TRIBUTE TO NEW SPANISH CINEMA

The main homage of the 48th edition of the Thessaloniki International Film Festival will focus on New Spanish Cinema, showcasing films that have been produced from the period between 2003 and 2007. "It is now the ideal time for the Thessaloniki Film Festival to present the new wave of Spanish filmmaking. This new generation of filmmakers represents the direct continuation of a long and weighty cinematic tradition that has translated into a booming and creative film industry in the 21st century", notes Festival director Despina Mouzaki.

"Through the work of directors such as Fernando Leon de Aranoa, Isabel Coixet and Alex de la Iglesia among many others, commercial narrative moviemaking in Spain has attained a successful balance with the clear auteur identity of its filmmakers. Film sales are on a constant climb from 2005, many new sales agents establish companies in order to support the demand of the industry and significant changes in government policy rush to the aid of Spain's national cinema. It is a film industry at its most creative and most productive. The 48th TIFF will offer to its ever-curious audience the opportunity to experience its variety", adds Despina Mouzaki. With a total of 18 films to be shown at the 48th TIFF Tribute to New Spanish Cinema, one of which is a documentary, the fresh and innovative artistic powers-at-play of the Spanish film industry are represented through their diverse work.

The Spanish filmmakers attending will not only present to and discuss their films with the audience, but will also conduct a series of open-to-the public Master Classes and Round Table discussions dealing with the cinema of Spain. Javier Bardem, one of the most esteemed actors of his generation and major force of the Spanish cinema, has been invited to attend the 48th TIFF to support the film Invisibiles, which he has produced. In addition, the Festival will produce a publication to accompany the tribute, which will be edited by the team of Cahiers du Cinema Espana, under the supervision of leading film critic Carlos F. Heredero. In the Festival's commitment and effort to showcase a well-rounded image of the New Spanish Cinema, significant are the collaborations with Instituto Cervantes, the Spanish Embassy in Greece, as well as Spain's Ministry of Culture - ICAA (Instituto de la Cinematografia y de las Artes Audiovisuales).

THE FILMS OF THE TRIBUTE TO NEW SPANISH CINEMA 2003 TE DOY MIS OJOS, Iciar Bollain 2004 ASTRONAUTAS, Santi Amodeo CRIMEN FERPECTO, Alex de la Iglesia 2005 LA VIDA SECRETA DE LAS PALABRAS, Isabel Coixet LA DOBLE VIDA DEL FAQUIR, Esteve Riambau & Elisabet Cabeza SUD EXPRESS, Chema de la Pena EL TAXISTA FUL, Jo Sol QUINCE DIAS CONTIGO, Jesus Ponce PRINCESAS, Fernando Leon de Aranoa 2006 DIES D'AGOST, Marc Recha LO QUE SE DE LOLA, Javier Rebollo HONOR DE CABALLERIA, Albert Serra FICCIO, Cesc Gay 2007 INVISIBLES, Javier Corcuera, Fernando Leon de Aranoa, Wim Wenders, Isabel Coixet & Mariano Barroso EL ORFANATO, Juan Antonio Bayona LA SOLEDAD, Jaime Rosales YO, Rafa Cortes LA NOCHE DE LOS GIRASOLES, Jorge Sanchez Cabezudo.