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The 19th edition of the international documentary film festival Punto de Vista came to an end on Saturday 1st March, after a packed week in which it made Navarre the meeting place for the genre. The event, promoted by the government of Navarre and organised by the public company NICDO, featured a bill of films of modest technical means but bold in the way they approached film work. Over six weeks — from 24th February to 1st March — Punto de Vista brought together over 6,500 people at more than 70 sessions, including screenings and other related activities. The audiences came from Navarre itself and elsewhere, and included industry professionals from all over the world as well as film students. Moreover, the festival now announces that it will be holding its 20th edition from 2nd to 7th March next year.
The bill for this year's edition showcased titles that are not easy to see on the big screen. Thus, film-makers and artists like Frans van de Staak, Miñuca Villaverde, Anne-Marie Faux and Iñaki Garmendia featured in sections like In Focus, Lan and Contacts. The Official Selection brought together work by authors like José Luis Sepúlveda and Carolina Adriazola, emilio hupe, Mourad Ben Amor, José Luis García, Declan Clarke, Ana Comes, Ramón Balcells, Maddi Barber and Marina Lameiro, among others, a highlight being the large number of premieres — four world premieres, four international premieres, one European premiere, seven Spanish premieres and one Navarrese regional premiere. On the other hand, the local scene was represented in Termites thanks to the work of Isaías Griñolo, Víctor Ladera, Amparo Garrido, Carlos Baixauli, Joaquín Lisón and Rocío Montaño. Artificial intelligence in documentary making put in an appearance through personalities like Antonio Somaini, Ramón del Buey Cañas, Guillem Serrahima Solá and the Estampa collective. Finally, the X Films scheme boasted the world premiere of Volver a casa tan tarde by Celia Viada Caso, the film-maker who passed on the baton to her fellow Asturian Pablo Casanueva, as the latest guest film-maker who will be making a film in Navarre over the coming year.
The prizes awarded by the International Jury and the Youth Jury for entrants in the Official Selection went to four female and four male directors. The grand prize for best film went to Cuadro Negro by José Luis Sepúlveda and Carolina Adriazola, which also took the youth prize for best film. Anne Benhaïem won the Jean Vigo prize for Best Director for La limace et l’escargot. The prize for best short film went to Writing poems at the end of the world by Wonwoo Kim. The special audience prize for best film went to Cambium by Marina Lameiro and Maddi Barber. Finally, Pierre Louapre and Ramón Balcells earned Special Jury Commendations for their films La prunelle rouge and A., respectively.
The number of people with passes for the festival rose to 465, 8% up on 2024. They included industry professionals (231, or 50%), students (156, 33%), press (51, 11%), the Youth Jury (18, selected from 98 applicants, 4%) and Young Programmers (9, 2%).
On the other hand, Punto de Vista has renewed its extensive network of partners to go on raising its profile both nationally and internationally. Carrying on from previous years, the festival once again has the support of organisations and institutions including ICAA, Acción Cultural Española, Fundación SGAE (as part of its internationalisation programme), Pamplona city council, Centro Huarte, EiTB, Instituto Navarro de la Juventud, Carné Joven, Filmoteca de Catalunya, Filmoteca de Galicia, Navarra Music Commission, Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola, Golem, Courtisane Festival, Radio 3, Docs & Talks and the Festival Scope platform. And for 2025 these were joined by the Netherlands embassy, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Eye Filmmuseum and The Theater of The Matters; and professional networks were fostered through initiatives, meetings and working sessions set up by Navarra Film Industry, NAPAR, Doklab Navarra, CIMA and (H)emen.
A highlight among these partnerships was that established with Doc Alliance, a European network made up of seven of the most prestigious documentary festivals in Europe, which selected Punto de Vista as guest festival for 2025. Thus, representatives of these events travelled to Pamplona, and a range of joint activities, events and meetings were organised, kicking off in Pamplona with two presentations and a screening of the last winner of the Doc Alliance Prize, The Landscape and the Fury. The alliance is made up of the festivals CPH:DOX, Doclisboa, DOK Leipzig, FIDMarseille, Ji.hlava IDFF, Millennium Docs Against Gravity FF and Visions du Réel.
Also worth pointing out is the responsible nature of Punto de Vista, which this year once more set up the Red Balloon play scheme, in an effort to make the festival family-friendly for audiences, pass holders and the festival staff themselves. This was available for children from 6 months to 12 years old over several days. Moreover, its commitment to environmental sustainability was kept up, taking measures in all areas and departments of the festival.
In any case, Punto de Vista says goodbye until 2026, when it will be holding its 20th edition from 2nd to 7th March, led by a new artistic director. This year was Manuel Asín's last, continuing the convention of four-year stints established by the festival for this role. Applications will soon open for candidates wishing to submit their proposals to fill the role. Like this, the person selected will follow in the steps of Carlos Muguiro (2005—2009), Josetxo Cerdán (2010—2013), Oskar Alegria (2015—2017), Garbiñe Ortega (2018—2021) and Manuel Asín (2022—2025).
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