Seville European Film Festival

Summary

The Seville European Film Festival (SEFF; Spanish: Festival de Cine Europeo de Sevilla) is an annual film festival dedicated to European cinema held in November in Seville, Spain, since 2004.

Seville European Film Festival
LocationSeville, Spain
Established2004
Artistic directorManuel Cristóbal

History edit

The festival is an initiative of the Instituto de la Cultura y las Artes de Sevilla (transl. Institute of Culture and Arts of Seville; ICAS), which depends on the City Council of Seville.[1] It is supported by the ICAA and the sub-programme Europe Creative MEDIA.[1] Since 2013, it collaborates with Filmin.[2]

The SEFF's program includes competition sections for feature films, documentaries, shorts and non-fiction along with special events such as retrospectives, screenings and public talks.[3] The event includes the Independent Film Market.[4] The festival also serves as a staging ground for the announcement of the nominations to the European Film Academy's European Film Awards.[5] The event main venues are Teatro Lope de Vega and Teatro Alameda Multicines Nervión Plaza.[6]

In 2012, the festival art director Javier Martin Dominguez resigned,[7] he was succeeded by José Luis Cienfuegos. Cienfuegos managed the SEFF until April 2023.[8][9] His place was given to Tito Rodriguez, but the latter took medical leave, thus just a few days before the opening of the anniversary 20th edition Manuel Cristóbal became the SEFF's new director.[10]

In 2023, the festival introduced Sevilla Cinema Lab, an initiative offering high-level training for cinema professionals.[11]

Editions edit

The first edition took place on 6–13 November 2004.[12]

The second edition took place in November 2005 under director Antonio Grosso. The main competition program jury was presided by Michael Ballhaus.[13]

The 7th edition took place on 5-13 November, 2010. It included Eurimages Euro co-production section and the Arte Channel Collection.[14]

In 2012, the festival's budget was cut by 30% resulting in the resignation of Javier Martin Dominguez.[7] Taking his place, the new director José Luis Cienfuegos introduced the Greece Focus section.[15]

In 2016, the 13th edition lasted from 4 to 12 November and hosted 27 world premieres. That year the festival inaugurated the Spanish Screenings-Sevilla TV market. Film-opening: Stéphane Brizé's film A Woman's Life.[16]

The 17th edition of the festival was a hybrid one and went partially online.[8]

The 18th edition took place on 5-13 November, 2021, and featured 10 world premieres. It also hosted the 40th anniversary of the Paris-based experimental film institution Light Cone.[8]

The 20th edition took place on 4-12 November, 2022, and featured 222 screenings, 99 Spanish premieres, 38 world premieres and two international premieres. The program also included more than 120 public talks with cinema professionals. Film-opening: Rebecca Zlotowski’s Other People’s Children.[11][17]

In August 2023, the new municipal administration decided to postpone the 20th edition, due to be held in early November 2023, to the Spring of 2024, in order to make room for the celebration of the 24th Annual Latin Grammy Awards.[9] Such plans were rolled back days later, with the festival returning to a November 2023 date, but later in the month and featuring a shorter format.[18]

The 2024 edition is scheduled for 8 to 16 November.[10]

