Scotland pays tribute to Catalan film

Scotland will pay its own tribute to Catalonia in September when Edinburgh once again hosts Scotland’s Catalan Film Festival, Homage to Catalonia, from 27 to 30, with the event moving to neighboring Glasgow from October 3 to 5. Festival organizers Cinemaattic announced a “new improved and extended format” for the festival on Tuesday, including features and short films, poetry and spoken word events, talks and special activities.

“Something unique is going on in Catalonia and we’re here to show Scots why Cannes, Berlin and other film meccas are turning their attention towards the ever effervescent Catalan film industry,” said festival programmer, Alberto Valverde.

Organized with the support of the Institut Ramon Llull, Catalan Films and Estrella Damm, the second edition of Homage to Catalonia will open in Edinburgh’s Summerhall arts center, while the Glasgow screenings will take place in one of Scotland's top venues, the Centre for Contemporary Arts, CCA Glasgow.

Meanwhile, the organizers say the films to be screened have been chosen to show the range of Catalan society, from its traditional rural life to its modern creative capital of Barcelona. Juanjo Gimenez’s Timecode, Lluís Quílez’s Graffiti, Xavier Marrades’ Cucli, and the latest and darkest proposal from animation masters Anna Solanas and Marc Riba, Cavalls Morts, are among the titles confirmed for the short film program.

Cinemaattic plans to announce more films on the festival program, as well as the names of filmmakers due to attend on July 24.