Paul Urkijo Alijo – Our Director’s Spotlight 2026

But of course, Urkijo’s filmmaking career began much earlier: during his art history studies, which he completed in 2008, when he shot his first short films. Even in *THE LEAD FISH*, there are elements that continue to shape his work to this day: the plot revolves around a eerie legend, and the cinematographer is Gorka Gómez Andreu—as in nearly all of Urkijo’s subsequent works. By 2020, he had released a total of eight short films, which were screened more than 400 times at festivals worldwide. In doing so, he demonstrated an enormous range, from the bitter Cambodian children’s drama MONSTERS DO NOT EXIST to the semi-silent horror film DAR-DAR. EL BOSQUE NEGRO from 2015 stands out in particular: Based on a comic by Archie Goodwin (LUKE CAGE), this “sword and sorcery” short won 14 international awards and, in addition to dark black humor, features monster designs and makeup FX that are simply breathtaking.

Clear parallels to *ERREMENTARI* can already be seen here in terms of setting, style, and atmosphere, as well as in the overarching thematic framework: Urkijo’s films often shine a spotlight on supposed authorities and their behavior toward those around them, highlighting their ignorance and arrogance. This plays an even more prominent role in his second feature film, IRATI, which won the Audience Award at Sitges in 2022 and subsequently opened in Spanish theaters. With a budget of just under 4.5 million euros, it is the largest Basque film production to date—and, in the guise of a sophisticated fantasy film, explores on the one hand the conflict between pagan folk beliefs and Christianity, which claims spiritual supremacy, and on the other hand the relationship between rulers and the ruled, as well as its impact on (sacred?) nature.