The San Sebastián International Film Festival has announced the films selected for its New Directors section, dedicated to discovering new talent, for the upcoming 73rd edition, which will take place from 19 to 27 September. Fourteen filmmakers from Europe, Latin America and Asia will present nine debut films and four second feature films in the section.

This year's selection will open with one of the most recognisable faces on the current scene, as four-time Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan stars in the British production Bad Apples [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film], a biting satire about a teacher forced to deal with a troubled student. The film is directed by Swedish filmmaker Jonatan Etzler, who made his debut with the Netflix film One More Time (2023).

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Another well-known face appears in Redoubt [+leggi anche:
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intervista: John Skoog
scheda film], the second feature film by Swedish director John Skoog, following his documentary Ridge [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film], which won the DOX:AWARD for Best Film at CPH:DOX in 2019. In it, French actor Denis Lavant plays a man who fortifies his home to protect himself in the event of war.

Joining them are debut works from European filmmakers, including British director Stroma Cairns’ The Son and the Sea [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Stroma Cairns, Imogen West
scheda film], a journey of two friends along the northeast coast of Scotland in which they discover a connection beyond words; Weightless [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Emilie Thalund
scheda film] by Danish director Emilie Thalund, in which a fifteen-year-old girl at a weight-loss camp meets a charismatic girl and a charming camp counsellor she is attracted to; and Russians Anton Yarush (screenwriter of the acclaimed Closeness [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] by Kantemir Balagov and Unclenching the Fists [+leggi anche:
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trailer
scheda film] by Kira Kovalenko), and Sergey Borovkov, who co-direct Foreign Lands, which follows a Russian film director obsessed with finding the perfect actress for his next project.

The section also includes the debut film by Kurdish director Seyhmus Altun, As We Breathe [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Şeyhmus Altun
scheda film], portraying a family in rural Anatolia after a devastating fire, and a participant in last year’s the professional section of the WIP Europa festival. Also featured is If We Don't Burn, How Do We Light Up the Night [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] by Costa Rican director Kim Torres, which follows a 13-year-old girl who feels trapped in her new family, and last year participated in WIP Latam. Rounding out the programme are the second feature by Chinese director Zhang Zhongchen, Nighttime Sounds; and the debut works by Taiwanese director Tsao Shih-Han, Before the Bright Day; Indian director Tribeny Rai, Shape of Momo; and Japanese director Yukari Sakamoto, White Flowers and Fruits, which will close the section.

In addition to these titles, the following Spanish productions have already been announced: Aro berria [+leggi anche:
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scheda film], the debut feature film by Irati Gorostidi Agirretxe, following her short film Contadores, which was selected for the Cannes Critics' Week; and Dance of the Living [+leggi anche:
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intervista: José Alayón
scheda film], the second feature by José Alayón.

The selection:

New Directors

Bad Apples [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Jonatan Etzler (UK) (opening film)
Dance of the Living [+leggi anche:
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intervista: José Alayón
scheda film] - José Alayón (Spain/Colombia)
As We Breathe [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Şeyhmus Altun
scheda film] - Seyhmus Altun (Turkey/Denmark)
The Son and the Sea [+leggi anche:
recensione
intervista: Stroma Cairns, Imogen West
scheda film] - Stroma Cairns (UK)
Aro berria [+leggi anche:
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scheda film] - Irati Gorostidi Agirretxe (Spain)
Shape of Momo - Tribeny Rai (India/South Korea)
Redoubt [+leggi anche:
recensione
intervista: John Skoog
scheda film] - John Skoog (Sweden/Denmark/Netherlands/Poland/Finland/UK/Switzerland)
Weightless [+leggi anche:
recensione
intervista: Emilie Thalund
scheda film] - Emilie Thalund (Denmark)
If We Don't Burn, How Do We Light Up the Night [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film] - Kim Torres (Costa Rica/Mexico/France)
Before the Bright Day - Tsao Shih-Han (Taiwan)
Foreign Lands - Anton Yarush & Sergey Borovkov (Russia)
Nighttime Sounds - Zhang Zhongchen (China)
White Flowers and Fruits - Yukari Sakamoto (Japan) (closing film)