Awards edit

The top prize awarded at the festival is known as the 'Golden Giraldillo' (Giraldillo de Oro).[19]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "El Festival de Sevilla fomenta las coproducciones entre Italia y España". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 5 October 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Comienza la 18ª edición del Festival de Sevilla que también mostrará parte de su programación en Filmin". Audiovisual451. 5 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Seville European Film Festival". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  4. ^ McLennan, Cullum (2022-11-04). "Audience Return Up for Debate at a Packed Seville Merci Independent Film Market". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  5. ^ Pablo, Emiliano de (5 November 2021). "Spain's Seville European Film Festival Honors Daniel Bruhl, Strengthens Its Commitment to the Industry". Variety. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  6. ^ Tavora, Antonio (2021-11-07). "Esta es la programación de este domingo 7 de noviembre en el Festival de Cine Europeo de Sevilla". ABC de Sevilla. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  7. ^ a b Hopewell, John (2012-01-04). "Martin Dominguez quits at Seville". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  8. ^ a b c "Seville European Film Festival is the perfect gateway into Spain for filmmakers, international partners". Screen Daily. 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  9. ^ a b "El Ayuntamiento de Sevilla suspende la edición del Festival de Cine Europeo de este año". El País. 2 August 2023.
  10. ^ a b Rivera, Alfonso (2023-11-21). "Manuel Cristóbal • Coordinator, Seville European Film Festival". Cineuropa. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  11. ^ a b De Pablos, Emiliano (2022-11-04). "Seville European Film Festival Expands to Younger Audiences, Prepares Cinema Lab". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  12. ^ "En 2004 nacía el Festival de Cine Europeo de Sevilla". Canal Sur (in Spanish). 12 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  13. ^ "Seville dances to Audiard's 'Beat'". Variety. 2005-11-15. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  14. ^ Hopewell, John (2010-05-21). "Seville to nurture Wild Tulips". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  15. ^ "'Eat Sleep Die' tops Spain's Seville". Variety. 2012-11-10. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  16. ^ "Spain's Fapae, Seville European Film Festival Launch Spanish TV Screenings". Variety. 2016-11-04. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  17. ^ McLennan, Callum (2022-11-13). "'Saint Omer,' 'Close' 'Will-o'-the-Wisp' Win Big at Seville". Variety. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  18. ^ "El Festival de Cine de Sevilla se mantiene en noviembre, pero con una edición más breve". Infobae. 8 August 2023.
  19. ^ Pinto, Vitor (3 November 2005). "Over 100 European films in Seville". Cineuropa.
  20. ^ "Euro-focused Seville taps 'Avanim' top pic". Variety. 15 November 2004.
  21. ^ "Seville dances to Audiard's 'Beat'". Variety. 15 November 2005.
  22. ^ "Seville worships 'Venus'". Variety. 13 November 2006.
  23. ^ "Ken Loach wins Seville prize". Variety. 12 November 2007.
  24. ^ Olid, Miguel (16 November 2008). ""Back soon" gana el Giraldillo de Oro en un Festival caracterizado por las ausencias". ABC.
  25. ^ "La austriaca 'Lourdes' gana el Giraldillo de Oro del Festival de Cine Europeo". El Diario Montañés. 15 November 2009.
  26. ^ "» Noticias » Cultura 'Hijo de Babilonia' consigue el Giraldillo de oro en el Festival Europeo de Cine de Sevilla". rtve. 13 November 2010.
  27. ^ "'Happy, Happy' tops Seville". Variety. 12 November 2011.
  28. ^ "[SEFF 2012] La sueca 'Eat Sleep Die' es la ganadora del Festival de Cine Europeo de Sevilla". Cinemanía. 20minutos.es. 10 November 2012.
  29. ^ "'El desconocido del lago', Giraldillo de Oro del festival de cine de Sevilla". El País. 16 November 2013.
  30. ^ "'Turist' de Ruben Östlund, ganadora del Giraldillo de Oro en los Premios de Cine Europeo 2014". 20minutos.es. 15 November 2014.
  31. ^ ""La academia de las musas", de Guerín, gana el Giraldillo de Oro en Sevilla". EFE. 14 November 2015.
  32. ^ Limón, Raúl (13 November 2016). "La "deliciosa locura" de 'Ma Loute', Giraldillo de Oro del festival de Sevilla". El País.
  33. ^ "La película portuguesa 'A fábrica de nada', Giraldillo de Oro del SEFF 2017". Europa Press. 11 November 2017.
  34. ^ "La ucraniana «Donbass» gana el Giraldillo de Oro del Festival de cine europeo de Sevilla 2018". ABC.
  35. ^ Ortiz, Braulio (16 November 2019). "'Martin Eden' gana el Giraldillo de Oro del Festival de Cine de Sevilla". Diario de Sevilla.
  36. ^ "'Malmkrog', de Cristi Puiu, Giraldillo de Oro a la Mejor Película en el Festival de Sevilla". 20minutos.es. 14 November 2020.
  37. ^ "'Great Freedom' triunfa en Sevilla". El Cultural. 15 November 2021.
  38. ^ "La francesa 'Saint Omer', de Alice Diop, gana el Giraldillo de Oro del Festival de Cine Europeo de Sevilla". rtve.es. 12 November 2022.