This year, as usual, Donostia-San Sebastian International Film Festival’s Zabaltegi–Pearls will yet again present films by established directors who have participated in other big festivals or films to have obtained awards at these events (Sundance, Cannes and Venice, among others), but which have not yet been released in Spain.

The Basque International Film Festival will also programme titles to have caused the greatest surprise at the festivals in which they have participated, demonstrating the wealth and diversity of film creation the world over. San Sebastian Festival will offer them their second chance to be discovered by world critics, international distributors, and by the local public.

The films screened in Zabaltegi-Pearls contend for the TCM Audience Award, carrying €70,000 for the Spanish importer of the winning film. A second prize of €35,000 will go to the European movie obtaining most votes. No single film can win both awards.

Some of the films selected for Zabaltegi-Pearls have garnered important awards: Bal (Honey), by Semih Kaplanoglu, Golden Bear at Berlin; Tuan Yuan (Apart Together) by Wang Quan’an, Silver Bear for Best Screenplay at Berlin; Happythankyoumoreplease, by Josh Radner, Public Award at Sundance; The Oath, by Laura Poitras, Excellence in Cinematography Award: US Documentary at Sundance, and Poetry, by Lee Changdong, Award for Best Screenplay at Cannes.

Audiences will also be able to enjoy the latest films from already established directors like Pablo Trapero (Carancho), presented in Un Certain Regard at Cannes; Danis Tanovic (Cirkus Columbia), which will be presented at La Mostra in Venice, and the above-mentioned Lee Chandong and Wang Quan’an.

The section will be completed with two documentaries presented at the Berlinale, Exit Through the Gift Shop, by the plastic artist Bansky, and How Much Does Your Building Weigh Mr. Foster?, by Norberto López Amado and Carlos Carcas; Buried, by Rodrigo Cortés, wich was selected to participate at Sundance; Le Quattro Volte by Michelangelo Frammartino (Cannes – Quinzaine des Réalisateurs) and Barney’s Version, by Richard J. Lewis, the last of which will compete for the Golden Lion in Venice.

Apart from the above, Zabaltegi-Specials takes the shape of an open space bringing three particularly interesting proposals: José Luis Guerin returns to San Sebastian with Guest after having landed the Special Jury Prize in 2001 with En Construcción, while Isaki Lacuesta, who competed in the Official Selection in 2009 and won the Fipresci Award with Los Condenados, will present La noche que no acaba. The section will be rounded off with Pierre Thoretton’s Yves Saint Laurent, l’Amour Fou.