Special attention is paid each year to a geographical area that has distinguished itself for the quality of its recent film productions. Priority is given to countries, regions, border or peripheral areas far from the world’s most important political and cultural centres and, in this context, to works that give specific prominence to social, political or linguistic minorities.
FOCUS
Focus BFFB 39 - Catalonia
Every year, the BFFB dedicates a prominent section to a region that, in some way, resonates with the identity of South Tyrol: border regions or worlds with diverse identities and/or complex histories that are not without conflict. Or simply places where this complex identity serves as a source of great cultural enrichment. This year, we are focusing on a region that embodies all of this: Catalonia. A region with a strong identity, a language spoken by millions of people, a robust economy and a remarkable cultural output. Devoting a section to Catalan cinema means focusing on one of the most dynamic regions in the European film industry in terms of production and international strategies. This year, we also wish to highlight a particular aspect of Catalan cinema: the often hybrid nature of documentary film production, which has flourished thanks in part to the training initiatives of numerous institutions. We present seven works – and various guests – which, in our view, best represent the world of documentary film we wish to highlight (works by Andrés Duque, Virginia García del Pino, José Luis Guerin and Neus Ballús) and further feature films by directors who are even more established internationally (such as Carla Simón) and/or those that are also the result of Catalan institutions’ commitment to filmmakers from other countries (such as Lav Diaz). We will also be joined by Marta Andreu, a Catalan cosmopolitan, shaman and philosopher of documentary film, who will give a performance.
Curated by Vincenzo Bugno with the support of Isona Admetlla Font and Ricardo Apilánez.
Carelia: Internacional con monumento (Carelia: Interantional with moument) by Andrés Duque
ESP 2019, 90 min.
La estafa del amor (The romance scam) by Virginia García del Pino
ESP 2023, 73 min. – International premiere
Historias del Buen Valle (Good Valley Stories) by José Luis Guerín
ESP/FRA 2025, 122 min.
Magalhães (Magellan) by Lav Diaz
PRT/ESP/PHL/FRA/TWN 2025, 163 min.
Sis dies corrents by Neus Ballús
ESP 2021, 85 min.
Tardes de soledad by Albert Serra
ESP/PRT/FRA 2025, 125 min.
This project was made possible thanks to the support of Acción Cultural Española (AC/E) and a contribution from the Spanish Embassy in Italy.