The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) has granted its Grand Prix for the year’s best film to Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life.” The film, which won the Palme DdOr at Cannes in May, will screen at the Zabaltegi-Pearls section of the San Sebastian Film Festival, where the award will be presented.
This is the second award Malick has won at San Sebastian; he previously won the festival’s highest prize, the Golden Shell, in 1972 for “Badlands.”
In addition, the San Sebastian Film Festival has announced the 15 Spanish films it will feature in its “Made In Spain” section. Highlights include Álex de la Iglesia’s “The Last Circus,” which won the Director and Screenplay prizes at the Venice Film Festival along with 15 Goya nominations, Sergio Caballero’s “Finisterrae,” winner of the Tiger Award at the Rotterdam Festival, and “Torrente 4,” Spain’s biggest blockbuster this year.
Full press releases below:
Terrence Malick’s ”The Tree Of Life”, winner of the FIPRESCI Grand Prix 2011
The prize will be presented at San Sebastian International Film Festival’s 59th editionThe International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) grants its Grand Prix for Best Film of the year to TERRENCE MALICK’S THE TREE OF LIFE. The prize is the result of a vote by 205 critics across the world, all members of FIPRESCI on any feature-length film from the previous 12 months. The prize will be presented at the opening gala of San Sebastian Festival’s 59th edition on September 16th at the Kursaal Auditorium.
TERRENCE MALICK’S THE TREE OF LIFE will open the Zabaltegi-Pearls section at this year’s edition of the San Sebastian Festival, after having carried off the Golden Palm at the Cannes Festival in May this year. Starring Brad Pitt and Sean Penn, the film is a poetic, personal reflection on the meaning of human life.
Terrence Malick, who bagged the Golden Shell for Best Film with Badlands, thanked all members of FIPRESCI for the recognition: “It’s comforting to discover so many generous hearts that encourage myself and all those who work with me to continue forging ahead.”
Given that Terrence Malick is unable to attend the opening gala, the prize will be collected by a representative of Tri Pictures, the Spanish distributors of the film.
In previous editions of the Festival, the FIPRESCI Grand Prix has gone to movies directed by some of the biggest names in film worldwide: Pedro Almodóvar, Paul Thomas Anderson, Jafar Panahi, Kim Ki-duk, Aki Kaurismäki, Nuri Bülge Ceylan, Jean-Luc Godard, Cristian Mungiu, Michael Haneke and Roman Polanski.
Fifteen spanish films selected for the San Sebastian International Film Festival’s ‘Made in Spain’ section
The 59th edition of San Sebastian Festival will present the year’s big Spanish productions in its Made in Spain section.
EL ABRAZO DE LOS PECES (THE EMBRACE OF THE FISHES), Chema Rodríguez
A documentary in which director Chema Rodríguez describes how his 18 year-old daughter – deaf-blind from birth – finds her place in society and the problems she faces every day.ÁGUILA ROJA, LA PELÍCULA (RED EAGLE, THE MOVIE) José Ramón Ayerra
The adventures of heroic Gonzalo Montalvo hit the movie screens following his TV success. The popular cast of the series, headlining David Janer, Javier Gutiérrez, Inma Cuesta, Francis Lorenzo and Myriam Gallego, is joined on the big screen by Martina Klein.BALADA TRISTE DE TROMPETA (THE LAST CIRCUS), Álex de la Iglesia
Álex de la Iglesia narrates the tragicomical misfortunes of a clown who made the unfortunate mistake of setting his sights too high: he fell in love with the trapeze artist. Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre and Carolina Bang star in this movie, winner of the Best Directing and Screenplay Awards at Venice Festival plus 15 Goya nominations.BLACKTHORN, Mateo Gil
Director Mateo Gil travels to the Bolivian plains to track the adventures of one of the last Wild West outlaws: Butch Cassidy. Eduardo Noriega and Sam Shephard head the cast of this heartfelt homage to the western presented at the Tribeca and Las Palmas Festivals.CATALUNYA ÜBER ALLES!, Ramón Térmens
Director Ramón Térmens brings us a harsh, precise portrayal of today’s Catalonia with three parallel stories starring a businessman, an ex-convict and an immigrant. The film bagged the Special Jury Prize and Youth Jury Prize at Malaga Festival.FINISTERRAE (FINISTERRAE), Sergio Caballero
One of the least easily classified and most surprising works to have come out of Spanish film in recent years: two ghosts experience myriad eccentric adventures on the Way of St. James. Helmed by Sergio Caballero, co-director of Barcelona’s Sonar Festival, the film landed the Tiger Award at Rotterdam Festival.LA MALETA MEXICANA (THE MEXICAN SUITCASE), Trisha Ziff
Documentary on the 4,500 negatives taken by prestigious photographers Robert Capa, Gerda Taro and David “Chim” Seymour during the Spanish Civil War; negatives given up for lost during the war and found in a Mexico City apartment 70 years later. It was screened at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival.LA MITAD DE ÓSCAR (HALF OF OSCAR), Manuel Martín Cuenca
Two brothers unite for their grandfather’s death after years of separation. Manuel Martín Cuenca soberly directs this tale of complex human relations starring Antonio de la Torre, Verónica Echegui and Rodrigo Sáenz de Heredia.EL MUNDO QUE FUE Y EL QUE ES (THE WORLD THAT WAS AND THAT IS), Pablo Llorca
Pablo Llorca’s new movie chronicles the harsh life of Communist Party activists in the post-war period who were constantly hounded and forced to remain underground. Winner of the Best Actor Award (Pedro Casablanc) at the Las Palmas Film Festival.NO CONTROLES (LOVE STORMING), Borja Cobeaga
Sergio (Únax Ugalde) still can’t get his head round the idea that he’s been left by his girlfriend. That’s why, when they’re stranded in an airport hotel on New Year’s Eve, he puts his all into winning her back with the aid of his outlandish friends. Returning after Pagafantas, Borja Cobega confirms his talent for romantic comedy.NO TENGAS MIEDO (DON’T BE AFRAID), Montxo Armendáriz
Montxo Armendáriz looks meticulously and delicately at the subject of child abuse through the tale of a young girl still suffering from the trauma of having been abused by her father when she was only a child. Selected for the Official Selection of the Karlovy Vary Festival.PRIMOS (COUSINHOOD), Daniel Sánchez Arévalo
This film from Daniel Sánchez Arévalo, his 13th, brings us a tale of reunion between three old friends who return to the place where they’d spend their summers as kids. A comedy starring Quim Gutiérrez, Raúl Arevalo, Antonio de la Torre and Inma Cuesta.¿QUIÉN FUE PILAR MIRÓ?, Diego Galán
Filmmaker Pilar Miró was an essential figure in Spanish film and a character as controversial as she was charming. This documentary takes a closer look at her personality through her confessions and the testimonies of those who knew her best.TODAS LAS CANCIONES HABLAN DE MÍ (EVERY SONG IS ABOUT ME), Jonás Trueba
Like a hero from one of François Truffaut’s films relocated to modern times, Ramiro (Oriol Vila) wanders the streets of Madrid reflecting on love and trying to understand why his girlfriend has left him. This first work from Jonás Trueba, the youngest in the saga, participated in the Gijon Film Festival and bagged two Goya Award nominations (Best New Director and Best New Actor).TORRENTE 4, Santiago Segura
Torrente’s beer-belly and dandruff never looked so good as they do in this new 3D adventure, Spain’s biggest box-office smash of the year. Santiago Segura brings the people’s hero back to life amid an oddball cast featuring Spanish national TV’s crème de la crème.
Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
