20,000 Species of Bees

20,000 Species of Bees (Spanish: 20.000 especies de abejas) is a 2023 Spanish drama film written and directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren in her debut feature and starring Sofía Otero, Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabarain and Itziar Lazkano. The film narrates the story of Lucía, an eight-year-old girl, who is on a quest for identity. During a summer in a village house linked to beekeeping, she explores her femininity alongside the women of her family who at the same time reflect on their own femininity.[3]

20,000 Species of Bees
Official poster
Directed byEstibaliz Urresola Solaguren
Screenplay byEstibaliz Urresola Solaguren
Produced by
  • Lara Izagirre Garizurieta
  • Valérie Delpierre
Starring
CinematographyGina Ferrer García
Edited byRaúl Barreras
Production
companies
  • Gariza Films
  • Inicia Films
Distributed by
  • BTeam Pictures
  • Luxbox
Release dates
  • 22 February 2023 (2023-02-22) (Berlinale)
  • 21 April 2023 (2023-04-21) (Spain)
Running time
125 minutes
CountrySpain
Languages
Box office$992,979[1][2]

It was selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, where it had its world premiere on 22 February 2023.[4] Nine-year old Sofía Otero won the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for the role of Lucía.[5] The film was also nominated for Best Feature Film Teddy Award.[6] Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren, the first feature director was nominated for GWFF Best First Feature Award in the festival.[7] In March 2023, the film won Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film at the 26th Málaga Film Festival.[8] It was released in cinemas in Spain on 21 April 2023.[9] The film was shortlisted for submission to 96th Academy Awards as Spanish entry for Best International Feature Film in September 2023.[10][11]

Synopsis

The film tells the story of a transgender girl and the effect her identity has on her family.[12][13] To help ensure an accurate portrayal, Naizen, a regional association for the families of transgender minors, worked with the director and provided guidance for Otero.[14] In the film, the family crosses borders, including the one that separates Bayonne in France and Laudio/Llodio in Spanish Basque Country.[15]

Cast
Crew and cast of the film at Berlinale
  • Sofía Otero as Lucía
  • Patricia López Arnaiz as Ane
  • Ane Gabarain as Lourdes
  • Itziar Lazkano as Lita
  • Sara Cózar as Leire
  • Martxelo Rubio as Gorka
  • Miguel Garcés
  • Unax Hayden
  • Andere Garabieta

Production
Sofía Otero with crew of the film

In July 2021, Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren was selected in the Mediterranean Film Institute (MFI), MFI Script 2 Film Workshops, which focuses on the field of training, specialising in script and project development.[16] She also took part in the Berlinale Co-Production Market, feature-film project in 2022. The film was one of the 19 official selected projects for the 2022 Berlinale Co-Production Market. Inicia Films and Gariza Films took charge of the production.[17][18]

The cast was finalized as: Sofía Otero as Lucía, Patricia López Arnaiz as Ane, Ane Gabarain as Lourdes, Itziar Lazkano as Lita, Sara Cózar as Leire Martxelo Rubio as Gorka along with Miguel Garcés, Unax Hayden and Andere Garabieta.[9]

Shooting locations included Laudio and Hendaye.[19][20]

Release

20,000 Species of Bees had its world premiere on 22 February 2023 as part of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, in competition. It also made it to the 26th Málaga Film Festival's main competitive slate.[21] In April it competed in the 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival, where it won the best actress for its female ensemble cast.[22]

It was theatrically released in Spain on 21 April 2023.[9]

It was reported on 14 January 2023 that Paris-based Luxbox has acquired the international sales right of the film, whereas BTeam Pictures will release the film in Spain.[23] Film Movement acquired North-American distribution rights to the film.[24] It was also invited to the 27th Lima Film Festival in the Acclaimed section, where it was screened on 10 August 2023.[25]

The film competed at the 2023 Calgary International Film Festival in 'International Narrative Competition' for Best International Narrative Feature award and had screening on September 23.[26] It won International Narrative Feature, Special Jury Citation there.[27] It was screened at the 71st San Sebastián International Film Festival in 'Zinemira' section on 22 September and won Sebastiane Award.[28]

