“Hello, Bilbao‑Bizkaia!” is the title of the section dedicated to Basque mountain cinema at the Ulsan‑Ulju Mountain Film Festival in South Korea. Between 18 and 22 September, eight Basque films will be screened as part of this programme. The selection for this special section has been curated by the BBK Mendi Film Bilbao‑Bizkaia festival. Ulju and Mendi Film are both members of the International Alliance for Mountain Film.
The Ulju festival programme will also include a ninth Basque film competing in the Official Selection: SUSTRAIAK. RAÍCES PERDIDAS, directed by Luis Arrieta.
The Ulsan‑Ulju festival is South Korea’s leading international mountain film festival — the municipality of Ulju is located within the metropolitan city of Ulsan. The section dedicated to the world’s most prestigious mountain film festivals premiered last year, focusing on Italian cinema under the title “Hello, Trento!”. In that same spirit, this year’s section is titled “Hello, Bilbao‑Bizkaia!”.
The programme will showcase the work of Basque filmmakers, most of them directors with roots in Bizkaia.
Selected films for the “Hello, Bilbao‑Bizkaia!” section
- ABATA | Dir: Aner Etxebarría | 2026
- HARRI, ORRI, ARKATZ | Dir: Jon Herranz | 2025
- IZARREN ZAUNKA | Dir: Nagore Eceiza | 2025
- NATURA FUGIT | Dir: Jesús Mari Lazkano | 2025
- HAIZE LERROAK | Dir: Janire Etxabe | 2024
- PELIGRO. NO ASOMARSE | Dir: Dani Cascales | 2024
- UNA MIRADA ATRÁS. EL ARTE DE EQUIPAR | Dir: Alfonso García | 2024
- HIRE HIMALAYA | Dir: Alberto Iñurrategi | 2003
Five of these directors will attend the festival to present their films: Aner Etxebarria, Jon Herranz, Jesús Mari Lazkano, Janire Etxabe and Dani Cascales. They will be joined by Jabier Baraiazarra, director of Mendi Film and president of the International Alliance for Mountain Film.
The ninth Basque film joining the Ulju programme, competing in the Official Selection, is SUSTRAIAK. RAÍCES PERDIDAS, by Luis Arrieta. The director himself will also travel with the Basque delegation to South Korea. The documentary was supported by the Mendi Film Bizkaia Ternua grant, and won the Best Culture and Nature Film Award at last year’s Mendi Film. In 2026, it received the Mario Bello Award granted by the CAI – Club Alpino Italiano at the prestigious Trento festival, has been selected by other European festivals, and has been screened more than 30 times both nationally and internationally.
Luis Arrieta has an extensive track record at Mendi Film as a director: his film “Mendiak 1976” won the Best Mountaineering Film Award in 2021 and achieved significant impact, being screened in commercial cinemas for over a month. Two other films, “212 Mountains” and “Bizi”, also bear his signature.
Six of the Basque films being screened in Ulju were supported by the Provincial Council of Bizkaia during their production: Abata, Natura Fugit, Haize lerroak, Peligro. No asomarse, Sustraiak. Raíces perdidas and Una mirada atrás. The institution — represented today by Begoña de Ibarra, Director‑General for Culture — actively promotes the film and audiovisual sector with several goals: strengthening the local industry, increasing international visibility, fostering culture and creativity, developing talent, and generating employment and economic activity. Through this commitment, it supports Mendi Film and Basque filmmakers, and therefore has a direct presence in the films being screened in South Korea.
The Etxepare Basque Institute is also supporting the Basque delegation in South Korea. The “Hello, Bilbao‑Bizkaia!” section at the Ulsan‑Ulju festival will serve as an important platform for promoting Basque culture and the Basque language through the films presented. In line with the growing momentum of Basque cinema overall, the mountain‑film genre will contribute freshness and showcase its strong creative vitality. Imanol Otaegi, Director for the Promotion and Dissemination of Basque Culture, has confirmed this.
Alongside them, the following filmmakers took part in today’s presentation at Sala Rekalde, Bilbao: Jon Herranz (Harri Orri Arkatz), Jesús Mari Lazkano (Natura Fugit), Janire Etxabe (Haize lerroak), Luis Arrieta (Sustraiak. Raíces perdidas), and Alfonso García (Una mirada atrás). Alfonso will not travel to South Korea, as the dates coincide with his participation in the Lau Haizetara section of the San Sebastian International Film Festival to present his new project, Hamaka – The Hammock.
Jon Herranz, Luis Arrieta, Janire Etxabe, Imanol Otaegi (Etxepare Euskal Institutua), Begoña de Ibarra (BFA), Jabier Baraiazarra (Mendi Film), Alfonso García, Jesus Mari Lazkano and Iñigo Iturrate (Euskalduna Bilbao)
