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11 days to go

'Ipuina Kontatu' docufilm on Basques still needs 10,000-dollar funding

Olwen Mears

07/13/2010

The film, Ipuina Kontatu - meaning telling stories - which is the brainchild of US filmmaker Emily Lobsenz, has raised nearly 2000 dollars so far from donors.

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Emily Lobsenz and the team behind Ipuina Kontatu - a film about the evolution of traditional and modern Basque cultures brought to life by firsthand accounts - are just months, and a few several thousand dollars, away from bringing their vision to the screen.

"Who are these people," the documentary wonders, "and how have they navigated the ages as one of Europe''s most ancient cultures to be one of its most flourishing modern societies?"

From independent documentary-maker Emily Lobsenz, Ipuina Kontatu offers a social perspective of the Basque Country that explores how such a deep-rooted culture has managed to survive the kinds of onslaughts that have spelt the downfall of so many ancient traditions and languages, while contemporary Basque society successfully combines old with new.

The title of the film, Ipuina Kontatu - literally ''telling stories'' in Euskera - reflects the narrative nature of the film, which captures the ''oral tradition'' that has ensured the survival of culture and language in the Basque Country, generation upon generation. The documentary uses "personal tales and perceptions" to tell its stories, which together give a unique perspective on the traditions and "their place in today''s world".

Listening to Emily Lobsenz, inspiration for the film was easy, her first weekend in the Basque Country being "one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life."

Filmmaker Emily studied at Amherst College in Massachusetts from where she graduated with a double BA in Fine Arts and Literature. She wrote and directed two award-winning thesis-films: Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang and The Cave.

She has since worked as an art director and camerawoman for award-winning productions around Europe and the USA. In 2007 she founded Daggewood Films in Fairfield, Connecticut, and later Daggewood Produkzioak in San Sebastian in the Basque Country, where she had set up home:

"Little by little this fascinating world began to reveal itself to me," she continues, "I fell in love; the people were so warm... I realized that their stories and the setting offered a perfect cinematic experience".

Now is the most crucial time for Emily and the completion of Ipuina Kontatu: With filming on the documentary mostly finalized, she and her team are now working on the editing and soundtrack; they hope to ensure expert editing that will bring their "ambitious vision" to the screen, as well as a soundtrack that echoes the "rich and textured" nature of the Basque Country and its people.

The project is now in great need of funding and can only be fully realized if at least $12,000 is pledged by Saturday July 24th, 1:15pm EDT.

To see a preview of the film, visit Ipuina Kontatu''s Kickstarter page, where you can also pledge a minimum $10 donation. Just 38 days remain for you to play a part in bringing this fascinating subject to the screen.

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