Víctor Erice, renowned Spanish filmmaker, will receive an award at the San Sebastian Festival

The Spanish director Víctor Erice will receive the Donostia Award from San Sebastian Film Festival (Spain), which recognizes filmmakers with an “indisputable” contribution to cinematographic art, the organization of the contest reported on Tuesday.

Erice thus joins the Spanish actor Javier Bardem among the winners of this lifetime achievement award at the 71st edition of the festival, which will be held from September 22 to 30.

The award to Erice is part of the line inaugurated by the festival six years ago to recognize filmmakers with this indisputable contribution, for which Donostia awards have already been given to the Belgian Agnés Vardá (2017), the Japanese Hirokazu Kore-eda (2018) , the Greek-French Costa-Gavras (2019) and the Canadian David Cronenberg (2022).

Erice will receive the award from the Spanish actress Ana Torrent, the star of her first and last film, at a gala on September 29 at the Victoria Eugenia Theater in San Sebastián, the same stage where her film was screened fifty years ago. feature film “The Spirit of the Beehive”, which won the Cocha de Oro, the festival’s highest award.

In this edition, the director presents his latest film, “Cerrar los ojos”, also starring Ana Torrent and which will be screened after the award ceremony.

His career has been linked to the festival, since his debut along with other directors in “Los desafíos” (1969) was screened in the Official Section and won the Silver Shell for best director.

Four years later he participated again with his first solo feature film, “El espíritu de la colmena”, which won the Golden Shell, while “El sol de quince” (1992) was included in the Made in Spain section.

This work, with the Spanish painter Antonio López, after being awarded at Cannes, was chosen as the best film of its decade by film libraries and cultural centers around the world.

Born in Karrantza in 1940, Víctor Erice studied at the Official School of Cinematography in Madrid and his second film, “El sur” (1983), was presented at the Cannes Film Festival (France). In addition to film, Erice has carried out extensive work as a teacher and as a contributor to newspapers, magazines and books.

With information from EFE