More than 340 films will participate in the 19th Madrid-PNR Film Festival

Among the more than 340 films received, there are all types of genres and formats, both feature films and short films, thus responding to what the organization of the contest stated as its objective: “to be a festival with a determined dedication to audiovisual production that manifests a renewing interest in the language, theme, format or production formulas.”

More than 340 films have been entered in the 19th edition of the Madrid Film Festival organized by the New Directors Platform. This figure confirms the success of the call that is evident year after year and that on this occasion represents close to 15% more than in the previous edition. The works presented will now undergo a strict selection for subsequent exhibition in one of the rooms planned by the festival organization as official venues: Círculo de Bellas Artes, Sala Berlanga and Cine Doré. Its director, Elena Medina de la Viña, points out the responsibility that this selection entails: "We have a difficult task ahead of us, that of having to select a limited number of films for the different official sections of the Festival; limitations of time and space force this."

Among the more than 340 films received, there are all types of genres and formats, both feature films and short films, thus responding to what the organization of the contest stated as a priority objective: “We want to be a festival with a determined dedication to audiovisual production that manifests a renewing interest in the language, theme, format or production formulas, both in cinema and in other audiovisual manifestations that use forms of exhibition other than that of the cinema, in the case of audiovisual installations or experimental creation, declared its director Elena Medina.

In view of the works received, it is clear that independent filmmakers are opting for other production formulas, since only 17% of the films have been filmed on cinematographic support (35, 16 and 8 mm), the majority opting for a varied range of digital supports, from the most professional ones such as Cine Alta or Red One, to the most alternative ones such as Mini DV; It is striking, in this sense, that only one of the feature films that arrived at the festival office was shot in 35 mm.

La Sala Belanga, collaborator in the Festival

The new Sala Berlanga, former California Cinema, depends on the Buñuel Institute and is equipped with all the projection systems that could be desired for holding a meeting like this: 35 millimeter projector and 4K digital projector, in addition to the possibility of showing 3D films. It has a capacity of 250 seats.

In this recently renovated room, the 19th Madrid Film Festival-PNR will program two activities. One of them is the cycle “They passed by here”, dedicated to the members of the PNR who currently carry out their main dedication in the field of feature films and are, today, recognized directors and producers. We can enjoy movies like The hours of the day (Jaume Rosales) or do it for me (Ángel Fernández Santos), among others. The other will be a tribute to Luciano de Berriatúa,
with a screening of several of his works, as well as the presentation of a book that includes his activity as an audiovisual author and as a film researcher, dedicated to the study and restoration of films from the silent period; He is a specialist in Murnau's work.