Eleven Moviemakers to Showcase Their Films in San Sebastian Festival’s New Directors Section

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Eleven moviemakers from Argentina, China, France, Georgia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, and the USA will present their first and second films in the San Sebastian Festival’s New Directors section. These filmmakers, along with additional participants to be announced soon, will compete for the prestigious Kutxabank-New Directors Award, which comes with a prize of 50,000 euros.

Among the diverse lineup, Turkish-Kosovar co-production *Gülizar / Gulizar* stands out. Directed by Belkis Bayrak from Istanbul, this feature debut follows the story of a young woman who becomes a victim of sexual assault just before her wedding. Bayrak, known for her short films *Apartman / The Apartment* (2018) and *Cemile* (2021), has garnered international attention for her previous works.

French-Japanese director Koya Kamura brings *Hiver à Sokcho / Winter in Sokcho* to the festival. This French-Korean co-production features Roschdy Zem and Bella Kim, and tells the story of a young Korean girl whose life changes dramatically with the arrival of a French artist. Kamura, whose short film *Homesick* (2019) received critical acclaim, is making his feature film debut with this project.

Sivaroj Kongsakul from Bangkok presents his second feature film, *Regretfully at Dawn*. Kongsakul's first film, *Eternity* (2010), was showcased at various international festivals, including Busan, Rotterdam, and Hong Kong. His new film intertwines the lives of an old man, a young girl, and a soldier, highlighting the complexities of their fates.

Georgia’s Akaki Popkhadze, known for his short films *Je vois* (2018) and *Ici en silence tout hurle / In Silence Everything Roars* (2023), debuts his first feature film *Brûle le sang / In the Name of Blood*. This French-Belgian-Austrian co-production, set in Nice, follows the aftermath of a murder within the Georgian community. The film stars Nicolas Duvauchelle, Florent Hill-Chouaki, and Denis Lavant.

Chinese filmmaker Yongkang Tang will compete with his second film, *Stars and the Moon*. Known for *Walking in Darkness* (2019), which premiered in the Bright Future section of the Rotterdam Festival, Tang's new film tells the story of a boy from a mountain village who believes he will see aliens every day as he gazes at the sky.

Michael Tyburski from New York, who made his debut at the Sundance Festival with *The Sound of Silence* (2019), will present his second film, *Turn Me On*. This sci-fi romantic comedy, starring Bel Powley and Nick Robinson, is set in a futuristic community where people must take a daily pill to suppress all human emotions.

These filmmakers, with their unique storytelling styles and diverse backgrounds, bring a rich tapestry of narratives to the San Sebastian Festival. The New Directors section promises to be a captivating showcase of emerging talent in the global film industry.