In the vibrant cultural epicenter of Barcelona, the Verdi Cinemas are preparing to welcome the second edition of the Festival de Cinema Budista de Catalunya, a unique event that intertwines cinematic art with the rich culture and spirituality of Buddhism. From October 23rd to 27th, 2024, this festival, promoted by the Coordinadora Catalana d'Entitats Budistes (CCEB) and the (CCEB) and the Dharma-Gaia Foundation (FDG), will present a selection of carefully chosen films that invite viewers to explore and reflect on the essential principles and values of Buddhism, such as compassion, non-violence, and the interdependence of all beings. Specialists in the underlying themes of the films will contribute to the reflection by opening a dialogue with the audience.
Endorsed by the prestigious Buddhist Film Foundation (BFF), the festival aims to consolidate itself as a biennial reference, not only in Catalonia, but also internationally. This year, the leadership of the festival falls on an all-female team, headed by co-directors Montse Castellà, representing the CCEB, and Fina Íñiguez, representing the FDG. Alongside them, Nuria Fenollar and Mònica Pagés Correcher complete a management team whose dedication and vision have transformed this initiative into a platform that celebrates cultural diversity and promotes gender equality.
In this interview, we delve with them about the inspiration and purpose behind the creation of a festival dedicated to dharma-themed film, i.e., the teachings and values of Buddhism. They share with us their perspectives on how film can be a powerful vehicle for spreading Buddhism and connecting with diverse audiences, as well as the challenges and opportunities presented by this second edition. Through their voices, we explore the transformative potential of film to open new avenues of intercultural dialogue and understanding in the contemporary world.
RAYMOND LAM: Why was it necessary to create a film festival that could showcase Dharma-themed productions?
MUNTSA CASTELLÀ OLIVÉ: "Necessary" may not be the word, but we do consider the cinematic language a "skilful means" to spread Buddhism and bring it closer to a wide audience, promoting the encounter between culture and spirituality. Two entities, the Dharma-Gaia Foundation and the Catalan Coordinator of Buddhist Entities, joined forces to carry out, in 2022, this pioneering initiative not only in Catalonia, but in Spain. The success of the first edition, with sold out tickets in all sessions, confirmed that we were on the right track. Our goal is to broaden the scope of the Festival and expand the knowledge of Buddhism in this second edition that we will celebrate next October, again in Barcelona. It is a small format festival, non-competitive, with a small team, but with the ambition to grow in each edition. The FCBC was born with the vocation of being biennial and with the motivation of, in addition to arouse interest in Buddhism, offer films with themes that connect with current affairs. In this edition, themes such as mental health, the role of weapons, sisterhood, neuroscience, and reflections on life and death from a Buddhist perspective are the main axes. We also strive to remain consistent with Buddhist values beyond those implicit in the screenings, committing ourselves, among other things, to respect gender equality and the environment.
RL: Thematically, do most films that focus on Buddhism focus on Tibet and the vajrayāna?
FINA ÍÑIGUEZ ABAD: The themes of the films in our Festival have not been pre-established. Our selection process begins with the advice of Gaetano Kazuo Maida, executive director of the Buddhist Film Foundation-BFF, who, since 2003, organizes international film festivals in different cities around the world. Gaetano presents the works following certain criteria, such as showing the diversity of the Buddhist traditions most present in our country, ensuring gender equity, either in the direction or in the leading role, and, as far as possible, selecting films of recent production. Tibetan Buddhism is the most present in our Festival because it is the one that produces more works and, in addition, it is the one that has more representatives, not only in Catalonia but throughout Spain. Likewise, we believe that what is relevant in our Festival are the themes treated; therefore, we have selected films that deal with themes that cross all traditions, such as reincarnation, the bardo, suffering and monastic life.
RL: How can the films shown present the Dharma in a more culturally relevant way for Spanish speakers?
NURIA FENOLLAR: Most Buddhist films have not been made in our country; therefore, we offer original versions subtitled in Catalan, which is the language of Catalonia, and also in Spanish. This brings distant realities closer to our local audience and also beyond our borders, thanks to the important diffusion of our Festival through the digital magazine Buddhistdoor en Español. The films show situations often far from our culture, and we believe that therein lies their appeal. We invite the public, especially non-Buddhists, to take a 'journey' to cultures, philosophies and knowledge to which they normally have no access or have access in a biased way. Above all, we invite the public to delve deeper into the topics discussed through the discussions that, after the screenings, subject specialists and representatives of the various Buddhist traditions have with the public. This is our strength as a festival.
RL: How have recent economic and production trends in Spanish cinema affected submissions and the jury selection process?
MÒNICA PAGÉS CORRECHER: Our selection of films has nothing to do with the economic trends of Spanish film production; our approach is different, as we said before. In general, we do not find recent Spanish-produced films that fit our format. However, fortunately, in this edition we can count on the production of a beautiful film by a young Spanish director.
RL: As artists and film lovers/experts, how do your own Dharma beliefs/practices influence and inform your view of how films can educate, edify and entertain?
MPC: We are neither experts in cinema nor artists; we have different backgrounds, references and practices, but we share the breadth of views on issues that we consider significant and we believe that they can provide elements for reflection. Buddhism offers tools of analysis that help self-knowledge and, by extension, knowledge of others and the world. If, in addition, these tools can be offered in the form of art, culture and entertainment, it all adds up.
See more:
First Buddhist Film Festival of Catalonia
Festival de Cinema Budista de Catalunya (Facebook)
Festival de Cinema Budista de Catalunya (Wikipedia)
Coordinadora Catalana d'Entitats Budistes (Catalan Coordination of Buddhist Entities)
Related articles in from BDE
Interview with Gaetano Kazuo Maida, Executive Director of Buddhist Film Foundation
Buddhist Film Festival of Catalonia (FCBC)
Special edition: "Buddhism and cinema".
Editorial introduction to the special issue: "Buddhism and Cinema".
Related articles in BDG
Buddhism in Barcelona: The First Buddhist Film Festival in Catalonia
Catalan Coordination of Buddhist Entities (CCEB)
It is a non-profit association that was created in 2007 to coordinate and create synergies between Buddhist entities and centers in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands with the aim of presenting and representing Buddhism in the society in which, for forty years, it has been taking root. The CCEB has about thirty members, from different traditions: Zen, Tibetan, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, among others.
Dharma-Gaia Foundation (FDG)
It is a private, non-profit cultural foundation, committed to the environment, which promotes, among other activities, university academic courses, conferences and seminars, exhibitions, production of videos and documentaries, publication or co-publication of books on Buddhism. It organizes courses and academic publications on Buddhism in collaboration with the University Rovira i Virgili, is a collaborating entity of the magazine Buddhistdoor in Spanish, and develops projects in Spain and Latin America.
Buddhist Film Foundation (BFF)
It is the organizing entity of the International Buddhist Film Festival, based in Oakland, California, USA, and since 2003 has been present in different corners of the world, such as Los Angeles, Washington DC, London, Mexico City, Amsterdam, Singapore, Thailand, among others. In the future, the organizers of BFF intend to bring their international festival to Barcelona.
