I opened the window of my room. The sun was shining. Down below - a few hundred yards from the hotel where I was staying - the St. Lawrence river was flowing unhurriedly to the sea. The St. Lawrence, no less. The river that has figured in adventures, love affairs, fights, films, novels� The night before, I had arrived in Montreal with "El Nido" under my arm. The film starred an adolescent Ana Torrent and the Argentinean actors Hector Alterio and Luis Politti. Ana, a brat of thirteen, won the award for best actress and didn't give it any importance. More than thirty years have passed.

I went back to the Festival des films du monde years later, not many, and I went back as a jury member. It's not an enviable job. I don't like judging, nor do I like being judged. There are too many hopes at stake, and prestige and money too. No one put any pressure on us: the Festival des films du monde is chivalrous and clean and I like to say that. That year, we divided the award between Great Britain and Argentina. The Falklands war had been left behind.

1987. "Mi general". A group of great Spanish actors and with them Hector Alterio, who sails on the two shores. Fern�n G�mez, Fenando Rey, L�pez V�zquez, Rafael Alonso� I think we won the special jury prize. I was accompanied by M�nica Randall who from time to time bought herself a fur coat. When I left Montreal I said to myself: I'll be back. And I intend to be.

Good luck and Happy Birthday.
JAIME DE ARMI��N

Invit� du Festival en / Festival guest in 1980, 1982, 1987
Memebre du jury / Jury member: 1982

Films pr�sent�s / Films presented:

1980

• EL NIDO / LE NID / THE NEST
• Comp�tition officielle / Official Competition
• Prix d'interpr�tation f�minine / Best actress: Ana Torrent

1982

• EN SEPTIEMBRE / EN SEPTEMBRE / IN SEPTEMBER
• Cin�ma espagnole aujourd'hui / Spanish Cinema Today

1985

• STICO
• Hors concours

1986

• LA HORA BRUJA / L'HEURE DES SORCI�RES / THE WITCHING HOUR
• Hors concours

1987

• MI GENERAL / MON G�N�RAL / SIR
• Comp�tition officielle / Official competition
• Prix sp�cial du Jury / Special Jury Award

1994

• AL OTRO LADO DEL TUNEL / � L'AUTRE BOUT DU TUNNEL / ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE TUNNEL
• Hors concours