San Sebastian 2011 interview: 'Amen' director Kim Ki-duk

Kim Ki-duk is South Korea's best-known filmmaker and one of the most celebrated directors in the international film circuit. In 2004 he won the Best Director award for two different films in two of the major film festivals: for Samaritan Girl at the Berlinale and for 3-Iron at the Venice Film Festival. 3-Iron also earned him the FIPRESCI award as best film of the year. His divisive documentary Arirang bagged the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival this year.

His latest narrative film Amen has had its world premiere this morning here in San Sebastian. I've met with the director just one hour after the screening. Here is an extract of the interview.

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Interview: 'Troll Hunter' director André Øvredal

Norwegian filmmaker André Øvredal's Troll Hunter is one of the most original films I've seen this year. The film follows a group of students who set out to make a documentary (this mock-doc is what the viewer actually sees) about a bear poacher who turns out to be a troll hunter officially appointed by the government.

Feauting amazing CGI for the recreation of the trolls and a memorable performance by Otto Jespersen, the film is a pitch-perfect combination of classic monster horror and black humour.

Here is the interview I held with director André Øvredal.

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Interview with actor Timothy Spall

Timothy Spall is an English actor. Born in London in 1957, Spall studied drama at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before joining the Royal Shakespeare Company.
A five-time BAFTA nominee for his work in film and television, Spall has earned international recognition as a regular Mike Leigh actor. His collaborations with the filmmmaker include Secrets and Lies, Topsy-Turvy and All or Nothing.
He has reached wider audiences thanks to his roles in films like Enchanted, Alice in Wondeland and the Harry Potter series.
He has recently received the Best Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the cast of last year's Oscar-winner The King's Speech, where he played the role of Winston Churchill.
Interview held by Alberto Ramos at the 2011 BIFFF, where Spall presented the film Wake Wood (clip after the interview).

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BIFFF 2011 interview: The Last Circus director Alex de la Iglesia

Alex de la Iglesia is a Spanish filmmaker. Born in Bilbao in 1965, de la Iglesia has established himself as one of Spain's most original and internationally acclaimed filmmakers. Ever since his film debut Acción Mutante in 1993, produced by Pedro Almodóvar, his path-breaking, visually stunning films have acquired cult status.
His latest film The Last Circus, which he presented on Thursday at the BIFFF, was awarded the best director and best screenplay prizes at the 2010 Venice Film Festival.
We met Alex de la Iglesia two days after his film opened this year's BIFFF.
Interview held by Alberto Ramos.

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BIFFF 2011 interview: The Last Circus actress Carolina Bang

Carolina Bang is a Spanish television and film actress. She worked on television and landed the role of Lorna in the TV series Plutón B.R.B. Nero, directed by Alex de la Iglesia. For her first major film role in The Last Circus she was nominated for a Goya as best newcomer.
Carolina Bang was at the BIFFF presenting The Last Circus. Imitation of Life talked to her about the film and her projects.
Interview by Alberto Ramos.

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