Hi Everyone, I am so pleased to share the information below about Pragda's newest release, BERTSOLARI, a fascinating look at the ancient oral tradition of Basque spoken word poetry. Please share the info below with your colleagues and students, and feel free to reach out to me with any questions. Thanks for you support! My best, Olivia ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SPOTLIGHT ON BASQUE SPOKEN WORD POETS: BERTSOLARI NOW AVAILABLE WITH PUBLIC PERFORMANCE RIGHTS 2014 New Release BERTSOLARI offers a rare look at Bertsolaritza, an ancestral and completely improvised form of Basque poetry. Anachronistic? Not at all. The bertsolari, with their spontaneous creation and wordplay, could be an inspiration for rappers, spoken word artists and other improvisers around the world. A living ehtnographic documentary, BERTSOLARI would make a vital contribution to courses in Basque Studies, Iberian Studies, Anthropology, Linguistics, Cultural Studies, Poetry and Ethnomusicology. BERTSOLARI A film by Asier Altuna Spain / 2011 / 52 min / Spanish and Basque with English subtitles Watch the Trailer and ORDER HERE: http://www.pragda.com/films/bertsolari Though Bertsolaritza is a surprising art of austere aesthetics in these days of spectacularity and special effects, this ancient oral tradition has nonetheless evolved and adapted to the times, connecting with the youngest generations. At the grand finale performance of the last championship an audience of 14,000 people gathered to watch eight bertsolaris vie live against each other. In this remarkable documentary, the filmmaker takes us on a voyage through improvised verse, silence and art in the raw. OFFICIAL SELECTION San Sebastian Film Festival, International Documentary Festival of Santiago de Chile, Aliès Film Festival, San Francisco Latino Film Festival REVIEWS “A treasure... don't miss BERTSOLARI.”-Juan Zapater, DIARIO DE NOTICIAS "A proud homage created by people who appreciate how much emotion and meaning there is among the bertsolaris..." -Mikel G. Gurpegui, EL DIARUI VASCO MORE FILMS FROM BASQUE COUNTRY Discover more films about Basque history and culture, including Pragda’s popular 2013 release AMERIKANUAK and audience favorite BASQUE BALL by going here: http://www.pragda.com/films-by-subject/basque-studies HOW TO ORDER EMAIL your order to [log in to unmask] MAIL your order to Pragda, c/o Transit Media, 190 Route 17m, Suite D – Harriman, NY 10926. FAX your order to (845) 774-2945. PHONE in your order to (800) 343-5540 and pay using Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express. ONLINE Order your films directly through our catalog at http://www.pragda.com/films. QUESTIONS? We’re here to help you bring the best of Spanish & Latin American cinema to your communities and classrooms. We encourage you to reach out to us directly with any questions or comments. Email [log in to unmask] or call 347-891-1788. I look forward to working with you! All best, Olivia -- Olivia Newman Pragda Bringing You the Best of Spanish & Latin American Cinema 302 Bedford Ave., # 136 Brooklyn, NY 11249 (tel): 347-891-1788 Pragda: www.pragda.com Spanish Film Club: www.spanishfilmclub.com ---- Screen-L is sponsored by the Telecommunication & Film Dept., the University of Alabama: http://www.tcf.ua.edu