It was also screened at 2023 BFI London Film Festival in 'Strand' section under 'Love' theme on 10 October 2023.[29] It was also selected in Special Spotlight: Basque Cinema of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival and was screened on 23 October 2023.[30][31]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes website, the film has an approval rating of 95% based on 19 reviews, with an average rating of 7.70/10.[32]

Alfonso Rivera, reviewing the film for Cineuropa, praised Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren writing, "the filmmaker addresses plurality, exploration and transformation with a stratospheric sensitivity." Rivera praising performances of Patricia López Arnaiz, Ane Gabarain and Sofía Otero wrote, "superb work by her actresses, but there are not enough adjectives to commend Sofía Otero (keep an eye on her, it is impossible not to succumb to her talent)."[33]

Nicholas Bell in IonCinema.com gave the film a score of three out of five, writing, "Touching and without being overly sentimental, Solaguren uses the titular diversity of bees to suggest our authentic roles all play an important part if we are to move beyond surviving to actually thriving".[34]

The Hollywood Reporter's Jordan Mintzer called the film "A compassionate coming-of-ager" and praised Otero and Arnaiz's performances, calling the former "clearly the centerpiece of the film". Mintzer concluded: "20,000 Species of Bees returns to Ane's [Arnaiz's] loving — most memorably at the very close of the film when she not only firmly stands by her youngest child's bold decision, but appears to be empowered by it. As are we."[35]

The film featured in compilation '15 films that stood out at Berlin 2023' of ScreenDaily.[36]

Lee Marshall of Screen International praised Otero's performance, writing, "Sofía Otero is never less than compelling, her face a deep pool that becomes a magnet for the audience". In her concluding paragraph, she compared the film's climactic sequence of people on a search for a missing girl to a similar sequence in the 1973 film The Spirit of the Beehive (which in turn served as an homage to Frankenstein): "It's a masterful touch in an engaging, authentic, moving film about the way society persists in seeing monsters where there are none."[37]

Accolades

20,000 Species of Bees was shortlisted for 36th European Film Awards, nominations for which will be announced on 7 November, and the awards ceremony takes place on 9 December in Berlin.[38]

Sofía Otero, with the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance for 20,000 Species of Bees
Award Date Category Recipient Result Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival 25 February 2023 Golden Bear 20,000 Species of Bees Nominated [39]
Prize of the Guild of German Art House Cinemas Won [40]
Berliner Morgenpost Reader’s Jury Award Won
GWFF Best First Feature Award Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren Nominated [7][41]
Teddy Award 20,000 Species of Bees Nominated [6]
Silver Bear for Best Leading PerformanceSofía OteroWon[5]
Málaga Film Festival 18 March 2023Golden Biznaga for Best Spanish Film20,000 Species of BeesWon[8]
Silver Biznaga for Best Supporting ActressPatricia López ArnaizWon
Hong Kong International Film Festival 9 April 2023 Best Actress Female ensemble cast Won [42]
Seattle International Film Festival 21 May 2023 Official Competition Grand Jury Prize 20,000 Species of Bees Won [43]
Guadalajara International Film Festival 9 June 2023 Iberoamerican Competition – Best Film Nominated [44]
Iberoamerican Competition – Best First Film Won
Maguey Award Nominated
Iberoamerican Competition – Best Directing Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren Won
Maguey Award for Best Performance Female ensamble cast Won
Jerusalem Film Festival 23 July 2023 Best International Debut 20,000 Species of Bees Nominated [45]
Calgary International Film Festival 25 September 2023 Special Jury Citation for Direction, International Narrative Feature Competition Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren Won [27]
San Sebastián International Film Festival 30 September 2023 Sebastiane Award 20,000 Species of Bees Won [28]
Athens International Film Festival 9 October 2023 Best Picture Nominated [46]
Best Director Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren Won [47]
Hamptons International Film Festival 15 October 2023 Narrative Feature 20,000 Species of Bees Won [48]
European Film Awards 6 December 2023 European Film Academy Lux Award Pending [49]

