Cinema shines again at the San Sebastián festival in its most controversial edition

Until September 25

The organization ensures a safe event with an increase in films and stars

Astrid Meseguer

Saint Sebastian

The San Sebastián festival has everything ready to face a 69th edition still marked by the pandemic and restrictions but with the desire to return to a certain normality as soon as possible. The commitment of the contest directed by José Luis Rebordinos makes it clear in terms of the overwhelming cinematographic program that can be seen until September 25 –33 films and 28 more projections compared to 2020– and the presence of a large number of stars that will parade , yes, for a red carpet without an audience.

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The Zinemaldia challenges the pandemic for the second consecutive year with 33 films and 28 more screenings compared to 2020

The first will be French actress Marion Cotillard who will collect the Donostia award at tonight's opening ceremony. Penélope Cruz, brand new winner of the Volpi Cup in Venice for best actress for Parallel Mothers, will attend with Antonio Banderas to present Official Competition, the new work by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn that opens the Perlas section. Her husband, Javier Bardem, will accompany Fernando León de Aranoa to do the same with The Good Boss, one of the four Spanish films that aspire to the Golden Shell this year. The others are Maixabel, by Icíar Bollaín; The grandmother, by Paco Plaza and Who prevents it, the nearly four-hour macro-documentary by Jonás Trueba about adolescence.

Jessica Chastain, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Emmanuelle Devos, Carlos Saura, Paolo Sorrentino, Gaspar Noé, Dolores Fonzi, Louis Garrel, Vincent Lindon, Raphael, Stanley Tucci, María Valverde, Laurent Cantet, Julia Ducournau –winner of the Palme d'Or for Titane– and the Japanese filmmaker Ryusuke Hamaguchi, who will come with two jewels, Drive my car and The wheel of fortune and fantasy, are some of the familiar faces that will parade through the Kursaal.

And for a famous face that has sparked controversy, that of the American interpreter Johnny Depp, who will win the Donostia award on Wednesday 22, in recognition of his extensive career that provoked strong criticism against Zinemaldia for being immersed in a legal battle after the accusations of abuse of his ex-wife, Amber Heard. The Association of Women Filmmakers and Audiovisual Media (CIMA) questioned the choice, while Rebordinos defended the protagonist of Pirates of the Caribbean arguing that "Johnny Depp has not been arrested, accused or convicted of any form of aggression or violence against any woman".

Before, the controversy already splashed the prestigious festival for suppressing the distinction by sex in the acting award.

Criticism for the Donostia award to Johnny Depp and for not distinguishing by sex in the interpretation

Just like last year, the organization will once again guarantee safe spaces for visitors. The capacity of the Kursaal, the Victoria Eugenia Theater and the Principal Theater will be 50%, and that of the rest of the rooms 60%. The mask will be mandatory at all times and when the projection exceeds four hours, as in the case of the series La Fortuna, by Alejandro Amenábar, an FFP2 or KN95 type mask must be worn.

Nine men and seven women will compete for the Golden Shell, including the Romanian Alina Grigore and the Danish Tea Lindeburg with their first works. Precisely, the Georgian Dea Kulumbegashvili, winner in 2020 with her debut film Beginning, will act as president of a jury of the official section with a female predominance: Maite Alberdi, Susi Sánchéz, Audrey Diwan (winner of the Golden Lion for the best film for The event) and producer Ted Hope.

During the opening gala, tribute will be paid to two figures closely linked to the Festival: Luis Gasca, who was director of the festival in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and the filmmaker Bertrand Tavernier. This year, in addition, the Fipresci Grand Prize will be awarded, awarded to the Oscar-winning Nomadland, by Chloé Zhao, and the three decades that the TVE program Días de Cine has been on the air will be recognized. As in 2020, the sessions on the giant screen of the velodrome are canceled, as well as the opening and closing parties, the Basque film festival, cocktails and other social events.

The sessions on the giant screen of the velodrome are suppressed, as well as the opening and closing parties, the Basque film festival, cocktails and other social events