Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren

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Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren
Urresola in 2023.
Born (1984-04-04) 4 April 1984 (age 40)
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Filmmaker
Years active2011–present
Websitesirimirifilms.eu/en/home/

Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (born 4 May 1984) is a Spanish film director, screenwriter, and producer. She has won awards for Voces de papel (2016), a documentary, and Cuerdas [es; eu] (2022), a short film, while her first feature film, 20,000 Species of Bees (2023), has won a variety of awards at various film festivals.

Biography

Urresola was born on 4 May 1984 in Laudio/Llodio,[1][2] located in the province of Álava in the autonomous community of Basque Country in northern Spain.

She has bachelor's degrees in Audiovisual Communication from the University of the Basque Country[3] and Film Editing from the Escuela Internacional de Cine y Televisión.[4] Urresola has master's degrees in Film Direction and Film Business—Marketing, distribution and international sales from the Cinema and Audiovisual School of Catalonia (ESCAC).[3] She has worked since 2011 in the Basque film and television industry.

Significant films

Voces de papel

Voces de papel is a 2016 full-length documentary about Eresoinka [fr; eu], a mixed instrumental, vocal, and choreographic ensemble of Basque performers that toured internationally from 1937 during the Spanish Civil War until the outbreak of World War II, which forced Eresoinka to return to Europe from the United States.[5][6] It won the Premio Txapela de Oro for best documentary at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.[7]

Urresola receiving the 2022 Forqué Award for best short film for Chords [eu][8]

Cuerdas

Cuerdas (2022) is a half-hour fictional film about a women's choir in an industrial town has lost its funding from the municipality. A local company, whose factory has contaminated the area surrounding the town, offers to sponsor the choir. With the survival of the choir in doubt, the members must decide whether to accept the sponsorship or not.[9][10][11] It was nominated for and won many prizes.[12]

20,000 Species of Bees

Berlinale 2023

This was Urresola's first feature film. Her goal of was for the audience to feel the ups and downs of a family with a transgender child. The inspiration for the story was the suicide of Ekai Lersundi [es; eu; gl] in 2018. Ekai Lersundi was a transgender 16-year-old boy from Ondarroa who had waited in vain for a hormonal treatment. Urresola was affected by the poignant note Lersundi left behind to illustrate his despair and his hope that divulging his suffering might bring about a societal change.[13][14][15][16]

The film tells the story of a transgender girl, and its effect on the family.[17][18] To help an accurate portrayal, Naizen [eu; es], a regional association for the families of transgender minors, worked with the director and provided guidance for Sofía Otero who played the main character.[19]

In the film, the family crosses borders, including the one that separates Bayonne in France and Laudio/Llodio in Spanish Basque Country. Although Spanish is predominant in that film, Basque and French are also heard. Urresola seeks naturalism in the conversations between the mother (Patricia López Arnaiz) and her children. Gender dysphoria is dealt with somewhat didactically, but with emotion. "Why am I like this?" asks little Cocó (Otero).[20]

As the director explains:

Spanish: La niña no se transforma, adquiere a lo largo de la película las herramientas para expresar quién es. La que se transforma es la familia.

English: The girl does not transform. Throughout the film, she acquires the tools to express who she is. What is transformed is the family.

— Estibaliz Urresola[21]

In addition to the festival awards that the film itself won and those that Urresola won as a director, Otero won a best performer award,[22] Patricia López Arnaiz won a best supporting actress award,[23] and there were two awards for best female ensemble cast.[24][25]

Filmography

Year Title English translation Director Producer Writer Editor Notes Ref.
2011 Adri Adri Yes No Yes No short film [26][27]
2013 1001 formas de tomar café 1001 Ways to Drink Coffee Yes No No No segment in short documentary [28]
2016 Voces de papel Paper Voices Yes No Yes co-editor Pello Gutierrez full-length documentary [29]
2018 Nor Nori Nork The Declensions Yes No Yes Yes short documentary film [27][30][31]
2020 Polvo somos We Are Dust Yes Yes Yes co-editor Ibai Elortza short film [32][33]
2022 Cuerdas Chords [es; eu] Yes co-producer Yes No short film [12][34]
2023 20.000 especies de abejas 20,000 Species of Bees Yes No Yes No feature length [35]

