BCN Film Festival kicks off for week of stellar cinema and A-list stars

The BCN Film Fest kicked off on Thursday evening, with 'Bob Trevino Likes It' opening a week of stellar cinema in the Catalan capital.

This year the BCN Film Fest will see major Hollywood stars visit the Catalan red carpet such as Richard Gere, Ralph Fiennes, and director Michel Hazanavicius.

The vast majority of the screenings are taking place in Cinemes Verdi in Gràcia, but there are some open sessions in other locations around the city too. 

The full programme and tickets are available on the BCN Film Fest website. 

The opening of the festival saw actress and model Barbie Ferreira, known 'Euphoria', to Barcelona to present 'Bob Trevino Likes It'. Ferreira told the Catalan News Agency at the festival curtain-raiser that the film that deals with a "painful" subject but that, at the same time, it's one that has allowed her to bring out "her inner child."

The film follows the story of an insecure young woman who was abandoned by her father, who decides to find him on Facebook and make contact. It turns out to be a different man with the same name who was grieving the loss of his son, yet the two start a friendship nevertheless. 

Ferreira told ACN that this was not her first visit to the Catalan capital, as she first set foot on these shores at the age of 16. "I came to model, and I can say that Spain has a very special place in my heart, it is my favorite country in Europe and I am very excited because people will be able to see the film, I hope they have a good time," she said. 

Programme

This year's edition will pay tribute to actor Marcello Mastroianni and dedicate a retrospective to him on the centenary of his birth. The ninth edition will include 84 titles, including 17 world premieres, 1 international, 1 European, 19 Spanish and 18 Catalan.

The BCN Film Fest programme includes 'The Exiles' ('Los tortuga') by Belén Funes, the new film by Maria Ripoll 'This Too Shall Pass' ('También esto pasará'), 'La furgo' starring Pol López; 'Cuatro paredes', by Ibon Cormenzana; 'The Good Luck' ('La buena suerte') by Gracia Querejeta, 'La buena letra', by Celia Rico, and 'Rust', the film starring Alec Baldwin that was marked by an accidental death during filming.

The festival will close on May 2 with 'Las irresponsables' by Laura Mañá, which shows an alternative to the typical American teen hangover movies with three women who spend a crazy weekend in a luxury house in the countryside.

Stars

One of the big visits to the festival will be actor Richard Gere, who will return to the BCN Film Fest as a producer this time, presenting ‘Wisdom of Happiness’, a cinematic exploration of the intimate world of the Dalai Lama.

Actor Ralph Fiennes will receive the BCN Film Fest Honorary Award in recognition of his career and contribution to cinema. Fiennes will present his latest film ‘The Return’, together with director Uberto Pasolini. 

This year's edition will also feature French director Michel Hazanavicius, Oscar winner for 'The Artist' (2011) and will also be present at the festival to present his latest film, 'The Most Precious of Cargoes'.