The San Sebastian film festival has announced four more titles for its official selection, including the international premiere of Felipe Cazals’ Mexican drama Chicogrande, which will open the festival.

Renowned Mexican director Cazals’ historical drama, which will screen for the first time outside Mexico at San Sebastian, centers on the exploits of Mexican rebel Pancho Villa and his infamous attack in 1916 on the small border town of Columbus, New Mexico where he battles with US soldiers, including Butch Fenton, an army major. Villa is injured in battle and is looked after by one of his young fighters named Chicogrande.

Leading the cast are Damian Alcazar (Chronicles), Alejandro Calva (Meet The Head Of Juan Perez), Juan Manuel Bernal (Viva High School Musical), Tenoch Huerta (Sin Nombre) and Daniel Martinez.

Cazals has had films at all the leading festivals over the last 35 years, including Canoa, which picked up the Special Jury prize at Berlin in 1976 and San Sebastian Silver Shell winner Los Motivos De Luz (1985).

The other three additions to the official selection line-up are Liu Hao’s Addicted to Love, about two elderly neighbours living in Beijing who fall in love as their mental states deteriorate; Kim Jee-Woon’s controversial revenge drama I Saw The Devil about a national security agent tracking down a serial killer who murdered his wife; and Sophie Heldman’s debut feature Colours In The Dark (Satte Farben vor Schwarz) about an elderly couple coming to grips with the fact that they are close to dying, starring Bruno Ganz and Senta Berger, which will also feature in the New Directors section.

These titles join an impressive line-up of film already announced, which will compete for the Golden Shell, including John Sayles’ Amigo, Raul Ruiz’ Mysteries Of Lisbon and Naomi Kawasi’s Genpin.

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