Asier ETA Biok (Asier and I)

What is Asier ETA biok (Asier and I) and where do we stand for now?

Asier ETA biok is a full-length documentary film co-directed by the actor Aitor Merino and his sister, the documentary maker Amaia Merino. The project began just over two years ago, with a lack of financial resources that we replaced by a lot of efforts and enthusiasm. We now have an edited version which is almost the final one. With your help, we want to finish the post-production and to start the distribution of this documentary film. We only need the final boost!

Why did we start with this project?

Last year, ETA declared a permanent cessation of violence. But the wounds are still open. The misunderstanding, resentment, immobilism of the political leaders, as well as other political problems, hinder progress towards a lasting peace for the Basque Country.

We believe deeply in cinema as a tool to convey feelings and raise issues that help to understand and know each other better. Approaching this topic from the friendship point of view (and why not, with a sense of criticism, and of course, a good dose of humor), Asier ETA biok aims to provide an intimate and subjective view of the conflict, of its causes, and even more, of its possible solutions. We are convinced that the story of the friendship between Aitor and Asier could make its fair contribution on the path to reconciliation.

The directors of this project, Amaia and Aitor Merino - two Basque brother and sister respectively living in Ecuador and in Madrid – supported by the teams of Doxa Producciones and Cineática Films, take on the challenge of carrying out this project with rigor, honesty and independence.

We love the idea that our audience is involved in this project, and together, we can take this project forward!

What is the topic of Asier ETA biok

*"Asier and I grew up together in the troubled streets of Pamplona in the eighties. Then we took different paths: Asier remained there, getting involved in activities with a clear political commitment, while I moved to Madrid. I had a dream: I wanted to become an actor. At drama school, I made a lot of friends coming from everywhere. The years passed, and my dream of being an actor was actually becoming true, little by little.

In March 2002, Asier disappeared. He had become part of ETA. Later on, he got arrested and imprisoned in France. He spent the next eight years in prison. During that time, I talked a lot about Asier to my friends from Madrid, and of how special was for me our friendship. But often, the conversation drifted into questions to which I was not able to give an answer: How to make them understand my friendship with an ETA militant? How to make them understand what may have led him to a decision which, even for me, was hard to assimilate?

In July 2010, when Asier was released from prison, I took a camera in order to make a film which would try to answer these questions, and, why not, make one side understand better the other. But my plan soon turned out not to be as easy as expected. "*.

Aitor Merino

How will the money raised be used?

The money raised in Verkami will be dedicated to:

Voiceover recording

Design, post-production and sound edition

Image and graphics post-production

Color Grading

Design and Poster

Should you want more detailed information, please write to: produccion@doxaproducciones.com

Who we are

Aitor Merino

As an actor, he has participated in more than twenty full-length films under the direction of Montxo Armendariz, Vicente Aranda, Pilar Miró or Icíar Bollaín, among others. His first short film as a director, El Pan Nuestro (Our Daily Bread) was nominated for the Goya Awards in 2008.

Amaia Merino

Editor and documentary script writer based in Ecuador, she has already worked on 13 full-length films.

Doxa Producciones
doxaproducciones.com

Pioneer introducing the crowdfunding method in Spain, with the documentary "Los Amores Difíciles" (Difficult Loves), which has been selected so far by more than twenty international festivals.

http://losamoresdificiles.partizipa.com/

Cineática Films
www.cineaticafilms.com

Who is taking part in this project?

All the persons allowing their image or testimony to appear in this documentary have done it selflessly. Among those contributors, and besides Asier and his relatives, are Aitor Merino’s friends and colleagues, such as Sécun de la Rosa, Juan Diego Botto, Natalie Pinot, Carol Salvador, Armando del Rio, Velilla Valbuena, Ana Rayo, Diego Paris and Pilar Castro.

We also have the support of the Government of Ecuador (through its National Film Board). In addition, we have been selected in the festival Latin Side of the Doc that will be held in November this year in the Mexican capital. This is one of the most important meetings of Latin American documentary film. Our director, Aitor Merino, will leave for Mexico City on November 3, looking for co-producers and pre-sales to international broadcasters.

How to follow the project?

Follow every step we take:

1. Through our blog: www.asieretabiok.com

2. Our facebook page

3. The Twitter accounts for Asier ETA biok and Aitor Merino

4. Our Vimeo channel: www.vimeo.com/doxa