The 66th San Sebastián International Film Festival, set to unspool from 21-29 September, is putting the finishing touches to its programme and has added a number of new titles that will be battling it out for the Golden Shell (after seven films were announced previously – see the news). Standing out amongst the European representatives is the directorial debut by Scandinavian actress Tuva Novotny (who graced screens recently in Borg/McEnroe [+lire aussi :
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fiche film]), Blind Spot [+lire aussi :
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interview : Tuva Novotny
fiche film], a Norwegian production about the lack of communication between a mother and daughter; and the second directorial effort by French thesp Louis Garrel (Les Deux Amis [+lire aussi :
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fiche film]), A Faithful Man [+lire aussi :
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interview : Louis Garrel
fiche film], which he also stars in alongside Laetitia Casta and Lily-Rose Depp, and which tackles complex romantic relationships.

Another European filmmaker who will be jetting off to San Sebastián with his brand-new feature is the UK’s Peter Strickland, who previously stunned audiences with his audacious movies Berberian Sound Studio [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] and The Duke of Burgundy [+lire aussi :
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fiche film]. This time, he will be brandishing In Fabric [+lire aussi :
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interview : Peter Strickland
fiche film], which boasts a curious synopsis, to say the least, as the movie charts the course of a “cursed dress during the winter sales period in a department store”: originality and a whole host of surprises are guaranteed.

In a league of his own, Belgium’s Felix Van Groeningen, who was widely acclaimed for the tear-jerker The Broken Circle Breakdown [+lire aussi :
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interview : Felix van Groeningen
interview : Felix Van Groeningen
interview : Felix Van Groeningen
fiche film] (2013), went to the USA to shoot Beautiful Boy, a family drama set against the backdrop of drug addiction, and toplined by superstars Steve Carell and Timothée Chalamet (renowned for his excellent turn in Call Me by Your Name [+lire aussi :
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Q&A : Luca Guadagnino
fiche film]).

Two other titles that will be vying for the top prize hail from Asia: Alpha, the Right to Kill by Filipino master Brillante Mendoza, who is heading to the Spanish festival for the first time with this chronicle of the crackdown on drug trafficking by his country’s police; and Baby, directed by China’s Liu Jie, a heartrending critique of the birth control imposed by the government of this powerful Asian country.

Lastly, we should mention the movie that will have the honour of opening the 63^rd edition of the San Sebastián Film Festival: Argentina’s An Unexpected Love, directed by producer Juan Vera and starring that seething hot tub of charisma better known as Ricardo Darín. The red carpet has thus assured its first star, and Darín will be followed by the two Donostia Award winners, the USA’s Danny deVito and Japan’s Hirokazu Kore-eda, among countless others.

Here is a list of the latest titles to be announced:

Competition

Alpha, the Right to Kill – Brillante Mendoza (Philippines)
Baby – Liu Jie (China)
Beautiful Boy – Felix Van Groeningen (USA)
Blind Spot [+lire aussi :
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interview : Tuva Novotny
fiche film] – Tuva Novotny (Norway)
In Fabric [+lire aussi :
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interview : Peter Strickland
fiche film] – Peter Strickland (UK)
A Faithful Man [+lire aussi :
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interview : Louis Garrel
fiche film] – Louis Garrel (France)
An Unexpected Love – Juan Vera (Argentina) (opening film)