Thirteen Short Films from 11 Countries Compete in Nest Section at San Sebastian Festival
The San Sebastian Festival's Nest section has announced the selection of thirteen short films for its 23rd edition, chosen from an unprecedented 428 submissions—a record in the history of the international film students meeting. This year’s finalists represent a diverse array of countries, including Chile, China, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, Spain, Japan, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The selection reflects the geographical diversity, thematic richness, and stylistic innovation of emerging filmmakers worldwide.
The Nest section, organized by the San Sebastian Festival in collaboration with Tabakalera-International Centre for Contemporary Culture, is dedicated to showcasing the works of students from film schools across the globe. This initiative provides a crucial platform for the filmmakers of today and tomorrow, facilitating the exchange of ideas between students, filmmakers, industry professionals, and the general public. The event serves as both a showcase for short films and a forum for discussions on cinema, bridging the gap between academic training and the professional world.
From September 23 to 27, fourteen film students from the selected countries will gather in San Sebastian to present their works, participate in conversations with filmmakers, and engage in meetings with industry professionals. The selected short films cover a broad spectrum of themes and styles, from personal explorations of family conflict to dystopian narratives and reflections on natural spaces. These works will be judged by a jury composed of a well-known film personality and students from the participating schools. The winner will receive the NEST THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO Award, which comes with a prize of 10,000 euros.
In addition to the main competition, the Nest section is closely linked with THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO Master’s Degree in Screenwriting, a collaboration that was established last year. This partnership ensures the participation of ten students from the Master’s program in all Nest activities, including screenings, talks, and masterclasses. A new feature this year is the opportunity for the fourteen finalists to engage in professional meetings with executives from THE MEDIAPRO STUDIO, providing them with invaluable insights and networking opportunities within the industry.
Since its inception in 2002, the Nest section has been a cornerstone of the San Sebastian Festival's strategy to promote new talent. Over the years, it has welcomed more than 1,000 young filmmakers and showcased over 380 short films. The section has also hosted around a hundred masterclasses and conversations with industry professionals, including notable figures such as Céline Sciamma, Alexander Payne, and Christian Petzold. Nest has been the starting point for many filmmakers who have gone on to achieve international recognition, such as Raven Jackson, Kiro Russo, and Laura Wandel.
In celebration of this legacy, the Tabakalera Medialab Studio will host a non-stop screening of all past award-winning short films in the history of the Nest section. This event is open to the public, offering free entry to those interested in exploring the works of some of the most promising filmmakers of the future.
Selected Films:
- "Adiós" / José Prats / UK-Spain
- "Bona nit, rambles" / Maria Bareche, Clara Barfull / Spain
- "Chuvas de verão" / Mário Veloso / Portugal
- "El reinado de Antoine" / José Luis Jiménez Gómez / Cuba-Dominican Republic
- "El tercer paisaje" / Julen Etxebarria / Spain
- "He tong" / Ning Qian / China
- "Holy Ghost Conversation" / Kai Luo / USA-China
- "Las valgus paista metsale" / Hanna-Mirtel Paas / Estonia
- "Picnic" / Yuki Hirata / Japan
- "Si on a la nuit" / Pierre Bermond / France
- "The Slip" / Alex Sherman / USA
- "Volver a recorrer las mismas calles" / Beatriz Arias González / Chile
- "Wild Child" / Sif Lina Lambæk / Denmark