20,000 Species of Bees

20,000 Species of Bees (Spanish: 20.000 especies de abejas) is a 2023 Spanish drama film written and directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren in her debut feature and starring Sofía Otero, Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabarain and Itziar Lazkano. The film narrates the story of Lucía, a eight-year-old girl, who is in quest for identity. During a summer in a village house linked to beekeeping, she explores her femininity alongside the women of her family who at the same time reflect on their own femininity.[1]

20,000 Species of Bees
Official poster
Directed byEstibaliz Urresola Solaguren
Screenplay byEstibaliz Urresola Solaguren
Produced by
  • Lara Izagirre Garizurieta
  • Valérie Delpierre
Starring
CinematographyGina Ferrer García
Edited byRaúl Barreras
Production
companies
  • Gariza Films
  • Inicia Films
Distributed by
  • BTeam Pictures
  • Luxbox
Release dates
  • 22 February 2023 (2023-02-22) (Berlinale)
  • 21 April 2023 (2023-04-21) (Spain)
Running time
125 minutes
CountrySpain
Languages

It was selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 22 February 2023.[2] Nine-year old Sofía Otero won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for the role of Lucía.[3] The film was also nominated for Best Feature Film Teddy Award.[4] Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, the first feature director was nominated for GWFF Best First Feature Award in the festival.[5] In March 2023, the film won Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film at the 26th Málaga Film Festival, an annual film festival held in Málaga, Spain.[6] It was released in Spain cinemas on 21 April 2023.[7]

Cast
Crew and cast of the film at Berlinale
  • Sofía Otero as Lucía
  • Patricia López Arnaiz as Ane
  • Ane Gabarain as Lourdes
  • Itziar Lazkano as Lita
  • Sara Cózar as Leire
  • Martxelo Rubio as Gorka
  • Miguel Garcés
  • Unax Hayden
  • Andere Garabieta

Production
Sofía Otero with crew of the film

In July 2021, Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren was selected in the Mediterranean Film Institute (MFI), MFI Script 2 Film Workshops, which focuses on the field of training, specialising in script and project development.[8] She also took part in the Berlinale Co-Production Market, feature-film project in 2022. The film was one of the 19 official selected projects for the 2022 Berlinale Co-Production Market. Inicia Films and Gariza Films took charge of the production.[9][10]

The cast was finalized as: Sofía Otero as Lucía, Patricia López Arnaiz as Ane, Ane Gabarain as Lourdes, Itziar Lazkano as Lita, Sara Cózar as Leire Martxelo Rubio as Gorka along with Miguel Garcés, Unax Hayden and Andere Garabieta.[7]

Shooting locations included Laudio and Hendaye.[11][12]

Release

20,000 Species of Bees had its world premiere on 22 February 2023 as part of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, in competition. It also made it to the 26th Málaga Film Festival's main competitive slate.[13] In April it competed in the 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival, where it won the best actress for its female ensemble cast.[14]

It was theatrically released in Spain on 21 April 2023.[7]

It was reported on 14 January 2023 that Paris-based Luxbox has acquired the international sales right of the film, whereas BTeam Pictures will release the film in Spain.[15] Film Movement acquired North-American distribution rights to the film.[16]

Reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 93% based on 15 reviews, with an average rating of 7.10/10.[17]

Alfonso Rivera reviewing for Cineuropa praised Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren writing, "the filmmaker addresses plurality, exploration and transformation with a stratospheric sensitivity." Rivera praising performances of Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabarain and Sofía Otero wrote, "superb work by her actresses, but there are not enough adjectives to commend Sofía Otero (keep an eye on her, it is impossible not to succumb to her talent)."[18] Nicholas Bell in IonCinema.com graded the film 3/5 and wrote, "Touching and without being overly sentimental, Solaguren uses the titular diversity of bees to suggest our authentic roles all play an important part if we are to move beyond surviving to actually thriving".[19] Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter calling the film "A compassionate coming-of-ager" praised the performances of: Sofía Otero writing, "The endearing Otero, who makes her screen debut, is clearly the centerpiece of the film" and for Patricia López Arnaiz writing, "effortlessly playing a mother in the midst of a midlife crisis that becomes transformative as well." Concluding Mintzer opined, "20,000 Species of Bees returns to Ane’s loving — most memorably at the very close of the film when she not only firmly stands by her youngest child’s bold decision, but appears to be empowered by it." Further adding, "As are we."[20] The film featured in compilation '15 films that stood out at Berlin 2023' of ScreenDaily.[21] Lee Marshall for Screen International in his review praised Otero performance writing, "Sofia Otero is never less than compelling, her face a deep pool that becomes a magnet for the audience". In concluding paragraph, she referred to the scene that featured towards the end in Víctor Erice's 1973 classic The Spirit of the Beehive and Frankenstein, where people go in the search for a missing girl and wrote, "It’s a masterful touch in an engaging, authentic, moving film about the way society persists in seeing monsters where there are none."[22]

