Elastica Films Boards Spanish 1978 social drama ‘Anekumen’ from Cannes Critics Week Selected Irati Gorostidi (EXCLUSIVE)

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Elastica Films, a leading distributor of both art-house and crossover Spanish films (responsible for acquiring Cannes winners like “Sentimental Value,” “The Secret Agent,” “Sound of Falling,” and entries such as “Romería” which it also produced, along with “Nouvelle Vague”), has taken on the Spanish production “Anekumen,” a film by emerging Basque director Irati Gorostidi.

The 16mm historical drama we’re working on will be presented as an ongoing project at the ECAM Forum Co-Production Market in Madrid, coming up next week.

Leading Basque actress Leire Appellaniz is involved in two productions, Apellaniz y de Sosa (The Sacred Spirit) and Sr. & Sra (“Samsara”), which she co-manages with Ion de Sosa and Aritz Moreno. According to Appellaniz, the film “Anekumen” aligns perfectly with her beliefs about cinema: it’s meaningful, ethically sound, artistically superior, and offers a feminine perspective. She has been closely watching the development of this project for the past seven to eight years.

Initially, there was a brief film titled “Contadores,” which debuted at Cannes Critics’ Week 2023 and functioned as both a preview and a foundation for the full-length version. This project brought together most of the original creative team, including cinematographer Ion de Sosa and Apellaniz. The short film centered around a workers’ movement in the Basque province of Gipuzkoa, and subsequently was developed into the initial segment of the extended feature film.

According to Gorostidi’s comprehensive study of Spain’s socio-political climate in the late 1970s, the story “Anekumen” takes place in San Sebastian in 1978 and revolves around factory workers who gather to contemplate a strike. However, the planned strike doesn’t materialize, leaving the most radical among them disheartened. In response, they choose to depart from the factory and join a hippie commune known as Anekumen, located in the mountains.

The filmmaker, with roots in Basque militant labor movements of her parents during the late 1970s commune era, expressed her eagerness to delve into that pivotal transformative phase in Spanish society, critically examine its storyline, challenge it and offer a fresh perspective.

Following several decades under Franco’s dictatorship, many individuals from my parents’ generation had high expectations for radical transformations, but were ultimately disillusioned. I aimed to link the workers’ movements of that era with the communal groups that sprouted in the Basque region, where people believed they could realize their utopian aspirations and escape the conventional structure of Spanish society.

During the 1970s-80s, unfortunately, the Basque Country is frequently remembered solely for the ETA armed conflict. However, it’s crucial to remember there were other political movements, like the Gipuzkoan workers movement, whose members strived for a better society. This is the image we aimed to capture in our film.” Apellaniz, who feels the movie will resonate with those aged 60+, politically engaged youth, and audiences interested in this significant part of Spanish history, expressed these thoughts.

In Gorostifi’s words, “The issues that mattered back then – sexual freedom, gender equality, environmental conservation – resonate deeply with my contemporaries. I believe this movie will inspire conversations and encourage people to ponder on the concept of collectivity and possibly more practical ways of living.”

Regarding the casting choice, Gorostifi opted for mainly non-acting individuals who were involved in the research process and demonstrated a personal interest in the subject matter.

At present, the movie is undergoing post-production phase. It has garnered backing from ICAA, Spain’s national film institute, as well as national public broadcaster RTVE and Basque regional public broadcaster EITB. The release is scheduled for early July.

At the ECAM Forum in Madrid, Apellaniz plans to present her own directorial debut, the science fiction drama “Zuria” which is currently in development and will be co-produced by Sr & Sra and Sayaka. The story takes place in Bilbao-Zuria in 2077, when the point of no return for climate disaster has been reached. We follow the lives of Carmen and her teenage daughter Ira, who are members of the ecofeminist group La Orden. They join forces with Las Niñas Torcidas, a group whose goal is to change the course of the planet’s fate.

Apellaniz shared that they’ve had a lifelong affection for science fiction, both in books and movies, with their father being a particularly avid fan. Though they’ve directed documentaries before, they felt a strong desire to move beyond that. They plan to create a dystopian drama that emphasizes ecological sustainability, spirituality, and feminist perspectives.

The bustling filmmaker will also represent “Balearic,” a survival drama by Ion de Sosa and partner, at the ECAM Forum, alongside actors Luka Péros, Christina Rosenvinge, and Maria Llopis. This Spanish-French production is being developed jointly by Umbracle Cine, Apellaniz y de Sosa, Jaibo Films, and France’s La Fabrica Nocturna Cineìma. As of now, distribution and sales arrangements are yet to be finalized.

Apellaniz mentioned that ECAM Forum is an ideal setting for presenting projects, as it’s relaxed and moderately-sized, making it conducive for high-quality discussions. He praised Alberto Valverde [ECAM Forum coordinator] and his team for their exceptional work in attracting essential industry professionals like programmers, producers, and sales agents that we need to network with. Apellaniz is excited about attending!

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2025-06-06 09:46