San Sebastian’s Perlak Section to Feature Films by Coppola, Sorrentino, and More from 13 Countries
The 2024 San Sebastian International Film Festival’s Perlak section promises an impressive lineup, with 13 films by internationally renowned directors vying for the City of Donostia/San Sebastian Audience Award. The section will showcase films that have already garnered acclaim at major festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Annecy, making this year’s competition particularly fierce.
The Perlak section will open with "Emilia Pérez," a film directed by Jacques Audiard. This feature, which earned the Jury Prize at the last Cannes Film Festival, centers on a Mexican cartel leader who undergoes a gender transition. Audiard’s work is already well-known at San Sebastian, with a history of accolades from previous festivals, including the Palme d’Or for "Dheepan" (2015).
Andrea Arnold, another prominent name in this year's Perlak lineup, will present her film "Bird." Known for her unique storytelling style, Arnold’s latest work tells the story of a young girl navigating life in a North Kent squat. Arnold is a three-time Jury Prize winner at Cannes and will be competing with her latest work after previously premiering "Cow" (2021) as a Cannes Premiere.
The competition will also feature "Anora," the latest film from Sean Baker, who won the Palme d’Or at Cannes for this project. Baker's film follows the complex life of a young sex worker in Brooklyn who marries into wealth, only to face challenges from her new in-laws.
Among the notable entries is Francis Ford Coppola’s epic film "Megalopolis," which competed in the latest Cannes edition. Coppola, a legendary figure in cinema, has a long history with the San Sebastian Festival, where he won the Golden Shell in 1969 for "The Rain People." "Megalopolis" is his latest ambitious project, exploring a futuristic conflict between progress and tradition in a reimagined America.
The Perlak section will also include Adam Elliot’s animated feature "Memoir of a Snail," which won the Cristal for Best Feature Film at the Annecy Festival. Elliot's film is a poignant tale of loneliness and self-discovery, marking another milestone in his career, which includes the Oscar-winning short "Harvie Krumpet."
Other significant entries include "The Substance" by Coralie Fargeat, a film that explores the implications of a revolutionary beauty product; "All We Imagine as Light" by Payal Kapadia, a narrative on trauma and healing set in Mumbai; and "Ainda Estou Aqui" by Walter Salles, which delves into the political turmoil of 1970s Brazil.
The Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof will compete with "Daney Anjir Maabed / The Seed of the Sacred Fig," a film that portrays the psychological strain on a judge during Tehran’s political unrest. Rasoulof’s previous works have earned him prestigious awards, including the Golden Bear for "There Is No Evil" (2020).
“Oh Canada,” directed by Paul Schrader, will bring a deeply reflective tale of memory and repentance to the competition, while Paolo Sorrentino’s “Parthenope” will add an epic narrative that spans decades, focusing on themes of love and freedom.
In addition to the 13 competition films, three films will be screened out of competition: "Marco," directed by Jon Garaño and Aitor Arregi, "The Wild Robot" by Chris Sanders, and "Maria Callas: Letters and Memories" by Tom Volf and Yannis Dimolitsas. "Marco" will close the Perlak section, portraying the intriguing life of Enric Marco, a man who falsely claimed to be a Holocaust survivor.
The Perlak section’s films will be judged by the festival audience, with the City of Donostia/San Sebastian Audience Award offering substantial prizes. The Best Film Award carries a prize of €50,000, while the Best European Film Award offers €20,000, both of which go to the films' distributors in Spain.
This year’s Perlak section not only celebrates cinema from around the world but also showcases the diversity and richness of storytelling in contemporary filmmaking. With contributions from veteran directors and fresh voices alike, the competition is set to be a highlight of the San Sebastian Festival.
Selected Films:
- “Emilia Pérez” / Jacques Audiard / France
- “Bird” / Andrea Arnold / UK
- “Anora” / Sean Baker / USA
- “Megalopolis” / Francis Ford Coppola / USA
- “Memoir of a Snail” / Adam Elliot / Australia
- “The Substance” / Coralie Fargeat / UK
- “All We Imagine as Light” / Payal Kapadia / France-India-Netherlands-Luxembourg
- “Ainda Estou Aqui” / Walter Salles / Brazil-France
- “Daney Anjir Maabed / The Seed of the Sacred Fig” / Mohammad Rasoulof / Iran-Germany-France
- “En Fanfare / The Marching Band” / Emmanuel Courcol / France
- “Oh Canada” / Paul Schrader / USA
- “Parthenope” / Paolo Sorrentino / Italy-France
- “Yeohaengjaui Pilyo / A Traveler’s Needs” / Hong Sangsoo / South Korea
Out of Competition:
- “Marco” / Jon Garaño, Aitor Arregi / Spain
- “The Wild Robot” / Chris Sanders / USA
- “Maria Callas: Letters and Memories” / Tom Volf, Yannis Dimolitsas / France-Italy-Greece