Chicogrande by Felipe Cazals, one of Mexican cinema''s biggest names in directors, will be the opening film at the Donostia-San Sebastian 58th International Film Festival.

Chicogrande is a historical film with touches of frontier western, adventure movie and socio-political criticism. Chicogrande kicks off with a true occurrence: Pancho Villa''s invasion of Columbus, in New Mexico, and the subsequent punishment expedition launched by US troops in an attempt to put an end to the rebel leader.

Headlining the cast is Damián Alcázar, one of the most popular actors in his country also recognised internationally. Felipe Cazals has participated in several international festivals, obtaining numerous prestigious awards over his long career. In 1976, his film Canoa garnered the Special Jury Prize at the Berlinale. That same year, he competed in the Official Selection at San Sebastian Festival with El apando and later, with Lo del César, in 1987. In 1985 he carried off the Silver Shell with Los Motivos de Luz and, in 1989, sat on the Festival''s Official Jury.

In addition to the previously announced Genpin, by Naomi Kawase, Asian cinema will be represented by Addicted to Love, third film from the Chinese director Liu Hao, whose first work, Chen Mo and Meiting, landed a Special Mention as a new director at the Berlin Festival in 2002, and by Akma-reul Bo-at-da / I Saw the Devil, from the internationally recognised Korean director, KIM JEE-WOON. This director participated in the Official Selection at Cannes with A Bittersweet Life (2005) and The God, The Bad and the Weird (2008). His long career includes other titles like The Foul King (2000) and A Tale of Two Sisters (2003).

Satte Farben vor Schwarz (Colours in the Dark), directorial debut from the German filmmaker Sophie Heldmann, starring Bruno Ganz and Senta Berger, tells how a couple who have spent the last 50 years together deal with his terminal illness. This film will also contend for the Kutxa-New Directors Award.

These titles add their names to those previously announced by the Festival for its Official Selection. The films completing the Official Selection will be announced shortly.