English
Until the 17th of September, Poble Espanyol in Barcelona is hosting short film festival MECAL Air, which opens up to the public the best work being made in the field, with works presented at the International Short Film Festival 2011.
The goal of the organisers is to help promote the short film, and integrate it into different cultural and artistic sectors, and widen it´s accessibility in a social arena. It is for this reason that they have selected a relaxed, open environment for their venue – an open air space, with picnic tables, cushions to sit on the floor and hammocks, and where everyone is welcome to enjoy a refreshment, cinema, and fresh air with their family and friends.
As well as the relaxed atmosphere of cultural exchange, the producers of MECAL Air have created a concept of the cinema-art of shorts which does not exclude anyone, with competitions to win free entrance, and spaces for voluntary work in cinema and communications. This will be the third edition of the show, and hopes to be a part of the Barcelona summer more than ever.
The film sessions take place on Fridays and Saturdays, and are organised according to theme. Throughout the month, the themes will include terror, a sex special, creative publicity, two sessions with the best from the world of shorts, and a special on the war of the galaxies.
The month kicks off with the series of screenings under the title “Terror in the Woods” on saturday the 2nd of september. As the name suggests, it is all about horror – that genre which seeks to paralyse its viewer with terror with an assault on the nerves and senses. The human taste for being scared witless is as old as mankind itself, which has always expressed its fear in different ways, including those in biblical writings and illustrations. This taste for experiencing the extreme emotion of terror without having to suffer any of the consequences produced a kind of chemical reaction in the brain, and releases adrenaline – which many people take pleasure in.
On saturday the 3rd of september, there will be some projections on sex, with “Tócame aquí. No, aquí no, aquí” (“Touch me here, no here, no here”). An interesting exploration into the human body, and the erogenous zones beyond the conventional and known ones. A good way of enjoying with your partner the idea of the body as a “democratic” space where each person has the right to pleasure.
“No estoy vendiendo nada” (“I´m not selling anything”), is the publicity special and will be shown on the 9th of september. A great examination of how we are all sold things constantly – what we need and what we don´t need – and a thoroughly entertaining look at the art of working, with its kind of inverse beauty.
For more information http://www.mecalbcn.org/
Nancy Guzman
An experience of the beauty of cinema in natural outdoor surroundings without having to leave the city is what you´ll find at MECAL Air. So if you are renting apartments in Barcelona during September, buy your tickets now and go along to one of the projections.
Translated by: Poppy
