euskalkultura.eus

San Francisco, CA. The documentary Emak Bakia has spent this month in California first participating in the San Francisco International Film Festival and then at a special showing at the Basque Cultural Center.  On both occasions, the film was very well received, as its director told EuskalKultura.com.

The film was shown three times as part of the San Francisco International Film Festival, specifically on May 4, 5, and 6.  The director, Oskar Alegria, was present at the showings, which filled, and then participated in colloquiums that lasted nearly 40 minutes.  In the words of the Navarrese director, the reception was “tremendous,” and some spectators even came to watch it twice or even three times.  One of these was an American film critic that Alegria plans to collaborate with to organized a Basque Film Festival in Boise, Idaho.

From San Francisco, the film traveled to Vancouver where it took part in the DOXA Documentary Film Festival.  From there it returned to San Francisco for a special screening at the Basque Cultural Center.  The room filled with spectators including may Basques from Iparralde to the delight of the director.

The session began with a talk on Basque film, by Marisa Espinal, member of the Basque Educational Organization.  Following the show, Alegria spoke long and hard with the spectators, commenting on the details of this peculiar documentary that is captivating audiences and critics.  

Upcoming screenings will be:

• May 30 - June 8: Podgorica-Montenegro / Underhillfest.
•  June 3, 4, 5 and 6: Lima / Festival FIACID.
•  June 10 & 15: Sydney / Sydney International Film Festival.

For more information: here.