With a touch of Hollywood glamour

A TOUCH of Hollywood glamour is coming to Spain as one of the world’s most important film festivals is set to start.

It may not have the cachet of Cannes, but the San Sebastian International Film Festival is acknowledged to be one of the most important in the annual rota of movie festivals.

It has come a long way since its inception in 1953 when it was for Spanish language films only. By 1955 its remit was extended to include ‘foreign’ movies, specialising in colour, and since then it has never looked back.

Officially it is one of the 14 ‘A’ category competitive film festivals accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations, and has attracted a host of star names over the years.

This time round, Denzel Washington, who will receive a Donostia award, will open the festival tomorrow (Friday) alongside American director Antoine Fuqua as the curtains go up on their latest film The Equalizer for its European Premiere.

Charlotte Gainsbourg (daughter of Jane Birkin) and French actor Omar Sy together with directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano will be the star attractions at the closing gala on September 27 with the film Samba.

Other stars due to make an appearance are Willem Dafoe, Antonio Banderas, John Malkovich, Pedro Almodóvar and Viggo Mortensen.