On Friday, April 24, the Center for West European Studies, with the Division of Spanish and Portuguese and the Instituto Cervantes, will bring together a Spanish woman film director and four distinguished scholars of Spanish film, to discuss women on the other side of the lens in Spanish film:  directors, editors, cinematographers. These visionary cinematic voices are rarely heard, and their distinctive angle often refreshes and surprises audiences. Five new features and short films allow viewers to explore the diverse array of themes women in film are confronted with and expand traditional notions of “women’s issues.”

1-5 PM:  Walker Ames Room. 
Katy Vernon (SUNY Stonybrook), Susan Martin Márquez (Rutgers), Susan Larson (Kentucky), and María Camí-Vela (North Carolina) will present papers on different aspects of women in Spanish film production, from the Franco years to the very contemporary.  Four UW film faculty members will respond briefly to each paper before opening general discussion with the audience.

5-5:30 PM:  Break

5:30-7:00 PM:  Gowen 201.
Featured director Judith Colell, direct from Spain, will present a clip of 53 Winter Days and will engage the participants and the audience in a discussion.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Seattle
NORTHWEST FILM FORUM, Seattle
Spanish Cinema:  Women on the Other Side of the Lens. An International Symposium
LOCATION: CMU 120 at University of Washington
SCHEDULE: All screening start at 7:00 PM and are free of charge

April 13: The Classroom, Take My Eyes
April 15: She Lies, Elegy
April 20: Skunks, The Best of Me
April 22: Libra, Pretexts

A special screening of 53 WINTER DAYS and THE HAPPY MAN at NORTHWEST FILM FORUM with introduction and Q&A with the director, Judith Colell.
April 23 7:00 PM and 9:15 PM
1515 12th Ave
Seattle, WA 98122
Admission charged

Doina wants to give a birthday present to her young sister, but it isn’t that easy. Goya Award 2009 as Best Short Film.

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With Marian Álvarez, Juan Sanz, Lluís Homar. In her début film, director/writer Roser Aguilar makes the perfect addition to an emerging talent team with producers Aintza Serra and Ester Velasco. Locarno award-winning actress Marian Álvarez stars in this emotionally honest melodrama as Raquel, a young woman conflicted about serving as an organ donor for her lover. The dilemma: the lover has been cheating on her, and a nurse deems him unworthy of Raquel. The Hollywood Reporter praised Aguilar’s film: “The strength of Álvarez’ performance adds depth to the picture’s wise and melancholy conclusion.”

With Silvia Munt, Laia Marull, Ramon Madaula. Silvia Munt, one of Spain’s finest actresses, makes an impressive directorial début with a film she describes as being “written by and for women” and for which she was named Best Director at this year’s Málaga Film Festival. The screenplay, written by Munt with Eva Baeza, offers intricate parallels and emotions as it examines the complex and contradictory lives of theater director Viena (Munt) and her husband Daniel (Ramon Madaula), a doctor in a geriatric clinic.

Carlota reports strongly about everyday’s issues creating a high impact in this very short film. This is a very short film with a great impact Two weeks. That’s what Libra’s main character asks for.

Screenplay, Gemma Ventura. With Mercedes Sampietro, Alex Brendemühl. "One winter’s night, three people waiting for a bus look on as a dog is abandoned. Gentle, character-based "53 Winter Days" interweaves three naturalistic short pieces about troubled lives—one psychological, one emotional, one social—into an unexpectedly resonant, understated whole, and through its themes—loneliness, communication breakdown, the great importance of small events—makes for sporadically powerful and moving viewing. First-time Spanish filmmaker Judith Colell and scriptwriter Gemma Ventura skillfully interweave a trio of stories into a powerful existential experience." - Variety, Jonathan Holland

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FILMMAKER IN ATTENDANCE!

Gil’s keen eye responds to this daring and good humores question: Does the Happy Man Exist?