At the gala, the festival marked the premiere of the winning short film from the opening segment with a moment of pause. A tribute honored Rosana Pastor, the Valencian actor and director, and a Silver Palm Tree was presented by Luis Boyer, head of the Fundación Mediterráneo. The festival has a history of recognizing Goya Award winners for their work in cinema, a pattern repeated here as a distinguished gesture. It recalls the earlier recognition at the festival for the film Land and Freedom by Ken Loach in 1996, another high point in the event’s legacy.
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Thorns stood out as one of the shorts that paused the official program on Thursday, earning the Mediterranean Foundation Outstanding Award for Best Short Film. Sáinz-Pardo’s 15-minute piece stars two iconic faces from Spanish cinema, José Sacristan and Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, bringing a depth that resonates with long-time fans and new viewers alike.
Released in June 2021, the short also earned First Prize at the Vilafamés Short Film Festival. The story centers on Carmen, a 50-year-old woman who contemplates ending her life. A sudden text message on her phone interrupts her plan. Her father, whom she has hardly spoken to in years, asks for a visit due to something urgent. With nothing left to lose, Carmen heads out, and the reunion unleashes a cascade of dramatic events and revelations that alter everything.
With more than 500 festival awards to his name, Sáinz-Pardo (Madrid, 1972) has captivated global audiences and critics alike. A graduate of the Munich Film School (HFF MÜNCHEN) in film and television directing, he has earned Oscar nominations and Goya recognition. He has received Deutscher Kurzfilmpreis nominations and a European short film award in Brussels, and he has also directed the second unit of a major series. He works with Mediapro Studios and is developing his first feature in Germany, where he serves as both director and screenwriter for cinema and advertising projects.
Pau Calpe Esicma’s early success, including a feature debut recognized by the Mediterranean Foundation, helped shape a festival category dedicated to director debuts. At FICIE, this category now hosts eight Spanish films that compete for top honors and visibility.
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The feature story follows a father and son amid rural social tensions. Joan, a stubborn villager from a Lleida countryside, grows tired of burglaries at her home and joins the local night patrol. Neighbors resist at first, but when Pep, her son, returns from town, they welcome him to the effort. A routine patrol leads to a confrontation with a thief and a chance for change in the village.
Pau Calpe Esicma has built a robust career as a producer for feature films and television projects at DeAPlaneta, Brutal Media, and Boomerang. In 2016 he founded Galápagos Media, a company where he blends production with writing and project management.
Other awards
Meanwhile, the drama Free Fall, directed by Emmanuel Tenenbaum, earned the Ciutat d’Elx Award for Best Short Film Editing. Tenenbaum, a French director, has seen his works featured in over 200 festivals. Free Fall marks his third short and his last before embarking on a feature project. The story follows Tom, a young bank operator in London who witnesses the first plane crash on September 11, 2001, and embarks on a mission that becomes his life’s defining moment.
Best Animated Short Film went to Loop by Argentine animator Pablo Polledri. This eight-minute piece reflects on how social systems turn individuals into cogs in a repetitive machinery that rewards certain behaviors for the sake of continuity.
Best Documentary honors went to Mirages, a piece by Alfonso Palazón that follows a group of refugees seeking dignity and the chance to return to their roots, while tackling unfinished projects and shared aspirations.
During the screenings, attendees voted on the awards using their phones. Hort del Xocolater won this year’s audience choice. The winning short, Joselito, produced by Jose C. Jiménez Revuelta and Marta Jiménez Revuelta, is a nine-minute portrait of an elderly electronics expert who can repair anything. The town’s neighbors rely on him, and his wife supports his work as he wanders the streets with a shopping cart collecting broken tools.
Another notable entry, It was a short titled The Story of All of Us by Itxaso Diaz, explored the plight of refugees and the demand for basic rights. The documentary follows three women from El Salvador who face political and social challenges tied to abortion rights and legal proceedings, highlighting resilience and solidarity in the face of adversity.
Elche Film Festival awards a documentary addressing abortion in El Salvador
Italy’s I Gave Vote, directed by Gianluca Zontaw, earned Best European Short Film. The film depicts a future society where android citizens gain the vote, sparking debate on representation and rights. The Best Iberoamerican Short Film went to Jose Gomez de Vargas for Orno Return Ticket, a tale of a former gang member who struggles to protect his son while grappling with his past. Joel’s ascent within the gang shows the powerful pull of legacy and loyalty.
Fear, by Angelo Moreno, won Best Short Film from the Valencian Community. The film follows Aina, a 35-year-old mother who starts a new relationship after a loss, facing family and work pressures that push her to the brink. The Cineclub Award for Best Short Film by Novelist Luis Buñuel recognized Raquel Guerrero for Useless, a story about Tito, a neighborhood kid who must prove his worth and navigate risky choices under peer pressure.
Mobile Movie Maker honored the best short shot with a mobile phone for Israel Nahd Bashir and his film The Dead Sea. Inspired by a true story, the film follows Kamal, an autistic Palestinian who arrives at the Dead Sea with his sister and faces accusations of terrorism as part of his journey.
Organized by the Fundación Mediterráneo, the Elche International Independent Film Festival operates in collaboration with the Elche City Council and the Elche Luis Buñuel Cinema Club, continuing a local tradition of showcasing bold, diverse cinema that resonates far beyond its borders.