Both films will be presented as part of the non-competitive Zabaltegi section which showcases the most intriguing new films from around the world. Apart from The Here After and The Magic Mountain, Zabaltegi will be screening 22 other productions from all over the globe.
Magnus von Horn’s The Here After in San Sebastián
The Here After is about John, a teenager who leaves a young offender’s home hungry to start a new life. Unfortunately, the local community he comes back to has neither forgotten nor forgiven his crimes. His return triggers the worst in everybody, and a lynching atmosphere builds up around him. Feeling abandoned by his former friends and loved ones, John starts to lose hope. The aggression that had once plunged him into prison starts to take control again. Unable to leave the past behind, he realises he has to confront it.
The cinematographer for Magnus von Horn’s film is Łukasz Żal, recently nominated for an Oscar for his work on Paweł Pawlikowski’s Ida. Starring in the main roles are Ulrik Munther, Mats Blomgren, Alexander Nordgren and Wiesław Komasa. The world premiere of the Swedish-Polish film took place at the 68th Cannes Film Festival, and it was also shown at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
The Magic Mountain in San Sebastián
The Magic Mountain is by Anca Damian, director of the renowned Crulic – The Path to Beyond. It’s the story of Adam Jacek Winkler, a Pole who left Poland in 1965 for Paris. During the Soviet-Afghan War, he joined Ahmad Shah Massoud’s army as it battled against communist invaders, fighting shoulder to shoulder alongside Afghani fighters. Anca Damian uses The Magic Mountain to tell his story, painting a portrait of this extraordinary individualist.
Damian’s film is a Polish-French-Romanian co-production, combining animated film techniques with documentary narration. It was produced by Aparte Films, with co-production from Filmograf, SMF, the Krakow Festival Office, the Krakow Film Commission and Arizona Productions. The film was co-financed by the Polish Film Institute, Telewizja Polska, KFF, CNC France, CNC Romania and HBO Romania. The Magic Mountain received a Special Jury Mention at the 50th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival during which the film was given its world premiere.
The San Sebastián International Film Festival is one of the film industry’s most important events and was staged in 1953. Polish laureates of the festival include filmmakers such as Janusz Morgenstern (who won the Silver Shell for Best Director in 1967 for Jovita), Andrzej Wajda (who won the Golden Shell for The Orchestra Conductor in 1980), Radosław Piwowarski (Golden Shell in 1985 for Yesterday), and Mirosław Bork (Silver Shell for Best Director in 1989 for Konsul).
In the last few years, audiences at the Spanish event have had the opportunity to watch Polish films such as Traffic Department by Wojciech Smarzowski, and Marcin Wrona’s The Christening.
The 63rd San Sebastián International Film Festival will take place from 18th to 26th September 2015. More information can be found on the festival’s official website.
Source: PISF, edited by BS, translated by AZ