CoppolasThe Last Showgirlheads to San Sebastian following a debut in Toronto.
The film stars Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dave Bautista.
Also heading to Spain from The Six is Mike LeighsHard Truths, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Michele Austin.
Jose Luis Rebordinos.Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images.
Another Toronto transplant is Laura CarreirasOn Falling.
The pic follows the precarious life of a Portuguese warehouse worker in Scotland and is Carreiras feature directorial debut.
These titles joinEmmanuelle, the latest movie fromAudrey Diwan, which opens the Official Selection competition this evening.
DEADLINE: Jose, how are you?
REBORDINOS:Im good.
Im not a nervous man and Im old, which is the best combination when working through tough situations.
The last few months have been very complicated.
I am very tired but Im okay.
We are very happy with this years competition selections.
DEADLINE: Audrey Diwans Emmanuelle is your opening film.
That film has been a long time coming.
What can you tell us about it and why did you pick it for opening night?
For me, this new film by Audrey Diwan is very special.
This Emmanuelle is different.
Its a version made by a woman and its a feminist Emmanuelle.
The film speaks about a womans right to consent but also speaks about womens desires.
This Emmanuelle is not the object of desire in the film.
She desires other people, which is very interesting.
Its an erotic film, very political, and I love it a lot.
To have the film opening night in competition was perfect for us.
The first Emmanuel was banned in Spain so many people travelled to France to see it.
DEADLINE: I have always thought San Sebastian was quite politically engaged.
How do you balance engaging in wider social issues and presenting an engaging and exciting festival?
REBORDINOS:I dont know if were a particularly political festival.
Cinema is always a witness to society.
At our festival, we have films focused on many things happening right now in the world.
But we also have films that are solely interested in entertainment.
But human rights are indeed very important to us.
We are not activists.
People on both the left and right are welcome here.
But people on the ultra-right who dont respect human rights are not.
They are not with us.
Cultural work is important because it can define and promote human rights.
We are not an activist festival, but just a festival in support of human rights.
DEADLINE: Johnny Depp returns this year with Modi Three Days on the Wing of Madness.
What can you tell us about that film?
And Depps presence obviously comes with some controversy.
Why invite him back?
REBORDINOS:Johnny Depp for us is a festival friend.
Hes coming to San Sebastian.
Its not up to me to say if someone is an abuser.
Im not a police officer or a judge.
For me, Modi is a very free film and its very special.
The film speaks about current changes in the arts.
Its a crazy film and its very free.
DEADLINE: This is the third year of the Creative Investors Conference.
How well has the event performed?
In a few years, we will see more and more projects.
This is important because previously in San Sebastian there was no industry.
But little by little, we are growing.
And its becoming bigger every year.
The hotels are full of people.
Its a problem but we are very happy.
We are getting more premiere titles are more guests because people want to be in San Sebastian.
Its not our goal to have all the world premieres.
We never ask for world premieres.
It is always the producer or filmmaker who says they prefer the world premiere.
We are one of the last festivals of the year.
If a film goes to Venice or Toronto we can still have the film out of competition.
We know very well what kind of festival we want to be.
We know our role.
We are not here to fight with Venice.
We can have more new directors.
For example, We Live in Time by John Crowley will be screened this year.
Crowleys first film debuted in New Directors at San Sebastian.
We love to say we are the smallest festival amongst the big festivals.
And we are okay with that.
DEADLINE: Laura Carreiras On Falling is the debut British title in competition.
What can you tell us about that film?
REBORDINOS:Its an incredible film.
This girl will be in competition at Cannes with her second or third film.
Her short films are very good too.
We love this film a lot.