Accolades
Sofía Otero, with the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for 20,000 Species of Bees
Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 25 February 2023 Golden Bear 20,000 Species of Bees Nominated [23]
Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas Won [24]
Berliner Morgenpost Reader’s Jury Award Won
GWFF Best First Feature Award Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren Nominated [5][25]
Teddy Award 20,000 Species of Bees Nominated [4]
Silver Bear for Best Leading PerformanceSofía OteroWon[3]
Málaga Film Festival 18 March 2023Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film20,000 Species of BeesWon[6]
Silver Biznaga for Best Supporting ActressPatricia López ArnaizWon
Hong Kong International Film Festival 9 April 2023 Best Actress award Female ensemble cast Won [26]

Listicle
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Screen International 2023 15 films that stood out at Berlin 2023 1st [21]

See also

References
  1. Solaguren, Estibaliz Urresola (10 February 2023). "20,000 Species of Bees". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  2. Rosser, Michael (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival reveals 2023 competition line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  3. Scott Roxborough (25 February 2023). "Berlin: French Documentary 'On the Adamant' Wins Golden Bear for Best Film". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  4. "Feature Films: TEDDY nominated". Teddy Award (in German). Word Press. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  5. "Films nominated for the GWFF Best First Feature Award". Berlinale. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  6. Rebolledo, Matías G. (18 March 2023). ""20.0000 especies de abejas" recolecta la Biznaga de Oro en el Festival de Málaga" ["20,000 species of bees" collects the Biznaga de Oro at the Malaga Festival]. La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  7. Rosado, Ricardo (23 January 2023). "'20.000 especies de abejas', formará parte de la sección oficial del Festival de Berlín" ['20,000 Species of Bees' will be part of the official section of the Berlin Festival]. Fotogramas (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  8. Economou, Vassilis (1 July 2021). "The MFI Script 2 Film Workshops announce their selected projects". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  9. Economou, Vassilis (14 January 2022). "The Berlinale Co-Production Market announces its selection for 2022". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  10. "Anschub für 34 attraktive Spielfilmprojekte: Berlinale Co-Production Market vermittelt internationale Partner*innen und Finanziers für zukünftige Erfolgsfilme" [Boost for 34 attractive feature film projects: Berlinale Co-Production Market finds international partners and financiers for future successful films]. Berlinale (in German). 14 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  11. Rivera, Alfonso (7 July 2022). "Estibaliz Urresola makes her feature debut with 20.000 especies de abejas". Cineuropa.
  12. "20 000 especies de abejas" [20,000 Species of Bees]. Crew United (in French). 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  13. "9 produccions amb participació de TV3, al Festival de Màlaga" [9 productions with the participation of TV3, at the Malaga Festival]. Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (in Catalan). 23 February 2023.
  14. Frazer, Patrick (10 March 2023). "Hong Kong Film Festival Sets Trio of Local Films as Opening and Closing Titles". Variety. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  15. Hopewell, John (14 January 2023). "Luxbox Swoops on Anticipated Spanish Debut '20,000 Species of Bees' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  16. Vivarelli, Nick (4 May 2023). "Film Movement Nabs North American Rights to '20,000 Species of Bees,' About a Young Girl Who Begins Gender Transition (Exclusive)". Variety.
  17. "20,000 Species of Bees". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  18. Rivera, Alfonso (22 February 2023). "Review: 20,000 Species of Bees". Cineuropa. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  19. Bell, Nicholas (22 February 2023). "The Secret Life of Bees: Solaguren's Warm Debut Explores the Communal Dictation of Gender Identity". IonCinema.com. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  20. Mintzer, Jordan (22 February 2023). "'20,000 Species of Bees' Review: A Tender and Assured Feature Debut About Gender and the Generational Divide". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  21. Halligan, Fionnuala (2 March 2023). "15 films that stood out at Berlin 2023". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  22. Marshall, Lee (22 February 2023). "20,000 Species Of Bees': Berlin Review". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  23. Ramachandran, Naman; Vivarelli, Nick (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival Reveals Competition Lineup (Updating Live)". Variety. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  24. Roxborough, Scott (25 February 2023). "Berlin: '20,000 Species of Bees,' 'Totem' Among Independent Jury Winners". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  25. Nikkhah Azad, Navid (2 February 2023). "GWFF Best First Feature Award Jury". Deed News. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
  26. Rosser, Michael (9 April 2023). "'Stonewalling', 'Totem' win top Hong Kong Firebird Awards". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to 20.000 especies de abejas.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.