Promoting audiovisual creativity from the Aretxabaleta campus

Promoting audiovisual creativity from the Aretxabaleta campus

Creativity and innovation are the fundamental kingpins of the educational model of Mondragon University. Not only do the students work on these competencies in the academic curriculum, but in parallel, the university organizes activities such as the Huhezinema Basque Short Film Festival and the Euspot Basque Ad Competition. Both events are organized by the degree program in Audiovisual Communication.

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The Huhezinema Basque Short Film Festival, organized by 4^th-year Audiovisual Communication students, is currently in its 15^th year, and the Euspot Basque Ad Competition has launched its 11^th year. The main objective of both projects is to promote creativity among students, in this case, creativity in the area of audiovisuals.

The Faculty of Humanities and Education Sciences created the Huhezinema Basque Short Film Festival in 2008. Since then, students in the 4^th year of the Audiovisual Communication degree program have organized the festival as part of their Organization of cultural events module. The festival has become a leading event in the Basque Country. The organization of the festival and the promotion of teamwork are the objectives of this academic project. Teamwork makes it possible to put the knowledge acquired in the degree program into practice and at the same time, to foster relations with the professional world. This year, the festival will be held from March 30 to April 1 and its central theme will be music. As every year, the screenings will be held at the Arkupe Culture Center in Aretxabaleta.

The Euspot Basque Ad Competition is a project created in 2012 and organized through collaboration among the City Council of Aretxabaleta, Arteman Komunikazioa, Arizmendi Ikastola and Mondragon University’s degree program in Audiovisual Communication. The aim of this competition, currently in its 11^th year, is to combine creativity, advertising and the Basque language. The theme this year is the advantages of working in cooperative companies, and indeed, the main sponsor of the competition this year will be the Higher Council of Cooperatives of the Basque Country. The awards ceremony will take place on June 2 in Aretxabaleta, seat of Mondragon University’s degree program in Audiovisual Communication.

Extensive participation and large prizes

Dozens of works from the Spanish State and the whole of the Basque Country are submitted to both competitions, which, in their respective fields – short films and advertising – have become essential events for visual creators. A total of 87 ads were submitted to last year’s Euspot competition, for example, while 82 short films competed in Huhezinema. This year, these competitions will award more than 6,000 euros in prizes. There is a category for Mondragon University students in both competitions.