Two Catalan films in the running for the Golden Shell at San Sebastián

Two Catalan films are in the running for the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival, with the winners to be announced on Saturday night. 

This year’s edition features a record presence of Catalan cinema, with 28 productions included in the official selection, the highest number since records began. 

The first Catalan contender is 'Los domingos,' by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa. The film tells the story of Ainara, a 17-year-old girl who wants to become a cloistered nun. 

Due for release on 24 October, the film delves into the turmoil her decision unleashes within her family. 

In an interview with the Catalan News Agency (ACN), Ruiz de Azúa explained that she wanted to explore the roots of the feelings that drive people to dedicate their lives to religion. 

“If it’s not something divine, what motivates spiritual searching? The script led me to talk about family fragilities, which sometimes provide refuge, and sometimes don’t,” she said.

The film is led by newcomer Blanca Soroa, joined by Patricia López Arnaiz, Miguel Garcés, Mabel Rivera and Nagore Aranburu. 

The other Catalan title in the official competition is 'Historias del buen valle' by José Luis Guerín. 

This non-fiction film, shot in the Barcelona neighbourhood of Vallbona, is set in a peripheral area where rural and urban life converge.

It portrays the coexistence of houses built by the first post-war migrants alongside new tower blocks that have become home to more recent arrivals.

Record year for Catalan cinema

Catalan cinema has been steadily increasing its presence at the San Sebastián Film Festival in recent years.

Since 2007, a total of 279 films and documentaries involving Catalan participation have been showcased at the festival, averaging around 15 per year.

This year, 28 productions are being presented, setting a new historic record.

The Catalan director with the most films screened at the festival is Isaki Lacuesta, with eight entries, followed by Cesc Gay, Isabel Coixet, and Jaime Rosales, each with five.

Last year, Catalan filmmaker Albert Serra won the Golden Shell with his film Afternoons of Solitude.