ABATA, when Orson Welles fell in love with Euskadi.

ABATA is a short documentary film that rescues a unique Basque tradition: catching pigeons with wooden paddles and nets in the Etxalar Valley.

Through the voice of Gerardo Damboriena, the last great referent of this ancestral practice, we want to preserve a legacy with more than 700 years of history that is facing extinction due to the lack of generational replacement. We do it now because there are very few left who master this technique, and because in a world that moves forward in a hurry and without time to stop and observe, we feel that this story must be told before it is too late.

A practice considered of Cultural Interest and that since the 40s of the last century has attracted the attention of media such as National Geographic, the New York Times or the great American director Orson Welles. And today, our documentary short film ABATA, wants to do its bit for the preservation of this tradition by immortalizing its essence.

ABATA portrays not only a tradition, but a way of being in the world that invites us to listen, wait and reconnect with our roots and with nature.

SYNOPSIS

In 1955, fascinated by the ingenious hunting of pigeons with wooden paddles and nets, Orson Welles directed the documentary The Land of Basques. Today, from a borda on the border between Navarre and France, Gerardo Damboriena, a veteran pigeon hunter, reveals in Basque the secrets of this tradition of more than 700 years, on the verge of extinction.

We accompany Gerardo, leader of the last generation of dove hunters in the Etxalar Valley, as he reflects on his masters, his love for the ancestral hunt, and his feeling of belonging to a vanishing culture. A story where English learns from Basque. A story narrated by Gerardo Damboriena and Orson Welles.

THE PROTAGONISTS

Gerardo Damboriena, 75 years old, is the soul of ABATA: a wise and endearing pigeon fancier who embodies the legacy of generations. He learned net hunting from those who were filmed by Orson Welles in 1955 for his documentary film The Land of the Basques.

Today, Gerardo leads the last crew that practices this technique in Etxalar. His voice intertwines with that of Welles, creating a dialogue between the past and the present, between Basque and English, in a story that pays homage to Basque identity, memory and cinema as a tool for cultural preservation.

THE TRADITION AND ITS EVOLUTION

Pigeon hunting with nets and wooden paddles dates back to the 14th century. This practice, transmitted orally, has survived the passing of the centuries in the Etxalar Valley, adapting to the environment and its inhabitants.

Today, the pigeon fanciers have initiated a pioneering partnership with the conservation association CPAL, which rings and releases the turtle doves to study their migration. Thanks to this alliance, a tradition that was born to survive becomes a tool for conservation.

ABATA documents this transitional moment in which hunting and science converge to give a new meaning to the legacy.

CURRENT PROJECT STATUS

How do we finance ABATA? The project has been supported until now with our own contributions from our production company, Carapiru Studios, with about 10.000€ invested in development, production and shooting. From the beginning we have also counted with the sponsorship of Panasonic Lumix, supporting us with technical equipment.

Recently, we have received the support of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia with 8.800€. A sign of institutional support that encourages us to move forward. Now, with your contributions, we hope to raise the necessary funds to finish the documentary and give it the closure that this story deserves.

Since 2020 we have traveled the Etxalar Valley accompanying Gerardo and the rest of the pigeon fanciers, recording this centenary tradition and it will be in the next campaign of October 2025 when we will finish the shooting to face the closing of the edition and the post-production process, with the idea of releasing the short film in December 2025.

What will we use your donations for? We will use part of the funds to acquire documentary material and the rights to use the original images and audio of the feature film The Land of the Basques (1955), directed by Orson Welles, a key piece to unite past and present in our narrative.

The rest will help complete the post-production phase (color grading, sound editing, music and final mix).

The rewards for your support
Every collaboration received will be important for the project and we offer rewards for all levels of support: from a mention in the credits, to exclusive access to the pre-release screening, a digital poster or an authentic wooden palette used in the pigeon hunt in Etxalar.

We also have special rewards such as the physical poster of the short film, invitations to the premiere, passes to institutional screenings with the participation of the team, stays in Etxalar and inclusion as an associate producer in IMDB.

In addition, we also want you to have a say in something as important as the official poster of the film. And how? You will be able to choose between the two designs and vote for the one you like the most.

Who will be able to vote and decide which will be the final poster of Abata? All those who contribute 100 € or more to the campaign will be able to vote.

THE ABATA CREW

We are a team that moves from the illusion, the curiosity and the firm commitment that drives our stories. Together we have traveled to places like the taiga forest in Mongolia, the Brazilian Amazon, the Peruvian Andes or the Omo Valley in Ethiopia. Trips and shootings that have resulted in works such as the documentary series Voices of Earth, Joy or Bayandalai.

ABATA will be our first work as a production company under the name of Carapiru Studios.

The executive production is led by Itxaso Frau, creative producer with extensive experience in documentary film and cultural content. Ana Angulo, cultural manager and producer, specialized in identity and heritage audiovisual projects.

Maitane Carballo, who in addition to directing her second documentary short film as a producer is also the sound chief and editor of ABATA.

In the direction, screenplay and cinematography Aner Etxebarria, a filmmaker with a special sensitivity towards the beauty of our planet that he captures in an exquisite photography.

In co-direction and screenplay, Pablo Vidal with extensive experience in social and anthropological documentary filmmaking.

Sharing the direction of photography and in charge of color grading, Rubén Crespo; professional specialized in nature and travel documentaries.

The team is completed by a trio of great professionals such as Gontzal Aurrekoetxea in postproduction coordination, Dani Mateo (design) or Asier Rentería (sound editing).

To follow the campaign: We will inform on our Instagram channel: carapirustudios

For more information, you can contact us via email at [email protected]