BILBAO MENDI FILM FESTIVAL OPENS ITS EIGHTH EDITION WITH 'MERU'
After receiving more than 130 films from over 20 countries, Bilbao Mendi Film Festival will screen 43 films in competition
This is the first time that 'Meru' will be screened on a European Mountain Film Festival
Bilbao, 3rd of November, 2015. Bilbao Mendi Film Festival will open its eighth edition, on the 11th of December at the Palacio Euskalduna with the film directed by Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, 'Meru'. This is the first occasion on which this film is presented in a mountain film festival in Europe. The film was shown at the 'Savage Cinema' section in last edition of San Sebastian´s Film Festival and received the audience award for best documentary at the Sundance Film Festival (USA).
In addition, Jimmy Chin is an old acquaintance of Bilbao Mendi Film Festival, as he participated in the 2013 edition with the movie 'Into the Mind' and a masterclass about his career.
'Meru' explores the vital challenge and friendly relations of the characters, telling the story of three top climbers (Conrad Anker, Jimmy Chin and Renan Ozturk) who must battle their past, their inner demons and the toughest of nature in an attempt to confront the "shark fin" of Mount Meru, the technically more complicated and dangerous Himalayan peak that never has been climbed to the end.
Since the registration period opened last May, Bilbao Mendi Film Festival received a total of 133 films, ten more than last year, which demonstrates the good reception that the festival has among professionals. The films have come from 22 countries from all the continent, and Spain, with 27, leads the list of countries, followed by the US with 24.
Among the many films received the choice has not been easy, because not only has increased the number of entries received but also the quality of them. Finally 43 films from 13 different countries will participate in the official section.
Unlike last year, this edition the festival has met the expectations , "promoting the Basque production and giving visibility to it, while maintains the quality." That is why the festival has chosen four films produced in Euskadi; two in the original version in Basque.
