Marian Aldaz Arechaga

Lecturer in Spanish

Biography

Background

 

Mrs Marian A. Aréchaga is a Lecturer in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies department where she teaches Spanish language courses at all levels. She was responsible of the development of all the Languages courses for Spanish 1st and 2nd Year and 4th Year, as well as Foundation courses, following the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. In addition, she has introduced a variety of cultural activities such as; organising workshops to promote Spanish Culture as well as academic courses. For several years she has directed the annual Spanish play and has participated actively in several cultural audio-visual projects with the collaboration of other universities across the UK and several organisations including Anne Rowling Regenerative Neurology Clinic, Dance Base, Food and drink Scotland and Slow food Scotland.

Along with this, she has coordinated a Spanish film course for first year students. In 2013 she launched the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival curating the films and offering an educational programme for schools around Scotland. In 2022 she developed and Option for 4 year students called Exhibiting Spanish cinema.This hands-on course explores the dynamic world of film festivals, equipping students with the essential skills to plan, manage, and execute live cultural events successfully.

Qualifications

  • BA (Hons) in Hispanic Philology, Deusto University (San Sebastián, Spain).
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Language Teaching, Deusto University (San Sebastián, Spain).

Responsibilities & affiliations

  • Director, Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival.
  • Course Organiser, Exhibiting Spanish Cinema
  • Course Organiser, 4 year oral Spanish.

Undergraduate teaching

  • Spanish 1A
  • Spanish 4 
  • Exhibiting Spanish cinema

Project activity

Marian is currently working on the  nine edition of the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival (October 2022). She continues expanding the  variety of films on offer with windows to Catalan, Basque, Galician and Latin American film productions.

 

Past project grants

- Creative Scotland
- Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture
- Instituto Cervantes
- Instituto Etxepare
- TourSpain London
- Fim Hub Scotland
-ULCM
-Acción Cultural
-Spanish Embassy London

In 2014 Marian A. Aréchaga explored the possibility of establishing a relationship between the Hispanic Studies Department at the University, the Filmhouse and the Ministry of Culture in Spain with the intention of setting up a cinema festival in Edinburgh.

Led by Marian, a team was formed within the Hispanic Studies Department to make this idea a reality. Although the French Film Festival and Italian Film Festival were well established, there was no Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival. There is a large Spanish and Hispanic population in Edinburgh, and she wanted to satisfy their thirst with a festival that covers a wide range of films for everyone, from the ‘foodies’ to the ‘fanatics’! She also aimed to support Spanish cinema, a cultural industry that has been struggling to find funding in recent times.

Marian has been working for over four years to make this festival happen. It is now the most powerful platorm for Spanish and Latin American films in Scotland.

For information regarding the Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival please visit: http://www.edinburghspanishfilmfestival.com/

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