Awards and nominations

Overall awards for films directed by or directing awards received by Urresola
Year Film Festival award Category Result Ref.
2012 Adri 4th Gaudí Awards Best Short Film prenomimated [26]
2016 Voces de papel San Sebastián International Film Festival Premio Txapela de Oro for best documentary Won [7]
2022 Cuerdas Critics' Week Rails d'Ory Won [36]
Montpellier Mediterranean Film Festival [ca; fr] Grand prix du court métrage de Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole Won [37]
28th Forqué Awards Best Short Film Won [38]
Curtas Vila do Conde Best Fiction Won [39]
Guanajuato International Film Festival
Premio SIGNIS al Mejor Cortometraje Ficción Internacional Won [40]
2023 20,000 Species of Bees 73rd Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear Nominated [41]
Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas Won [42]
Berliner Morgenpost Reader's Jury Award Won
GWFF Best First Feature Award Nominated [43][44]
Teddy Award Nominated [45]
26th Málaga Film Festival
Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film
Won [23]
Seattle International Film Festival Official Competition Grand Jury Prize Won [46]
Guadalajara International Film Festival Iberoamerican Competition – Best Film Nominated [47]
Iberoamerican Competition – Best First Film Won
Iberoamerican Competition – Best Directing Won

References

  1. ^ "Estibaliz Urresola, Itziar Leemans y Tamara Lucarini, elegidas para el programa Noka". El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 24 January 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren". Semaine de la Critique du Festival de Cannes. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren". SensaCine.com (in Spanish). 22 February 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Estibaliz Urresola makes her feature debut with 20.000 especies de abejas". Cineuropa - the best of european cinema. 7 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Paper Voices". Sirimiri films. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Voces de papel". ZAZPIT'ERDI (in Spanish). 20 November 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Paralelas - Cuerdas" [Parallels - Chords]. Festival l'ALternativa (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Forqué saria lortu zuen atzo Esti Urresolak Madrilen, 'Cuerdas' pelikulagatik - Laudio" [Esti Urresola won the Forqué award yesterday in Madrid, for the film 'Cuerdas']. Aiaraldea.eus (in Basque). 18 December 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  9. ^ Barada, Marco (25 May 2022). "CUERDAS: Aprendiendo a alzar la voz en Cannes" ['Chords': learning to raise your voice in Cannes]. Cine con Ñ (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  10. ^ Velez, Natxo (18 May 2022). ""Asko pozten nau Cannesen egoteak, atxikimendu handia baitut filmak lantzen duen istorio eta gaiarekin"" ["I'm very happy to be in Cannes, because I have a strong attachment to the story and the theme of the film"]. EITB (in Basque). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  11. ^ "Chords". Sirimiri films. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Cuerdas / Dir: Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren / Spain / 2022". Marvin&Wayne Short Films. 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  13. ^ "The theme of transsexuality in childhood opens the Film and Human Rights Festival". Time News. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  14. ^ Belategui, Oskar (22 February 2023). "Estibaliz Urresola: "Quiero que el espectador sienta por lo que pasa una familia con una niña trans"" [Estibaliz Urresola: «I want the viewer to feel what a family with a trans girl goes through»]. BURGOSconecta (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  15. ^ Araluzea, Ane (26 February 2023). "La joven actriz de Basauri Sofía Otero, Oso de Plata en la Berlinale por '20.000 especies de abejas'" [The young actress from Basauri, Sofía Otero, wins the Silver Bear at the Berlinale for '20,000 Species of Bees']. Deia (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  16. ^ "A nova actriz Sofía Otero, Oso de Prata á mellor interpretación na Berlinale por '20.000 especies de abellas'" [A new actress Sofía Otero, Silver Bear for best performance at the Berlinale for '20,000 Species of Bees']. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 26 February 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  17. ^ Ramón, Esteban (22 February 2023). "'20.000 especies de abejas': la infancia trans en Berlín" ['20,000 Species of Bees': trans childhood in Berlin]. RTVE.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  18. ^ "Sofía Otero, Oso de Plata en la Berlinale por su interpretación de una niña trans en '20.000 especies de abejas'" [Sofía Otero, Silver Bear at the Berlinale for her portrayal of a trans girl in '20,000 Species of Bees']. LaSexta (in Spanish). Europa Press. