Maialen Lujanbio and Andoni Egaña are part of a unique research project

Bertsolari Piloto – English subtitles from Txintxua on Vimeo. Above: Pilot for director Asier Altuna’s bertsolari documentary film. Basque filmmaker Asier Altuna has always been moved by the emotion of a bertsolaritza. As the singers compete against each other with their poetic, extemporaneous verses, people in the audience always break down and cry, he says. The experience of seeing grown [...]

Above: Promotional video for the San Francisco Basque Club’s “Bertso Jaialdia” on March 13. For more information, click here. The Basque competitors gather at festivals or among friends to face off in improvised lyrical duels. Each is given a topic, which can be anything from life on the farm to friendship or family. One by one, the singers belt out [...]