The anti-bullfighting have marked the start of the 72nd edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival (SSFF) with his attacks on the contest and the most valued Spanish director in other countries such as France, Albert Serrawho will premiere his new film in the Zinemaldia. The animal activists have attacked the great showcase of cinema in Spain – through which in 2024 stars of the stature of Johnny Depp, Lupita Nyong’o, Paolo Sorrentino, Pamela Anderson either Monica Bellucci– by the tape Lonely afternoons, What follows the Peruvian bullfighter during a day of work? Andrés Roca Rey. Lonely afternoons disputes the Golden Shell.
The PACMA Animalist Party has spoken out against the creative and artistic freedom of the director by requesting the Festival to withdrawal of projection because “it humanizes a violent practice.” The anti-bullfighting left insists that “this type of representation raises serious ethical concerns” and thus ignores the fact that the director has already explained that the film’s focus is mainly aesthetic. Furthermore, it is a documentary, that is, it has not incorporated animals into the production, but rather it collects real scenes that would occur with or without a camera.
The San Sebastián Festival, which starts this Friday and will celebrate its closing on September 28 with the presentation of the Donostia Prize, has not commented on the criticism from animal activists who want to ruin the premiere of Albert Serra’s film. Nor has the filmmaker responded at the moment. However, PACMA insists on a cause with which it tarnishes the top category contest.
Image from the film ‘Afternoons of Solitude’. (PHOTO: SSIFF)
Zinemaldia is the most important festival celebrated in Spain and in all the countries of speaks spanishone of the most prestigious in Europe and it is, in turn, among the only seven European festivals and the fourteen world of the highest category. It is one of the most relevant cultural events for the country, both nationally and internationally.
«No one is a prophet in his own land»
Precisely one of the last Donostia Award was Juliette Binoche (2022), which has taken advantage of several occasions of media projection in Spain to vindicate the work of Albert Serra and point out the little importance given to his work in Spain, despite its great relevance in other territories – «no one is a prophet in their land »-. The latest awards have gone to international stars such as Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench, Sigourney Weaver either Ethan Hawke. This year they will collect it Javier Bardem -who will receive it a year late since he won it in 2023, but was absent due to the actors’ strike in the United States- and Pedro Almodovar and Cate Blanchett (2024).
The official jury will be made up of the Argentine writer and journalist Leila GuerrieroAmerican actor and director Fran Kranzthe Greek filmmaker Christos Nikou -who competed last year in the Official Section-, the Austrian director Ulrich Seild and the French producer Carole Scotta. It is chaired by the film director Jaione Cambordawinner in the last edition of the Golden Shell for Or Corno.
