José María de Orbe (b. 1958, San Sebastian) is an unconventional filmmaker with a passion for experimental film and fine art. He studied film direction at the American Film Institute in Los Angeles (1985) and also made several short films in California: Lifeguard, Jonathan What the Hell and Neon. He cofounded the independent film companies O’Partners and Fresdeval Films. He won a series of awards at advertising FFs, including prestigious Bronze Lions from the Cannes Lions festival. He wrote the script for the documentary From Chillida to Hokusai about the work of major Spanish sculptor Eduardo Chillida. He created his own installation Ausencias in Madrid in 2004. In 2007 he came up with his feature debut The Straight Line, which he also scripted. The film Father was two years in the making.
46. IFF Karlovy Vary
