Starting next November 21st
The Bilbao International Documentary and Short Film Festival, ZINEBI, will kick off on November 21st at the Arriaga Theater, where the prestigious Mikeldi Honor Awards will be presented to filmmaker Pablo Berger and producer Esther García.
The International Short Film Competition will feature 58 films from 33 countries, including the latest works by Bea Lema, Aitor Gametxo, and the 2023 Grand Prize winners Pek Jia Hao and Ang Jia Jun.
ZINEBI renews its commitment to the most recent Basque cinema with the Bertoko Begiradak. Miradas desde Euskadi section, offering the local audience a broad panorama of the thematic and formal concerns of Basque filmmakers. This section includes 5 feature-length documentaries and 33 short films produced or co-produced in the Basque Country.
The Beautiful Docs section will showcase works by young documentary filmmakers alongside masters of the genre: from new talents in Spanish documentary to undisputed masters such as Kamal Aljafari, Gianfranco Rosi, and Rita Azevedo Gomes, recipient of the Mikeldi Honor Award at ZINEBI 2023.
ZINEBI will host the Spanish premieres of Ghost Elephants by Werner Herzog; El vol de la cigonya by Berta Vicente Salas and Soumaya Hidalgo Djahdou; and Llámame Sinsorga by Paula Iglesias and Marta Gómez. These three films arrive in Bilbao after screenings at international festivals.
Organized by the Bilbao City Council, the festival will open on Friday, November 21st, with the inauguration gala at the Arriaga Theater starting at 7:30 pm, and will run until Friday, November 28th, when the closing ceremony and awards presentation will take place.
The full program of ZINEBI 67 was presented this morning at a press conference held at Bilbao City Hall, attended by Gonzalo Olabarria, Councilor for Culture and Governance of the Bilbao City Council; Ana López, Director of Cultural Promotion at the Basque Government; and Joseba Lopezortega, director of ZINEBI.
In total, 156 films from 44 countries will be screened: 132 short films (up to 30 minutes), 6 medium-length films (between 30 and 60 minutes), and 18 feature-length films (over 60 minutes). Of these, 78 have female directors and 101 male directors. Seventy-two films are Spanish premieres. Additionally, 41 films are Basque productions: 33 short films, 6 medium-length films, and 2 feature films.
As in previous editions, the screenings are divided into two main categories: the Official Section and other screenings.
The Official Section includes the International Short Film Competition. Other screenings feature the Beautiful Docs – Panorama of World Documentaries section, a non-competitive showcase reflecting international documentary trends; the Bertoko Begiradak – Miradas desde Euskadi section, which highlights short and feature-length films produced in Euskadi and recognizes the work of Basque producers, filmmakers, and audiovisual industry professionals; along with other special sessions.
ZINEBI 67 Venues
The festival's screenings and activities will take place at various iconic locations across Bilbao, providing easy access and a diverse experience:
- Golem Bilbao and Azkuna Auditorium
Golem Alhóndiga
Address: Plaza Arriquibar, 4, 48002 Bilbao
The Azkuna Auditorium will host several screening rooms: Atrio, Rooms 1, 3, 5, 7, and Sala Bastida.
Info Puntua (Information and Ticket Point) Hours: November 11 to 16, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm / 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm. - Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao
Address: Abandoibarra Etorb., 2, 48009 Bilbao - Sala BBK
Sala BBK
Address: Gran Vía López de Haro 19-21, 48001 Bilbao - Arriaga Theater
The festival’s traditional venue, hosting the opening and closing galas.
