Eight Films Compete for the Euskadi Basque Country 2030 Agenda Award at the San Sebastián Film Festival (Spain)

San Sebastian International Film Festival

The 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival, held in Spain, will highlight global sustainability efforts with its Euskadi Basque Country 2030 Agenda Award. Eight films from the official programme are in competition for this prestigious prize, which recognizes works that best represent the values of sustainability and solidarity in alignment with the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The competing films hail from a range of countries including Argentina, Brazil, the UK, Spain, France, and Turkey, covering a variety of themes that reflect the pressing issues of our time. These include precarious employment, migration, prison systems, feminist struggles, the end-of-life experience, nature, and threats to democracy.

Three of the films are part of the Official Selection: "Soy Nevenka" (Icíar Bollaín, Spain), "On Falling" (Laura Carreira, UK/Portugal), and "Le dernier souffle" (Costa-Gavras, France/Greece). Other entries include "Gülizar" (Belkıs Bayrak, Turkey/Kosovo) from the New Directors section, and three films from Horizontes Latinos: "Reas" (Lola Arias, Argentina), "Sujo" (Astrid Rondero and Fernanda Valadez, Mexico), and "Cidade; Campo" (Juliana Rojas, Brazil/Germany/France). Lastly, "Ainda estou aqui" (Walter Salles, Brazil/France), which recently received the Best Screenplay Award at the Venice Film Festival, will be screened in the Perlak section.

The jury, presided over by actor and director Juan Diego Botto, includes screenwriter Alicia Luna and Asier Aranbarri, the Director of Social Innovation with the Basque Government. The winner of the Euskadi Basque Country 2030 Agenda Award will be announced during a ceremony on Thursday, September 27 at the Tabakalera Prism, followed by a reception for the media, film industry representatives, and the public. Attendees who have tickets to any of the eight films in competition will be able to participate.

The San Sebastián Festival's connection to the 2030 Agenda is now in its third year. The award, accompanied by a 20,000 euro prize, aims to raise awareness about the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a UN initiative designed to create a fairer, more sustainable world by 2030. The goals target a wide range of global challenges, from reducing inequality and promoting social inclusion to combating climate change and ensuring universal access to health and education.

In addition to the award, the festival will host several discussions aligned with the 2030 Agenda values. A talk on September 23 will focus on "Production from a Feminist and Intersectional Perspective," with notable producers and directors discussing inclusivity in the audiovisual industry. On September 24, two discussions will address the inclusion of transmasculine realities in Ibero-American cinema and the broader topic of diversity on- and off-screen. These talks, featuring professionals from different fields of film production, aim to explore how diversity can enrich storytelling and promote positive societal change.

Further conversations include filmmaker Laura Carreira's presentation of her feature debut, "On Falling," on September 26, where she will discuss the film’s production process and the role of cinema in driving social change. The same day, the festival will hold a session titled "New Narratives: The Climate Lens in Cinema," which will explore how filmmakers are using cinema to address the climate crisis through innovative, solution-oriented storytelling.

This year's festival continues to align itself with the values of the 2030 Agenda, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability, diversity, and social inclusion both on-screen and behind the scenes.

Films in Competition for the Euskadi Basque Country 2030 Agenda Award:

1. "Soy Nevenka" ("I Am Nevenka") / Icíar Bollaín / Spain
2. "On Falling" / Laura Carreira / UK - Portugal
3. "Le dernier souffle" ("Last Breath") / Costa-Gavras / France
4. "Gülizar" ("Gulizar") / Belkıs Bayrak / Turkey - Kosovo
5. "Reas" / Lola Arias / Argentina - Germany - Switzerland
6. "Sujo" / Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez / Mexico - USA - France
7. "Cidade; Campo" / Juliana Rojas / Brazil - Germany - France
8. "Ainda estou aqui" ("I'm Still Here") / Walter Salles / Brazil - France