Las Palmas Film Festival Honors Director Bi Gan with Honorary Lady Harimaguada

The 25th Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival has reaffirmed its dedication to modern auteur cinema by awarding its Honorary Lady Harimaguada to Chinese director Bi Gan. The honor coincides with the island premiere of his latest film, Resurrection, which won the Jury Prize at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The festival’s connection with Bi Gan goes back to 2016, when it recognized his debut feature, Kaili Blues. This decade-long relationship has fostered a loyal following, with tickets for his current screenings selling out quickly.

Resurrection is an ambitious project featuring five distinct stories, each tied to a different cinematic genre, that explores the history of 20th-century film. The movie, which hits Spanish theaters this week, is particularly noted for its impressive 40-minute final long take. During his visit, Bi Gan explained the duality of the film's title: while the international title Resurrection touches on themes of memory and spirituality, the original Chinese title refers to the span of a century of storytelling.

In addition to his latest work, the festival is hosting a retrospective of his career, including films like Long Day’s Journey into Night and shorts such as Secret Goldfish, The Poet and Singer, and A Short Story. Bi Gan has also curated screenings of two influential Chinese films—Fei Mu’s Spring in a Small Town (1948) and Jia Zhangke’s The World (2004)—which will be the focus of audience discussions.

Bi Gan’s work often explores collective memory and the subconscious. Looking ahead, he plans to examine the rise of artificial intelligence and the nature of illusion, themes that echo the technological uncertainty seen in the finale of Resurrection. This tribute highlights both the director’s rising career and the vital role regional festivals play in showcasing cinema that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling.