L-R: Ruth López (WOP), Sabin Astorkiza (Japan Car), Begoña de Ibarra (BFA), Joselu Blanco (ETB), Koldo Bilbao (BBK), Leixuri Arrizabalaga (BFA), Jabier Baraiazarra (Mendi Film), Iñaki López de Aguileta (Bilboko Udala), Iñigo Iturrate (Euskalduna Bilbao), Alberto Iñurrategi (Ternua), Ibon Mujika (Deia) and Argiñe Areitio (SUA edizioak).
Bilbao, November 26, 2024. The BBK Mendi Film Bilbao Bizkaia festival presents its 17th edition to offer fans of the genre the best mountain cinema once again between December 6 and 15.
BILBAO
Euskalduna Bilbao Congress Centre and Conference Hall and the Sala BBK will host Mendi Film 2024. In total, 24 film sessions will be offered, as well as 4 Mendi Talks and book presentations.
Euskalduna Bilbao has become a key member of the rope team as a venue. All the sessions and activities of both weekends will take place in different rooms of it. From December the 6th to the 8th and from December 13th to the 15th. Two of the three exhibitions of this year will be held there (Nos Queremos en las Cimas and Tximist 1974), the Mendi Pro day for the mountain film industry, four book presentations, and 16 film sessions will be offered, including the Opening and the Awards Ceremonies, the Non Stop sessions of the awarded films, and the novelty of this year, the Gau Magikoa -Magic night- family session.
The Sala BBK will host 8 sessions during the week, from Monday to Thursday, with two sessions per day. Since Mendi Film came to Bilbao from Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2012, this venue has been the festival's Base Camp, a warm meeting place.
OPENING CEREMONY
The Opening Ceremony will take place on Friday the 6th of December in the Main Auditorium of Euskalduna Bilbao (7.30pm), and will have three events:
- WOP MENDI FILM AWARD celebrating the centenary of the Basque-Navarran Mountaineering Federation.
- Film: NUPTSE. L'INACESSIBLE ABSOLU presented by the protagonist Hélias Millerioux.
- Tribute: In memory of the Japanese mountaineers KAZUYA HIRAIDE and KENRO NAKAJIMA, with the presence of Kazuya's wife and children.
GAU MAGIKOA
A new event for children and families that combines stories, theatre, music, and projections. A “magical” atmosphere that, combined with touches of humour, invites the imagination of the little ones and their families to fly.
A story, performed by the company Les Bobè-Bobé, and four films to link it together:
LEIZETA (Ion Fontela, 8 min, documentary)
CHIMBORAZO (Keyla Cepeda, 7 min, animation)
FALLIN' (Carlos Navarro, 11 min, animation)
SPRING (Andy Goralzcyk, 8 min, animation)
FILMS
226 films have been submitted to the Mendi Film festival, the highest number in the 17 editions of the festival.
49 FILMS have been selected on themes of mountains, adventure, extreme sports, and nature.
· 40 films at the Official Selection.
· 9 films at the Zabalandi Selection.
· The Mendi Film Bizkaia-Ternua Beka 2024 grant film: 'Peligro. No asomarse', by Dani Cascales.
· 'The Ghosts Above' by Renan Ozturk, IAMF Grand Prize 2024 awarded filmmaker.
Many of the producers and directors choose Mendi Film for the premiere of their works:
• 11 international premieres
• 24 Spanish premieres
• 8 premieres in the Basque Country
Origin:
• Spain (15), France (11), United States (7), Italy (5), Austria (1), United Kingdom (1), Slovenia (1), Canada (1), Switzerland (1) and Norway (1). There are also co-productions between the United States and Belgium (1), the United States and Canada (1), Switzerland and Italy (1), Switzerland and Poland (1), and Chile and Argentina (1).
· 12 of the films have Basque authorship and/or production:
o Official Selection:
FLYING HANDS | Marta Gómez & Paula Iglesias
HAIZE LERROAK | Janire Etxabe
HIRU HAUNDIAK. TAUPADAK ETA GAILURRAK. | Ander Salsamendi Arbizu
MODO AVIÓN | Iciar Casatmitjana & Garazi Sanchez
THE LITTLE CANOE | Iñigo Grasset
UNA MIRADA ATRÁS. EL ARTE DE EQUIPAR. | Alfonso García
ZAZPI | Mikel Lizarralde Asurmendi
o Zabalandi Selection:
ERRO | Amaia Lejarreta
GLAZIARRAK AGURTZEN: ANETO-AIREA | Iker Larrañaga
MOVING HIMALAYAS | Julio A. Valero
NOIE | Dani Castillo
PELIGRO. NO ASOMARSE | Dani Cascales Granados [Mendi Film Beka]
· The films will be subtitled in Basque and Spanish.
AWARDS
A total of 24,800 euros is going to be shared out among the 12 prize-winners.
· Grand Prize: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €6,000
· Best Director: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €3,000
· Best Script: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €2,000
· Best Cinematography: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €2,000
· Jury Award: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €2,000
· Best Original Soundtrack: “Txalaparta” trophy & €2,000
· EITB Award for Best Film in Basque: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €2,000
· Best Mountaineering Film: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €1,200
· Best Climbing Film: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €1,200
· Best Culture & Nature Film: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €1,200
· Best Sport & Adventure Film: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €1,200
· Best Short Film: “Eguzkilore” trophy & €1,000
The winning works will also receive the Eguzkilore trophy and the Txalaparta trophy for the best soundtrack, crafted by the sculptor Iñigo Aristegui.
JURY
• Michael Dillon, Australian filmmaker
• Joni Cooper, former Canadian director of festivals such as Banff or Doxa-Vancouver
• Oscar Gogorza, Basque journalist and mountain guide
• Toon Hezemans, director of the Dutch Mountain Film Festival
• Haizea Huegun, Basque composer
ILLUSTRIUS GUESTS and MAIN CHARACTERS
Throughout the 10 days of festival, around 50 filmmakers, producers and athletes will be presenting their work on stage in Bilbao.
Highlights:
Hélias Millerioux
The French mountaineer is part of the world elite. He won the Golden Piolet in 2018 for his ascent of the south face of Nuptse. He has starred in two films and will participate in the Opening Ceremony of the Mendi Film.
• NUPTSE: L’INACCESSIBLE ABSOLU | Friday the 6th of December, Inaugural Session, Euskalduna Bilbao, 7:30 p.m.
• LES JOURS SAUVAGES | Thursday the 12th of December, Sala BBK, 7:30 p.m.
Erri de Luca
Italian writer, poet, and climber. His literary works have a great reputation internationally, he is a great reference.
• L’ETA EXPERIMENTALE | Saturday 7 December, Euskalduna Bilbao, 17.00h
Aniqa Bano
Pakistani entrepreneur. She is the protagonist of the film 'Flying Hands'. She freed her daughter, who was born deaf, from suffering exclusion and stigmatization, and paved the way for education and social inclusion for a large deaf community.
• FLYING HANDS | Saturday 7 December, Euskalduna Bilbao, 7.30pm
Eiza Kubarska
Polish filmmaker and mountaineer. Last year she received the IAMF Grand Prix. Winner of the Mendi Film Grand Prix 2021 with the film 'The Wall of Shadows', and many other awards at the most prestigious international festivals. She presents the portrait of the iconic mountaineer Wanda Rutkiewicz in the film 'The Last Expedition'.
• THE LAST EXPEDITION | Sunday the 8th of December, Euskalduna Bilbao, 17:00h.
Davina Beyloos Rosset & Seb Montaz Rosset
French filmmakers who have won numerous awards at the Mendi Film. Kilian Jornet, Charles Dubouloz, Hillary Gerardi... are renowned outdoor athletes who have chosen to join them.
• ALWAYS ALIVE | Saturday the 14th of December, Euskalduna Bilbao, 19:45h.
Silvo Karo, Thomas Huber, Sebastián Álvaro
Silvo Karo (Slovenia) and Thomas Huber (Germany) are two mountaineering and climbing legends, and Sebastián Álvaro (Spain) is one of the greatest promoters of the subject. They will present books based on their brilliant careers.
• Silvo Karo – FAST AND LIGHT | Saturday the 7th of December, Euskalduna Bilbao, 16.00
• Sebastián Álvaro – MY MOUNTAINS | Sunday the 8th of December, Euskalduna Bilbao, 16:00.
• Thomas Huber – A WILD LIFE | Saturday the 14th of December, Euskalduna Bilbao, 12:00.
EXHIBITIONS
Three major exhibitions with spectacular top-class photographs and a great historical heritage will be displayed in Bilbao from November until the end of the year:
CVCEPHOTO 2024
Exhibition of the 20 award-winning works of the CVCEPHOTO international mountain activities photography competition.
- Bilbao Metro Stations | From November 15 to December 30
WOMEN AT THE BASQUE MOUNTAINEERING HISTORY
An exhibition that recognises the importance of women in the history of Basque mountaineering, created in the year of the centenary of the Basque and Navarrese mountaineering federations.
- Euskalduna Bilbao | From December 6 to 15
THE TXIMIST 1974 EXPEDITION, 50 YEARS LATER
Exhibition of the Basque Mountaineering Museum EMMOA on the 50th anniversary of the Basque expedition to Everest in 1974.
- Euskalduna Bilbao | From December 6 to 15
