Reflections on documentary are still the primary focus at Punto de Vista
- With its artistic direction handled by Manuel Asín, the Navarre International Documentary Film Festival is dedicating its 22nd edition to showing the most creative non-fiction films
Between Monday 14 and Saturday 19 March, Pamplona (Navarre) is playing host to the Punto de Vista International Documentary Film Festival, which this year – for its 22nd edition – is being headed up on the artistic side by programmer, film teacher and columnist Manuel Asín.
It boasts a programme that takes in around 100 titles, and standing out in its official section (split among ten programmes) are, among others, the features Greater Gospel [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], a film helmed by Javier Codesal (Spain), which will be world-premiered there; The Balcony Movie [+see also:
film review
interview: Paweł Łoziński
film profile] by Pawel Lozinski (Poland); Delphine’s Prayers by Rosine Mbakam (Belgium/Cameroon); Saturn and Beyond by Declan Clarke (Ireland); Soy libre [+see also:
trailer
film profile] by Laure Portier (France); and Guerra by Marta Ramos and José Oliveira (Portugal).
The two retrospectives at this edition will revolve around the early days of Moroccan documentary film, and rivers as social and natural elements that have been present throughout the history of cinema. Reflection, a trait very much part and parcel of the realm of documentary, is a key element of its brand-new sections: one of them, Lan (which means “work” in Basque), brimming with activities homing in on the processes of creation and production, will include, among other events, the Napardocs discussion, the strands entitled Paisaia (where filmmakers will talk about the production process behind their works) and Termitas (which showcases emerging works), and a round-table where the participants will discuss researching, programming and preserving alternative archives.
The second new addition is Contactos, which presses on with the mission to open film up to other creative and knowledge-based disciplines. The name of the section stems from Paulino Viota’s film of the same title, which dates back to 1970, and it will include the world premiere of Aquí no hay nada que comprender, a documentary revolving around the body of work of Elena Asins (1940-2015), a Madrilenian artist who lived in Azpirotz (Navarre).
In addition, prominent contemporary filmmakers will be presenting their movies at the festival, within the Focos section: Sofia Bohdanowicz, who, together with Payal Kapadia, is the main attraction of the Ficciones de Archivo sidebar; and Portugal’s Manuela Serra, the auteur behind the legendary O Movimento das Coisas (1985), a film that will be shown from a copy recently restored by the Portuguese Film Library.
Navarre, the region in the north of Spain where Punto de Vista is being held, will this year enjoy a strong contingent within the gathering’s programme. The opening ceremony will feature the premiere of the second feature by Ione Atenea, Los caballos mueren al amanecer [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Ione Atenea
film profile], boasting a screenplay written by the Navarrese filmmaker in tandem with Diana Toucedo, who also edited it. Meanwhile, in the official section, Arantza Santesteban will present 918 Nights [+see also:
film review
film profile], a film that won the Award for Best Film at the Lisbon and Turin Film Festivals.
Finally, of course, there will be a screening of San Simón 62, the winner of the last edition of the X Films project, which was shot over the past year by Irati Gorostidi and Mirari Etxabarri.
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.
