SYNOPSIS

An eight-year-old child struggles with the fact that people keep addressing her in confusing ways. During a summer in the Basque Country among the beehives, she explores her identity alongside the women of her family, who at the same time reflect on their own lives and desires.  

Original Title: 20.000 Especies de Abejas Country: Spain Year: 2023 Ratio: 1,85:1 Sound: 5.1. Length: 125 min Languages: Spanish, Basque and French

Biography

Graduated in Audiovisual Communication (UPV-Bilbao), Editing Theory (EICTV Cuba), Master in Film Direction and Master in Film Business (ESCAC). She has directed the short films Adri and Ashes and Dust and the feature-length documentary Paper Voices premiered at San Sebastián. Her latest short film Chords has premiered at the Semaine de la Critique Cannes and has won several national and international prizes, among which Best Short Film in the Forqué Awards. In 2023 Estibaliz Urresola premiered her first feature film 20.000 Species of Bees.

FILMOGRAPHY

20,000 Species of Bees - 2023

Chords - Short Film - 2022

Ashes and Dust - Short Film - 2020

The Declensions - Short Film - 2018

Paper Voices - 2016

Adri - Short Film - 2012

Crew

Director and Screenwriter: Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren DOP: Gina Ferrer García Art Director: Izaskun Urkijo Alijo Editor: Raúl Barreras Costume Design: Nerea Torrijos Sound Design: Koldo Corella Production Sound Design: Eva Valiño Produced by: Gariza Films, Inicia Films In Association With: Sirimiri Films World Sales:  Luxbox

Cast

Sofía Otero, Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabarain, Itziar Lazkano, Sara Cózar, Martxelo Rubio, Unax Hayden, Andere Garabieta, Miguel Garcés

FESTIVALS & AWARDS

Berlinale - Official Selection - Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance - 2023 

Málaga Film Festival - Feature Films Official Section - Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film, Silver Biznaga for Best Supporting Actress - 2023

Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris - Competition - 2023

Hong Kong International Film Festival - Young Cinema Competition - Best Actress - 2023

Internacional Film Festival of Uruguay - Closing Film - 2023

Istanbul Film Festival - Young Masters - 2023

Seattle International Film Festival - Official Competition - Grand Jury Prize - 2023 

Guadalajara International Film Festival - Official Competition: Ibero-American Feature Film - Best First Feature, Best Directing, Best Acting Ensemble - 2023

Sydney Film Festival - Features - 2023

Curtas Vila do Conde International Film Festival - Special Screenings: Opening and Closing - 2023 

New Horizons International Film Festival - Third Eye: Non-masculine/Non-feminine - 2023

Melbourne International Film Festival - International - 2023

European Film Awards - European Discovery Prix Fipresci Nominee - 2023

Helsinki International Film Festival - Audience Vote Award - 2023

Calgary International Film Festival - International Narrative Competition – 2023

San Sebastián International Film Festival - Zinemira - Sebastiane Award - 2023

Athens International Film Festival - International Competition - City of Athens Best Director Award – 2023

Reykjavík International Film Festival - Open Seas - 2023

BFI London Film Festival - Love - 2023

Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival - Expectations - Best International Feature - 2023

Cinespaña Festival - Fiction Competition, Emerging Filmmakers Competition - Audience Award, Emerging Filmmaker Award, Best Screenplay - 2023

Hamptons Film Festival - Narrative Competition - Best Narrative Feature - 2023

Gent International Film Festival - Gala & Specials - 2023

Cinemed Mediterranean Film Festival of Montpellier - Feature Films Panorama - Midi Libre Audience Award - 2023

Kyiv International Film Festival Molodist - International Competition - Special Mention - 2023

Tokyo International Film Festival - World Focus Special Spotlight: Basque Cinema - Ethical Film Award - 2023

Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival - World Cinema - 2023

Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival - Youth Programme - 2023

Zagreb Film Festival - Main Program: Feature Films - 2023

Ljubljana International Film Festival - Perspectives - 2023

FICVIÑA - Forming New Audiences - 2023

Slovak Queer Film Festival - Contemporary (Queer) Film - 2023

Kolkata International Film Festival - Special Feature Spain - 2023

Tromsø International Film Festival - Competition - 2024

Pune International Film Festival - World Competition - 2024

Festival de Cine Global - First Feature Competition - 2024

Lux Audience Award - Nominee - 2024

Goya Awards - Best New Director Award - Best Supporting Actress - Best Original Screenplay - 2024

Gaudí Awards - Best Non-Catalan Language Film - Best New Director - 2024

FRAMELINE LGBT Film Festival - Best First Film Feature - 2023

Almeria International Film Festival - Best First Film & Best Screenplay - 2023

Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren

Writer-Director

"A gentle, humane Spanish drama"

"A masterful touch in an engaging, authentic, moving film”

“gentleness and delicacy in this heartfelt family drama”