pablo Larraín and Ventana Sur and will include a well-deserved tribute to Carlos Saura himself, which will be presented to his widow Eulalia Ramón and his daughter Anna Saura, before the screening of Spencer, the latest film by the Chilean director, which explores a crucial moment in the life of Lady Di and earned its lead actress, Kristen Stewart, an Oscar nomination.
On June 13, one of the most renowned performers of Ibero-American cinema: Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, winner of the Luis Buñuel Award will walk the red carpet. Barrantes and Usón will once again be the masters of ceremonies, but for this occasion they will count with the invaluable comedy talent of Alfonso Palomares and Kike Lera. The day will be completed with the projection of a special session of short films starring the interpreter of titles such as Boca a Boca, Volaverunt, Jealousy and A walk in the Clouds; a lesser-known facet of this actress but one that fits perfectly with the roots of the Huesca film event.
The 51st edition of the Huesca International Film Festival will offer a rich and inclusive program for all audiences, featuring premieres, workshops, exhibitions, parallel sections, activities for children and adults, as well as a strong professional component that takes on particular significance this year and will shape the city’s cultural life for nine days. Alongside established highlights and proposals, there will also be the return of some events that couldn’t be included in the program due to the pandemic, such as “Gastrocine,” which will take place on Sunday, June 11th at Espacio Altoaragón (10:00 PM), a session of showcooking accompanied by short films, this year featuring chefs Luciano Nanni, one of the leading figures of the New Rosarian Gastronomy, and Iris Jordán, the representative of Alto Aragón at Madrid Fusión, who won the best tapa in the province last year.
LUISA GAVASA, PROTAGONIST OF THE VIOLET EVENINGS
The world of cinema will take the streets of the town on Thursday, June 8th, with actress Luisa Gavasa. The renowned Aragonese performer will be the guest of honor at the Violet Evenings: an open-air event in collaboration with the Aragon Institute for Women, which returns to its original format prior to the pandemic in San Pedro Square (10 PM / In case of rain, it will be moved to Bendita Ruina).
The gathering will bring the audience together with the winner of the Goya Award for La Novia, allowing them to delve into her career through a compilation of audiovisual and graphic material. The spectators will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about her successful career and anecdotes, as well as ask any question in a close and intimate atmosphere.
Luisa Gavasa has an innate talent for film, theater, and television, as recognized by directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Agustí Villaronga, José Luis Garci, Julio Medem, and Javier Fesser. Among her most notable roles, in addition to the aforementioned work by Paula Ortiz, are Para Entrar a Vivir. Miau, Incierta Gloria, De tu Ventana a la mía, and memorable television series like Amar en Tiempos Revueltos, El último Show, and Las Chicas del Cable.
