MARK TURNER wallows in the virtuosity of Swansea Jazz Festival openers, Simon Spillett and Pete Long

IN the beautiful Basque country, the 71st San Sebastian Film Festival maintained its innovative spirit, and audacious political character.
This year the Golden Shell Award went to Spanish director Jaione Camborda for The Rye Horn, a film about solidarity and sisterhood set during the Franco regime.
Maria, a solitary midwife, who lives on an island near Galicia, secretly helps young women terminate their pregnancies, but when one of her patients dies, she must flee to Portugal. The escape drives her out of solitude, as always, when a woman comes forward to help.

Featuring films with substantial political themes, this year’s festival has ignited a vibrant discussion, suggests RITA DI SANTO

RITA DI SANTO gives us a first look at some extraordinary new films that examine outsiders, migrants, belonging and social abuse

RITA DI SANTO draws attention to an audacious and entertaining film that transplants Tarantino to the Gaza Strip

RITA DI SANTO reports on the films from Iran, Spain, Belgium and Brazil that won the top awards