SPAIN

20.000 especies de abejas

2023 – DCP – color – 125’

Direction: Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren

Screenplay: Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren

Cinematography: Gina Ferrer García

Editing: Raúl Barreras

Set design: Izaskun Urkijo Alijo

Costumes: Nerea Torrijos

Cast: Sofía Otero (Cocó/Lucía), Patricia López Arnaiz (Ane), Ane Gabarain (Lourdes), Itziar Lazkano (Lita), Sara Cózar (Leire), Martxelo Rubio (Gorka)

Producers: Lara Izagirre Garizurieta, Valérie Delpierre

Production: Gariza Films, Inicia Films in association with Sirimiri Films 

World sales: Luxbox

synopsis

An eight-year-old child struggles with the fact that people keep addressing her in confusing ways. During a summer in the Basque Country among the beehives, she explores her identity alongside the women

director’s statement

“The film pays homage to diversity, as vouched for by the insects of the title, which allowed me to work on the image of the family beehive, where each bee has its specific and necessary role for the group to function. This higher organism (the hive) is governed by its own rules, which is interesting to identify in a family. This is where the tension is created between the individual and the collective, with this portrait of different, diverse and necessary bees (grandmothers, aunts, mothers, daughters, etc.) for social functioning. I was also interested not only in focusing on the journey of the character of Cocó/Lucía, the child protagonist, but also in how the gaze of those around her transformed. For that, I needed to create this environment of different people receiving, accepting and confronting the reality that is brought to the table.”

premi awards

2023 Berlinale – Competition: Silver Bear for Best Actress to Sofía Otero

2023 Guadalajara IFF: Ibero-American Film Award for Best First Feature, Best Direction, Maguey Prize for Best Acting Ensemble

2023 Hong Kong IFF – Young IFF Competition: Best Actress

2023 Malaga IFF: Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film

2023 San Sebastián IFF: Sebastiane Award

2023 Seattle IFF – Competition: Grand Jury Prize