Sopela's Local Development Area, committed to showcasing local professional figures in the maritime and sliding sports industry, has presented "Uhinak", an exclusive project by acclaimed Basque surf film director Jon Aspuru. The documentary features historical archives, four poems in Basque, and an original musical piece created specifically for Sopela.
On Wednesday, October 21st, the Kurtzio Kultur Etxea auditorium was filled for the premiere of "Uhinak", a special project celebrating the beauty of the Basque Country's waves, which received an excellent reception. Jon Aspuru, a director who has been documenting the surf scene since 1999, curated a unique artistic piece from his historical archive for this occasion, including memorable sessions and previously unseen footage.
After the visual editing, the project's musical component was handled by The Goofy Footers, a musical project featuring young talents such as Gonzalo Atela (Arketypo), Eneko Ajangiz (EzEzEz, Tarisko…), Xabi Barrutia (Sillita), and Alvaro Olaetxea (EzEzEz). These musicians, members of currently prominent bands, meticulously composed a soundtrack designed to evoke various sensations throughout the footage.
The project's creation involved two main phases: the visual editing of the documentary and the exclusive musical composition. Director Jon Aspuru noted the difficulty in selecting material from years of filming, particularly when editing without music, which made it challenging to determine where to emphasize the video's rhythm. He described the process as "editing a surf film blindfolded." Aspuru also penned four verses in Basque, narrating the journey of waves from their ocean birth to their end on the coast, serving as interludes between songs.
In the words of the project's creative director, Aspuru: "It was incredible… seeing the musicians create a live soundtrack for the images, connecting each beat to the rhythm of the waves was magical. After the event, many people came to congratulate us on the project, something innovative that hadn't been seen around here before."
From the Local Development Area, and in the words of the councilor for the Area, Eder García: "'Tokiko Surf Filmak' continues its journey and this year has surprised with this innovative and creative project presented in Sopela. The public's reaction was incredible, it was very well received, and I thank all the creative work behind each phase of this presentation, which produced such good sensations among the attending audience. The Local Development Area constantly works on the business dynamization of the municipality, and of course, also with the surf industry and the visibility of sector professionals."
