‘20,000 Species of Bees’ to open theatrically in the US on June 14

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VERDICT: Estibaliz Uresola Golaguren’s debut film was named Best Film at Seattle and Hamptons International film festivals, Best Director at Goya,

TFV Chief critic, Deborah Young reviewed 20,000 species of Bees at Berlin 2023, where newcomer Sofia Otero was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance. Young called the film “Extraordinary for its sensitivity and perception, Estibollz Urresolo Sologuren’s story of an 8-year-old girl’s growing discomfort with being perceived as a boy is a landmark in the filmic discussion of gender, sexuality, and identity.”

The film is distributed through Film Movement, a North American distributor of award-winning independent and foreign films based in New York City. The company has released more than 350 feature films and shorts culled from prestigious film festivals worldwide.

Watch the Trailer here

Below are other festival kudos the film has received:
Other Festival Kudos:

• Gaudí Awards (2024) | Winner, Best Director, Best Non-Catalan Language Film, Best Cinematography
• Goya Awards (2024) | Winner, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress (Ane Gabarain), Best Original Screenplay
• Palm Springs International Film Festival (2024) | Winner, Ibero-American Award – Special Mention;
• Almería International Film Festival (2023) | Winner, Best First Film, Best Screenplay
• Athens International Film Festival (2023) | Winner, Best Director
• Berlin International Film Festival (2023) | Winner, Guild Film Prize, Jury Award, Silver Bear, Best Leading Performance (Sofia Otero)
• Calgary International Film Festival (2023) | Winner, Special Mention, Int’l Narrative Competition
• Frameline San Francisco International LGBTQ Film Festival (2023) | Winner, Best First Feature Film
• Hamptons International Film Festival (2023) | Winner, Golden Starfish Award, Narrative Feature
• Málaga Spanish Film Festival (2023) | Winner, Best Film, Best Spanish Film, Best Supporting Actress (Patricia López Arnaiz)
• San Sebastián International Film Festival (2023) | Winner, Sebastiane Award for Best Film
• Seattle International Film Festival (2023) | Grand Jury Prize, Best Feature Film