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  19. ^ Rivas, Idoia (13 March 2023). "Naizen, asociación de familias de menores trans que asesoró a Sofía, ganadora en la Berlinale: "Es una gran actriz que ha sabido mostrar la realidad de nuestros hijos"" [Naizen, association of families of trans minors that advised Sofía, winner at the Berlinale: "She is a great actress who has known how to show the reality of our children"]. Nius Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  20. ^ Belategui, Oskar (22 February 2023). "'20.000 especies de abejas': el espíritu diverso de la colmena" ['20,000 Species of Bees': the diverse spirit of the hive]. El Comercio: Diario de Asturias (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  21. ^ Belategui, Oskar (20 April 2023). "'20.000 especies de abejas': Cuando Aitor se convirtió en Lucía" ['20,000 Species of Bees': When Aitor became Lucía]. Ideal (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  22. Hollywood Reporter
    . Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  23. ^ a b Rebolledo, Matías G. (18 March 2023). ""20.0000 especies de abejas" recolecta la Biznaga de Oro en el Festival de Málaga" ["20,000 species of bees" collects the Biznaga de Oro at the Malaga Festival]. La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  24. ^ Rosser, Michael (9 April 2023). "'Stonewalling', 'Totem' win top Hong Kong Firebird Awards". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  25. ^ "Termina FICG38 entre Aplausos y el Estreno del Cortometraje '27'" [FICG38 Ends to Applause and the Premiere of the Short Film '27']. FICG 38 (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  26. ^ a b "Adri". Sirimiri films. 22 February 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren". Marvin&Wayne Short Films. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  28. ^ "1001 formas de tomar café (película 2013) - Tráiler, resumen, reparto y dónde ver." [1001 Ways to Drink Coffee (2013 film) - Trailer, summary, cast and where to see]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  29. ^ "San Sebastian Film Festival". sansebastianfestival. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  30. ^ "The Declensions". Sirimiri films. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  31. ^ "ESTIBALIZ URRESOLA - NOR NORI NORK". estibalizurresola.com (in Spanish). 7 June 2019. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019.
  32. ^ "Polvo somos / Dir: Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren / Spain / 2020". Marvin&Wayne Short Films. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  33. ^ "Euskal Zinemaren Astea / Semana del Cine Vasco" [Basque Film Week] (PDF). kulturklik.euskadi.eus (in Spanish). 15 February 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  34. ^ Barco, Pilar (9 June 2022). "'Cuerdas', de la alavesa Estíbaliz Urresola, entra en Kimuak" [The Álava director Estibaliz Urresola premieres 'Cuerdas']. Diario de Noticias de Álava (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  35. ^ ""La Incubadoran parte hartzea oparia da; inflexio-puntu bat"" ["Participating in La Incubado is a gift; a turning point"]. Zineuskadi euskal ikus-entzunezko sektorea (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  36. ^ "El cortometraje "Cuerdas" de Estibaliz Urresola gana el premio Rails d'Or en Cannes" [The short film "Cuerdas" by Estibaliz Urresola wins the Rails d'Or award at Cannes]. EITB (in Spanish). 27 May 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  37. ^ "Le palmarès du 44e Cinemed 2022" [The winners of the 44th Cinemed 2022]. Cinemed Festival Cinéma Méditerranéen Montpellier (in French). October 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  38. ^ "Urresola se alza con el Premio Forqué por el corto 'Cuerdas'" [Urresola wins the Forqué Award for the short 'Cuerdas']. El Correo (in Spanish). 18 December 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  39. ^ "Awards Curtas Vila do Conde 2022". festival.curtas.pt. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  40. ^ "Ganadores 2022" [Winners 2022]. Festival Internacional de Cine / Guanajuato International Film Festival (in Spanish). 24 January 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  41. ^ Ramachandran, Naman; Vivarelli, Nick (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival Reveals Competition Lineup (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  42. ^ Roxborough, Scott (25 February 2023). "Berlin: '20,000 Species of Bees,' 'Totem' Among Independent Jury Winners". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  43. ^ "Films nominated for the GWFF Best First Feature Award". Berlinale. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  44. ^ Nikkhah Azad, Navid (2 February 2023). "GWFF Best First Feature Award Jury". Deed News. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  45. ^ "Feature Films: TEDDY nominated". Teddy Award (in German). Word Press. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  46. ^ "Seattle International Film Festival 2023 Award Winners". SIFF. 21 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  47. ^ "TERMINA FICG38 ENTRE APLAUSOS Y EL ESTRENO DEL CORTOMETRAJE '27'". Festival Internacional de Cine en Guadalajara (in Spanish). 9 June 2023. Retrieved 20 June 2023.

External links