Basque filmmaker Paul Urkijo brought legends of witch hunts to Sitges on Saturday. ‘Gaua’ premiered at the festival, drawing on 17th-century Basque mythology and Inquisition history.
The film stars Yune Nogueiras, Elena Irureta, and Ane Gabarain. It screens in the Official Fantàstic section before hitting Spanish cinemas on 14 November. The story explores darkness, night, and female empowerment.
Urkijo explained his approach at the Sitges presentation. He gathered legends linked to darkness and night. Meanwhile, he embraced the modern reinterpretation of witches as symbols of female strength.
The director wanted to show the Inquisition’s repressive structure. Society suppressed women and sexuality through this system. Therefore, the film examines these power dynamics directly.
In the story, Kattalin flees her husband at night into the forest. Three women share frightening tales and village gossip with her. She becomes part of the stories herself, honouring traditional storytellers.
The film contains many legends across four chapters. However, Urkijo also included real situations and people. Witch hunts swept through the Pyrenees, with characters Kattalin and Maritxu based on actual women who faced trial.
Urkijo combines historical elements with fantasy. He pays tribute to those who suffered under inquisitors. The approach honours victims of religious persecution.
The director criticised modern ‘little inquisitors’ on social media. These voices dictate how women should look, what bodies should be, and control sexuality. Though set in the 17th century, the film challenges contemporary issues too.
Visual influences came from Francisco de Goya’s engravings. Urkijo also drew on pagan and arcane iconography. This blend creates a distinctive aesthetic.
He noted the situation for Basque-language films is improving. Some years prove better than others. Nevertheless, it remains a constant struggle as the sector faces ongoing precarity.
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