Gastronomy, cinema, and the presence of Pablo Carbonell create a trio that draws crowds. The Teatro Principal de Alicante has reserved its entire capacity for the opening gala of Gastro Cinema, a festival that collaborates with Alicante Gastronómica through the following day. A convergence point for food and film, this event sets the stage for a vibrant celebration of taste and storytelling.
Creators who weave folk traditions and culinary elements into their cinema see the theater as a bold medium for expression. It becomes a space where film can address a wide range of themes, translating complex ideas into a shared, communal experience on stage and screen.
The premiere featured tables and Carbonell’s onstage humor, underscoring how Alicante’s gastronomy resonates with audiences and how the simple act of sharing a meal can evoke powerful emotions. The setting highlighted the power of the table to connect people, memories, and emotions, turning dining into an integral part of the cinematic experience.
During the opening, approximately 60 shorts were featured, with seven shortlisted for competition and ultimately receiving the Gastro Cinema Award, which carried a prize of 500 euros. The winning works included a study by Álvaro García and Meka Ribera about a city in Alicante exploring food shortages, presented on a three-seater table that framed the discussion in a social context. A jury, comprised of filmmaker Adán Aliaga and editor David Valero, with input from William López, a professor of Fiction and Editing Theory and Practice at the UMH Film School, selected the awardees. This panel’s decisions highlighted the festival’s commitment to pairing cinematic craft with meaningful social themes. A separate recognition went to the Red Cross for solidarity efforts. Remedios Alarcón, president of the Alicante Red Cross, accepted the Solidarity Award from Dolores Mejía, general manager of Mercicante, for their work promoting healthy eating and community wellbeing.
Gastro Cinema will also showcase documentaries from notable culinary figures, including the Camarena and San Román families and the renowned Roca brothers. A special tribute, the Gastro Cinema Special Award, honors the Alicante Central Market as it celebrates its centennial—an emblem of the city’s enduring link between food culture and daily life. In addition, Mari Carmen Vélez, co-owner of La Sirena de Petrer, was recognized with the Honorary Award for her role in maintaining the Mediterranean diet, an acknowledgment presented by the Vice President of Cultural Affairs, Julia Parra. Carbonell introduced a new segment dedicated to rice dishes, organized in partnership with city restaurants. The aim was to celebrate the rice culture of the Valencian Community and to pair meals themed around film titles with a curated culinary experience.
The festival will continue to screen documentaries featuring renowned chefs such as Ricard Camarena, the Roca brothers, and María José San Román. The event originated as a resilient spin-off from the Alicante Film Festival and continued independently after its fourth edition, which took place the previous October. Over eight short films and five documentaries are slated for festival screenings, alongside feature fiction titles. A gastronomy book presentation is planned, along with workshops in collaboration with the University of Alicante, talks, master classes, tastings of chocolate, cava, wine, and cheese, and a special focus on rice films. The festival will also host Film Cocktails in partnership with the city’s restaurants and entertainment venues, bringing programming to multiple city spaces, including the municipal gardens, the MARQ, the Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art (MACA), and Las Cigarreras. The broader city-wide schedule will span several venues and neighborhoods, encouraging visitors to explore beyond the central theater to experience the full spectrum of Alicante’s culinary cinema scene.