Mendi Film, Ternua and the Basque Language, Culture and Sports Ministry of the Bizkaia Regional Government are announcing the 7th edition of the Mendi Film Bizkaia Ternua Beka, the grant aimed at the creation of documentary film projects that seek to promote mountain culture through audiovisual means.
Mountain culture is understood from multiple perspectives, whether sporting, cultural or social, or through projects related to sustainability, ecology, and/or climate change. Priority will be given to young filmmakers, projects filmed wholly or partly within the historical territory of Bizkaia, and those with a local-global character. However, none of these three factors will be decisive in determining the award of the grant.
The grant is open to anyone aged 18 or over, with no restrictions based on nationality or country of residence. This is the first edition in which the international route is opened for the grant, which, until now, has been intended for residents in Spain.
The grant consists of a financial contribution of €10,000 and a support programme, led by the creative producer Itziar García Zubiri, to develop the selected project.
The selection process will consist of two phases. In the first phase, the four finalist projects will be selected to proceed to the next phase. In the final selection phase, which will take place in person and/or online during the 19th edition of the BBK Mendi Film Bilbao-Bizkaia (4–13 December 2026), a jury comprising members of the audiovisual community and the mountaineering world will determine the project to be awarded the 7th Mendi Film Bizkaia Ternua Beka grant.
The project will premiere at the BBK Mendi Film Bilbao Bizkaia in 2027.
The submission period runs from April 21 to September 30, 2026. The competition rules and application form are available at www.mendifilmfestival.com.
Themes of the projects submitted: mountain sports (mountaineering, climbing, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, trail running, kayaking, caving, slacklining, paragliding, and others), adventure, exploration, nature, other cultural, artistic, linguistic, social, or economic activities, ecology, sustainability, and/or climate change. All must be carried out in a mountain setting.
The grant sponsors are active participants in these areas:
Bizkaia Provincial Council
Represents the identity of the region, promoting its preservation and understanding.
Ternua
The brand that dresses adventurous souls and outdoor enthusiasts who seek to connect with nature. People who recharge their energy outdoors with high-performance, versatile, and uniquely designed technical garments.
Mendi Film Association
Promotes mountain culture far and wide through the BBK Mendi Film Bilbao-Bizkaia International Mountain Film Festival and the Mendi Tour circuit. It is part of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, a highly regarded organization in the mountain film industry.
The grant films
Thanks to this grant, five films have premiered at Mendi Film, and a sixth is currently in production.
2026: LOS ÚLTIMOS GUARDIANES DE SHANGRI-LA
Project in progress, presented by filmmaker Marina García Andreu, who also received the 2022 grant for her film “Lobos” (2022).
Marina García Andreu
2025: SUSTRAIAK. RAÍCES PERDIDAS.
The story of Hiba, Bachir, and Manan. Three young people who migrated from their countries as children and arrived in Navarre without any adult accompaniment. Here, they have discovered climbing and the mountains, a place where they forget their problems, feel free, and capable of anything. The film, directed by Luis Arrieta, premiered at Mendi Film in 2025, winning the award for Best Culture and Nature Film. It has been selected for numerous international film festivals.
Nazioarteko estreinaldian Luis Arrieta, Hiba, Abde eta Bachir, eta Aitor Elduaien aurkezlea
2024: PELIGRO. NO ASOMARSE.
Director Dani Cascales and the slacklining group Oreka Tolosa presented their project, "Highline Nervión. A 900-meter-long highline spanning the Nervión waterfall, it is the longest to date in the Basque Country. The film premiered at Mendi Film 2025 under the title "Peligro. No asomarse”.
Nazioarteko estreinaldian, taldekideak
2023: OINEZ
The winning project of the 3rd grant competition is directed by Basque filmmaker Leire Egaña with the film "Oinez”, a story that takes us to the essence of mountaineering: sharing the journey at a leisurely pace. This film can be seen at the Mendi Tour 2024 alongside the best films from Mendi Film. Between January and November, the Mendi Tour circuit visits fifty towns and cities throughout Spain.
Nazioarteko estreinaldian, taldekideen photocalla, Jabier Baraiazarra jaialdiko zuzendariarekin
2022: LOBOS
Catalan director Marina García Andreu received the grant in its second edition for her project “Lobos”. The film premiered at Mendi Film 2022 and focuses on the unease and superstitions surrounding the presence of wolves in rural villages of Asturias.
Pelikulako lan-taldearen photocalla
2021: TXANGO
The first result was the film “Txango” by Basque director Tamara Lucarini, which premiered at Mendi Film 2021. It tells the story of four women who meet to complete the hike from Bilbao to Mount Pagasarri. Four women from diverse backgrounds, who have no prior mountaineering experience, come together under the pretext of the excursion.
Tamara Lucarini (erdian kutxari eutsiz) eta pelikulako protagonistak
