Martin I. Petrov

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Simple and classy, the 11th edition of FEST: New directors | new films festival opened last night at the Cento Multimeios de Espinho in Espinho, Portugal. With selected guests from Belgium, Greece, Germany and numerous more expected during the week, the festival promises another edition full of carefully selected films and workshops, masterclasses and talks as part of its Training Ground, kicking off today and featuring names like Fernando Trueba, Peter Webber, Guillermo Navarro and Peter Doyle. 

The director of the festival Filipe Pereira opened this years edition by thanking all the guests that came to the small Portuguese town to celebrate cinema "as without them, what we do would be meaningless". 

The opening film 10 000 km, a SXSW and Goya Award winner, is romantic drama about a couple that after seven years of shared life, faces the difficulty of a long distance relationship between Barcelona and LA. With par cinematography the film wins with its great aesthetic and although focusing on two characters, it creates an iviting atmosphere. Following the steps of Beautiful Youth (Hermosa Juventud), that achieved a great success in the festival circuit, 10 000 km is more light-hearted and romantic, yet a noteworthy debut from Spanish Carlos Marques-Marcet.