Basque cinemas exceeded their weight in San Sebastian, highlighting that 75% of Spanish competitive titles were either fully or partially Basque, highlighting that regional industries were considered periphery. The two flagships, Jose Mari Gonaga and Eita Alrezi’s “Masparoma” and Asier Altoona’s “Calmere” exemplify the strategies of producers Xabi Berzosa and Marian Fernández Pascal when Basque production becomes stronger.
Maspalomas, a 100% Basque production, dramatically depicts the late lifespan placed between the gay scene in Gran Canaria and the nursing home in San Sebastian. “I went to Maspaloma for the first time in 2016 and I thought this was a reality that is rarely seen in cinemas,” Goenaga told Variety. “We’ve seen movies where people come out, but it’s not about the people who decide to go back inside,” Arregi added.
For Berzosa, producer of Irusoin and founding partner of Moriarti Produkzioak, creative ambitions required gambling. “It doesn’t make sense at times, but I did it here,” he said. “When you shoot at 35mm and say “camera rolling,” everyone is 100% concentrated. Digitally, lasers tend to have less focus. The film created a different vibe and wanted it for this project. ”
Lille was almost gone missing during her transport from the Canary Islands to Madrid, but he claimed the risk was rewarded with intimacy. The fundraising was entirely Basque, but he shrugged at the symbolism. “If the A24 produces something with Basque, they still say it’s a Basque film. The key elements are language and culture.”
When “Masparoma” turns on something intimate, Altoona’s “Calmere” is a Basque historical epic, adapted from Kimen Uribe’s novel “The Hour of Waking Together.” Over decades from France, Venezuela and the Basque country in 1937, he talks about artists and love stories fake in the diaspora. “The book was so big that I was able to make a 12-episode series,” said Fernandez Pascal. “The challenge was to convey it within less than two hours of budgetary decades and continents, but I think the audience still feels an emotional and geographical journey.”
Initially planned as a broader international co-production, “Calmere” was reduced after Covid. “I realized I could make a movie without traveling before,” Fernandez Pascal said. “In the end, Basque TV, Spanish public TV, Basque government and tax incentives were decisive.” For her, working in the Basque is natural. But for us, language is not a problem. ”
San Sebastián’s lineup reflects the scope of the sector. Alongside “Maspalomas” and “Karmel”, Basques has also co-produced by Movistar Plus+, Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s Spanish word “Sundays,” and also produced by Buenapinta Media, Colosé Producciones, Saka Producciones and Encanta Films. We met a warm reception at a press conference on Monday.
The official selection title is another Movistar Plus+ feature from “Los Tigres” by Alberto Rodríguez, co-produced by Kowalski Films. And Agustin Diaz Yanez’s “She is Walks in Darkness.” This is a Netflix original produced by Jabayona through Basque-based production company Basoilarraren Filmak, which was created specifically for the film.
“Even as a minority partner, I’m more interested in collaborative production than ever,” said Fernandez Pascal. “The industry is changing very quickly. We need to maintain flexibility.”
That change has been happening for at least 20 years. “Twenty years ago, Spanish industry was absolutely focused on Madrid,” noted Belzosa. “It’s far more balanced now, and it’s healthy. It can maintain the talents of different regions, develop each area independently, and bring new directors into the system,” Fernández Pascal added. “Currently, we have financial partners with ideas from engineers, production companies, directors and screenwriters, who are committed to supporting Basque language jobs.”
While Netflix continues to invest in the original, growth has been drawn out of Tornasol, Buendia Estodios and Toboggan. Local hubs like Tabakalera and Eqze are training new generations and expanding their talent pool. This region is not one genre, not many genres, not one generation, not narrow collaboration, not vast collaboration.
However, both producers take notes of caution. “We share the same horror as Hollywood producers,” warned Belzosa. “We may lose the experience of collaborative films. Everyone is talking about the success of streaming. But we haven’t spoken enough about how to keep the entire ecosystem alive. For me, we have to start with the film.” Fernandez Pascal agreed: “Another crisis comes. But we have survived before, and we adapt.” With ambitious epics and intimate dramas lined up, Basque films never looked strong. Uncertainty remains for all momentum. Always a bumpy ride, it’s the year of the bumper.
