State Secretary for Culture, Fernando Benzo, supports Spanish cinema at 67th edition of Berlinale

During the subsequent reception at the embassy, Fernando Benzo expressed his support for Spanish cinema, which is broadly represented at the Berlin International Film Festival. Among the Spanish filmmakers, actors, actresses and producers present at the embassy were Alex de la Iglesia, Blanca Suárez, Carlos Iglesias, Eduardo Casanova, Mario Casas, Secun de la Rosa, Carolina Bang, Mikel Lejarza, José Antonio Blanco, Pedro Hernández, Javier Angulo, Mercedes Gamero and Simón de Santiago.

The Spanish presence at this 67th edition of Berlinale is extensive, with films from our country screened at a wide selection of sections at the festival. 'Una mujer fantástica', directed by Sebastián Lelio, will compete in the official section, a co-production from Spain, Chile, Germany and the United States. On the sidelines of the main competition, the film 'El Bar', directed by Álex de la Iglesia will be screened; the film 'La Reina de España' directed by Fernando Trueba in the special gala, and the film 'Últimos días en La Habana', directed by Fernando Pérez, will enter the Berlinale Special competition. 'Pieles', the debut by Eduardo Casanova - shortlisted for the 'Best film debut award', and 'Política, manual de instrucciones', by Fernando León de Aranoa, will compete in the Panorama section. In this year's edition of the Culinary section, Spain will present 'Soul', by Ángel Parra and José Antonio Blanco. The film 'Estiu 1993', by Carla Simón, will be screened in the Generation and Talent sections and 'Morning Cowboy', by Fernando Pomares, in the Generation section.

Following the reception at the Spanish Embassy in Berlin, the Cervantes Institute held a reception on Tuesday evening for Ibero-American cinema in the city, which was attended by the State Secretary for Culture and the Director-General of the ICAA.

On Wednesday, 15 February, the two dignitaries will visit the European Film Market in Berlin, and the stand organised by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport, where companies offer their potential purchasers some of the most recent successes of Spanish cinema. They will also meet with the Director of the Berlin International Film Festival, Dieter Kosslick, and will then hold a meeting with the team that produced the film 'El Bar', by Alex de la Iglesia before watching the film.