One more year, the University School of Arts TAI has been present at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, giving its students the opportunity to live an unforgettable experience.
With the aim of connecting new generations of artists with the film industry, TAI participated in the 72nd edition of the festival, enabling several students and alumni to attend exclusive screenings, meetings and activities that only occur at an event like this.
One of the great milestones of this collaboration is the participation of five students as part of the Youth Jury, who had the honor of awarding the TCM Youth Prize. In addition, Five other students obtained Industry Accreditations, a unique opportunity to get closer to the sector and establish valuable connections with the most influential professionals in the film industry. On this occasion, two of our students share their experience: Daniel Sempere Cencerrado and Ana Lahoz.
The experience of Daniel Sempere (Danydiva)
Daniel Sempere Cencerrado, also known on social media as Danydiva, is a graduate in Cinematography and is currently studying the Master of Audiovisual Production at TAIAs part of the Youth Jury at the San Sebastian Film Festival, Daniel was able to enjoy a transformative experience, not only because of the fact of seeing and analyzing several films each day, but also because of the opportunity to experience first-hand the vibrant atmosphere of an international festival. This is what he himself tells us:
For me, the most iconic part of this experience has been establishing a daily routine of watching three or four films from different countries. This has allowed me to learn about recurring themes in cinema, interpreted from different sociological and cultural contexts. Each film is a journey that brings you a little closer to the worldview of its director.
In addition to the opportunity to see high-quality cinema, Daniel highlights the importance of networking:
There is much more to the festival than just cinema; it is a whole networking experience. To make contacts, you have to get around. Attending talks, parties and dinners has been key to understanding how the industry works from within. This experience has given me a lot of insight into my professional and personal path.
Daniel stresses that sharing this experience with his peers was crucial:
My classmates (Celia, Kally, Anna and Luis) have made this trip much easier and, as you have seen on the school's social media, it has been a real fantasy! Energy and camaraderie have been essential to making the most of this opportunity.
Ana Lahoz: "A transformative experience at the heart of the film industry"
Ana Lahoz, an alumni of the Master of Audiovisual Production, also shared her experience as an accredited participant in the festival's Industry Days. For her, attending a film festival for the first time was an unforgettable experience, full of both personal and professional learning:
It was my first time attending a film festival, and starting with San Sebastian was amazing. I never imagined how fast-paced the event would be. It's like being at a music festival: intense and exhausting, but wonderful at the same time. Just being at Kursaal for the first time blew me away.
Ana highlights the importance of having attended conferences and meetings where she was able to closely learn the opinions of great professionals on key issues in the industry:
As an accredited Industry member, beyond watching films, the festival gave me the opportunity to attend meetings where topics such as artificial intelligence, new forms of investment and co-production were discussed. All of this made me realize how far away I still am from that world, but at the same time, it allowed me to absorb everything I could, like a sponge. Hearing first-hand from creators, investors and producers was an eye-opening experience.
Finally, Ana underlines how special it was for her to devote five whole days to her passion for cinema:
