The Xunta de Galicia has announced that the Filmoteca de Galicia will focus on a tribute to the celebrated screenwriter rafael azcona this November, marking the centenary of his birth. The programme will include a retrospective of azcona's work, films by renowned japanese director keisuke kinoshita, and a visit from experimental filmmaker james benning, who will present his latest films.
The tribute will kick off this afternoon with a screening of El pisito, directed by Marco Ferreri. The Consellería de Cultura, Lingua e Xuventude will celebrate azcona's extensive career, showcasing notable films alongside prominent spanish directors until January. Highlights this month include El jardín de las delicias by Carlos Saura, El anacoreta by Juan Estelrich, and El cordero de las luces by Fernando Trueba.
Additionally, a new cycle dedicated to japanese cinema will commence, in collaboration with the Japan Foundation. This series will spotlight keisuke kinoshita, under the subtitle A glimpse from emotion, reflecting his empathetic storytelling towards vulnerable individuals. Kinoshita is recognised as one of the most significant figures of the second golden age of japanese cinema, although his work has not received the same international acclaim as it has in japan. From November 18 until December 22, eight of his most important films will be screened at the José Sellier Hall, starting with the acclaimed La balada de Narayama, originally released in 1958.
On November 19 and 20, audiences will have the opportunity to engage with james benning, a prominent figure in experimental cinema known for his long landscape shots and structuralist approach. This marks benning's third visit to the galician film archive, facilitated by collaboration with the Gijón International Film Festival and the Filmoteca Española. He will present his recent works, Eight Bridges, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival, and Little Boy, followed by discussions with attendees at the José Sellier Hall.
The Filmoteca will also host two established collaborations this autumn. The first, with the Asociación Amigos de la Ópera de A Coruña, will feature screenings of El káiser de la Atlántida by Sebastián Alfie on November 5, Dogville by Lars von Trier on November 12, and La cinta blanca by Michael Haneke on November 26. The second collaboration is with the Cormorán Film Fest, which will programme eight sessions at the José Sellier Hall during the first two weeks of November.
November's schedule will also include new releases in the Fuera de Serie section, showcasing films such as Las corrientes by Milagros Mumenthaler, Un poeta by Simón Mesa Soto, the complete version of La risa y la navaja by Pedro Pinho, The Devils by Ken Russell, and Una película de miedo by Sergio Oksman. The Filmoteca Jr. series will resume with the classic silent film The General by Buster Keaton, while Off Galicia will present a collection of short films from various editions of the Norte Cine Diverso festival.
In the final week of November, the documentary Feelings Are Facts: The life of Yvonne Rainer will launch a December cycle dedicated to the american filmmaker and choreographer Yvonne Rainer. The programme will conclude with two sessions of Los límites de mi cuerpo son el horizonte, curated by artist Isabel María, on November 27 and 28.
