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Interview with
Montserrat Guiu Valls, the Board Member of Huesca Film Festival
The current generation tends to communicate with images
Montserrat Guiu Valls graduated in History of Art at the University
of Barcelona, majoring in History of Cinema. After getting trained
Resorting and Technological Studies in George Eastman House in 1993,
she got the degree in Film Restoration from the Ministry of Culture
and Education in 1997. Guiu Valls is a board member of Huesca Film
Festival and its representative at the European Coordination of Film
Festivals (ECFF) from 2003 to 2005. She also was director of Native
American Film Festival in Barcelona, which took place in Barcelona
Contemporary Cultural Centre, 1998 to 2002. She produced the
documentary film “Who Killed Walter Benjamin” for TV3, Catalon
Television in 2004. Guiu Valls is an international competition Jury
member of Tehran Film Festival.
Have you ever made a film?
Not as a director, but I am a producer. I chose to work in cinema
because I was studied History of Art majoring Graphic History. I am
interested in art because it shows part of humanity and human
existence, as well as life and internal concerns of the human
beings. It is interested me. I have hired by Huesca Film Festival
about 10 years ago. Huesca is a little town in foothills of Pyrenees
Mountains. First, I was working as the secretary of juries, but two
years ago, they recommended to me to continue my work as one of the
board members of festival, and I accepted. Huesca Film Festival is
an old festival, and we celebrated its 33rd edition this year. I am
the festival’s representative in many film festivals, since I am the
only one who knows English language well. Our festival consists of
three sections: International, National, and IberoAmerican.
There is also a sub-section, which is Retrospective and consists of
three Tributes, including Luis Bunuel Award, which a veteran
filmmaker will receive that, there is also City of Huesca award that
we give to a young filmmaker. Short Film Retrospective is another
program of Huesca Film Festival.
What was the purpose of naming an award after city of Huesca. Does
it mean that social and cultural organizations of city could
interfere in organizing of festival?
At the beginning, this festival was independent. A bunch of film
buffs gathered and started out Huesca Film Festival. Gradually,
foundations like Ministry of Culture, local departments, office of
mayor and Ministry of Interior began to support the festival.
Huesca Film Festival founded in 1973, two years before Franco's
death, and you know, at that years Spain was so enthusiastic for
such a cultural and artistic act.
Usually, how many filmmakers and guests attend at the Huesca Film
Festival and how many films screens?
We show about 150 short and feature films. In Short Film section we,
receive more than 1000 films, but in the other sections of festival,
we do not show any submitted film. Totally, about 150 films screen
in three sections. Recently we signed a contract with Railway Co.
and it accepted to pay our guests tickets. We almost invite all of
our national filmmakers to attend at the film festival.
What would you say to those filmmakers whose films have not been
selected for various reasons?
Overall, it is a difficult task. We try to select different films,
and it is disturbing when we see a good film, which we could not
screen it for various reasons.
Is it hard for you to see all these short films?
Naturally, it is difficult. We get tired sometimes, but we take a
rest and then start our work again.
How do you find Tehran Film Festival?
It is a well-known festival. I was so curious about it, so I decided
to come here and find out more.
There are many interests in making short films, what do you think
about it?
Maybe, because, making a short film is too easy. I mean its process
is easy. However, the main reason is, people like to see a film in
which the filmmaker tells what he or she has in mind easily. The new
generation tends to communicate with images, and wants to see images
rather than reading book or magazine.
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