Listicle
Publisher Year Listicle Placement Ref.
Screen International 2023 15 films that stood out at Berlin 2023 1st [36]

See also

References
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  2. "20,000 Especies de Abejas (2023) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  3. Solaguren, Estibaliz Urresola (10 February 2023). "20,000 Species of Bees". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  4. Rosser, Michael (23 January 2023). "Berlin Film Festival reveals 2023 competition line-up". Screen Daily. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  5. Scott Roxborough (25 February 2023). "Berlin: French Documentary 'On the Adamant' Wins Golden Bear for Best Film". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  6. "Feature Films: TEDDY nominated". Teddy Award (in German). Word Press. 11 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  7. "Films nominated for the GWFF Best First Feature Award". Berlinale. 1 February 2023. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
  8. Rebolledo, Matías G. (18 March 2023). ""20.0000 especies de abejas" recolecta la Biznaga de Oro en el Festival de Málaga" ["20,000 species of bees" collects the Biznaga de Oro at the Malaga Festival]. La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  9. Rosado, Ricardo (23 January 2023). "'20.000 especies de abejas', formará parte de la sección oficial del Festival de Berlín" ['20,000 Species of Bees' will be part of the official section of the Berlin Festival]. Fotogramas (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  10. Belinchón, Gregorio (7 September 2023). "'20.000 especies de abejas', 'Cerrar los ojos' y 'La sociedad de la nieve', preseleccionadas por España para el Oscar a mejor película internacional" ['20,000 species of bees', 'Close your eyes' and 'The Snow Society', preselected by Spain for the Oscar for best international film]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  11. "Películas españolas preseleccionadas para los Óscar 2024: '20.000 especies de abejas', 'La sociedad de la nieve' y 'Cerrar los ojos'" ['20,000 species of bees', 'The Snow Society' and 'Close your eyes', candidates to represent Spain at the Oscars] (in Spanish). 7 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  12. Ramón, Esteban (22 February 2023). "'20.000 especies de abejas': la infancia trans en Berlín" ['20,000 Species of Bees': trans childhood in Berlin]. RTVE.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  13. "Sofía Otero, Oso de Plata en la Berlinale por su interpretación de una niña trans en '20.000 especies de abejas'" [Sofía Otero, Silver Bear at the Berlinale for her portrayal of a trans girl in '20,000 Species of Bees']. LaSexta (in Spanish). Europa Press. 26 February 2023. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  14. Rivas, Idoia (13 March 2023). "Naizen, asociación de familias de menores trans que asesoró a Sofía, ganadora en la Berlinale: "Es una gran actriz que ha sabido mostrar la realidad de nuestros hijos"" [Naizen, association of families of trans minors that advised Sofía, winner at the Berlinale: "She is a great actress who has known how to show the reality of our children"]. Nius Diario (in Spanish). Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  15. Belategui, Oskar (22 February 2023). "'20.000 especies de abejas': el espíritu diverso de la colmena" ['20,000 Species of Bees': the diverse spirit of the hive]. El Comercio: Diario de Asturias (in Spanish). Retrieved 24 June 2023.
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  17. Economou, Vassilis (14 January 2022). "The Berlinale Co-Production Market announces its selection for 2022". Cineuropa. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  18. "Anschub für 34 attraktive Spielfilmprojekte: Berlinale Co-Production Market vermittelt internationale Partner*innen und Finanziers für zukünftige Erfolgsfilme" [Boost for 34 attractive feature film projects: Berlinale Co-Production Market finds international partners and financiers for future successful films]. Berlinale (in German). 14 January 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
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  21. "9 produccions amb participació de TV3, al Festival de Màlaga" [9 productions with the participation of TV3, at the Malaga Festival]. Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals (in Catalan). 23 February 2023.
  22. Frazer, Patrick (10 March 2023). "Hong Kong Film Festival Sets Trio of Local Films as Opening and Closing Titles". Variety. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
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  27. Aryn Toombs (25 September 2023). "Winners of 2023 CIFF competitions unveiled". LiveWire Calgary. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
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