The Alicante Film Festival marks International Women’s Day with a dedicated cycle called Women in Cinema, featuring films directed by women or led by female protagonists. The event runs for March 6 to 9 and is organized in collaboration with the Alicante City Council Equality Department and the School of Official Languages. All screenings will be shown in their original language with Spanish subtitles and free admission. A total of five feature films will be presented across the four days, highlighting female leadership and gender perspectives in modern storytelling.
The shared thread across all selections is clear: women at the helm both behind and in front of the camera. The program, produced with the School of Official Languages, includes screenings on nearly every day with sessions starting in the morning, except for Tuesday the 7th. One day offers an eleven o clock session, with a morning program on the other days as well. All attendees can enjoy free entry while discovering diverse narratives that center women in varied cultural contexts.
The cycle opens with a bright, timely pick from France by Yvan Attal on Monday, March 6. The event presents two sessions on several days, including a Spanish program focusing on Rose Wedding, a project related to icíar bollain, and an American road journey directed by Sam Mendes. The lineup continues on March 8 with Light from 2009 by Italian filmmaker Maurizio Zaccaro and closes on March 9 with a notable Iranian production, Holy Spider, directed by Ali Abbasi. The sequence of films invites audiences to experience multiple perspectives and cinematic voices from different regions.
Movies
The film tells the story of Neïla Salah, a Parisian youth who aspires to become a lawyer. On the first day of law school, Neïla encounters Professor Pierre Mazard. The professor offers guidance to prepare for a crucial exam, but the journey demands overcoming entrenched prejudices and stereotypes that can hinder progress in a demanding academic environment.
Rosa, portrayed by Candela Peña, is a woman approaching forty-five who has spent years living for others. She decides to take control of her life, walk away from the familiar routines, and pursue her dream of starting her own business. The narrative follows her bold choice to redefine her future on her own terms.
The cycle also highlights the film A Shiny Cause featuring Camélia Jordana, a compelling example of women’s stories taking center stage in contemporary cinema. The presenting program celebrates strong female characters and the unique perspectives they bring to the screen.
Another title follows a story of romantic entanglements in which Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio star as Frank and April. Their attraction begins at a party, with both pursuing personal ambitions that conflict with the rhythms of daily life. Over time, a marriage with two children forms, yet happiness remains elusive as they wrestle with the choice between chasing dreams and embracing a stable, predictable life.
This Italian feature invites viewers into the life of Nur, a ten-year-old girl traveling alone toward Europe by way of the Mediterranean. Upon reaching Lampedusa, Nur meets the island’s doctor, Pietro Bartolo, who works to reconstruct both the past and present for the young girl and help define a hopeful future amid the turmoil of displacement and migration.
The Iranian drama follows a Tehran-based journalist who investigates a series of notorious crimes against women in Mashhad. The investigation reveals a pattern of resistance from local authorities and centers on the actions of a single man who targets women at night in a bid to purge perceived sins from the city. The film examines justice, fear, and resilience in a community confronting violence against women.
Programming notes emphasize the ongoing commitment of the cycle to presenting cinema that foregrounds women’s experiences while fostering language learning and cross-cultural understanding. The event is described as both enjoyable and educational, offering a lens into the lives, dreams, and challenges faced by women around the world through diverse languages and films. This approach helps broaden visibility for female perspectives and aligns with a broader agenda to celebrate gender equality on the 8M calendar.
The School of Official Languages underscores the educational value of centering women in stories from different regions. By bringing these films to the cinema, audiences can travel to new places, moments, and sensations that illuminate the languages taught within the school and showcase the universal importance of female representation in storytelling.