The Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival : Marian
A. Aréchaga
ESFF Logo: ESFF Website
08 November 2020
By Karina Caulfield
The Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival (ESFF) was established around 2014 by curator, Marian A. Aréchaga who figured there was a gap in Edinburgh’s film market and a ‘niche for a Hispanic film event.’
Marian set up a connection between the Hispanic Studies Department at the University of Edinburgh and the Spanish Ministry, to help create the formation of the ESFF.
Marian who also works at the University of Edinburgh, oversees watching and selecting the films to be presented at the festival. On their website, Marian is described as a ‘film buff’ and during the interview she revealed some of her favourite Spanish directors: “I love Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Carlos Saura, David Trueba, Icíar Bollaín and Paula Ortiz.”
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When asked what the aim of the ESSF is, Marian revealed it is to support Spanish heritage through film: “The aim is to show our culture, our society, to make people aware of the cultural differences…to entertain...and show a different way of living.”
The Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival takes place every year, with projections screened at the Filmhouse on Lothian road as well as the University of Edinburgh. Many of Marian’s favourite directors have attended previous events such as David Trueba, Icíar Bollaín and Paula Ortiz.
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"The aim is to show our culture, our society, to make people aware of the cultural differences"
This year, the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival took place from October 2nd till October 25th however, COVID-19 changed its usual running order. Instead, the festival was moved fully online where cinemagoers could purchase tickets on their website to stream the celebrated films.
Although Marian is happy the ESFF was able to go ahead, she feels, “it is not the same as doing it in the cinema but we have learned, we have managed to do it and yeah I think it has been well received.”
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ESFF 2020 Trailer: ESFF Youtube
The festival’s programme included 16 Spanish films as well as monologues, shorts, audio visual letters and Latin American films.
Rather than sticking to a certain theme, Marian aims to look for films that would cater to everyone: “So, we have films for schools, films for all sort of different ages we also had a big selection of women directors and... a big selection of directors of which they have done their first film, their debuts.”
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ESFF 2020 Film Programme: Intemperie
Marian will begin preparations for the following Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival around January 2021 and hopes by next year, the event will be able to take place in person.
However, amid COVID-19, funding is an uncertain issue: “We apply for funding every year and that is the difficult part because I don't know what's going to happen next year because there won't be as much money around.”
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ESFF Facebook Page
Despite this, Marian remains optimistic, noting they gratefully receive support from several companies and organisations to help the festival stay afloat.
To watch Q&A's of the 2020 film programme, head over to their Facebook page and for more information on the Spanish Edinburgh Film Festival check out their website: www.edinburghspanishfilmfestival.com/en
ESFF 2020 Film Programme: Pólvora en el corazón / Gun Powder Trailer
ESFF 2020 Q&A: Pólvora en el corazón / Gun Powder
ESFF 2020 Film Programme: Intemperie / Out in the Open
