Gastro Cinema Festival has grown into an independent branch of the Alicante Film Festival, bringing together cinema and cuisine in the city from September 23 to 30. The festival highlights social initiatives, notably the Red Cross and the centennial Alicante Central Market, both of which will be honored with awards during the opening gala. The ceremony, hosted by Pablo Carbonell, will take place at the Alicante Main Theater at 20:00, marking the festival’s united commitment to culture and community life (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).
The event blends cinematographic art with culinary culture and pays tribute to the Central Market, a treasure of the city and a source of local pride. The organizers emphasize that the market embodies a spirit of shared tradition and ongoing renewal across generations, a sentiment expressed by Lydia López, member of the Pazarlar Assembly, alongside the Mayor of Culture and the festival coordinators Vicent Seva and Manuel Sánchez during the presentation of the Honorary Award winners (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).
Among the highlights, the Alicante Red Cross receives the Solidarity Award for its long-standing commitment to promoting healthy eating and community welfare. Seva underlined this recognition while noting that on the 28th the festival will screen four Red Cross short films as part of a series titled A Landscape in the Pot. Remedios Alarcón, president of the Alicante Red Cross, expressed gratitude for the honor and described the project as a study showing regional products and the chefs and producers who contribute to them. She also emphasized the organization’s daily work in advancing healthy and sustainable nutrition for all members of the community (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).
The chef and owner of La Sirena de Petrer, a participant in the festival, will be presented with an honorary award at the gala. The news notes the chef’s ongoing ventures, including the opening of a new restaurant in Fuerteventura, and recognizes the short film competition’s impact on local culinary storytelling (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).
One of the festival’s strongest promotional moments is the screening of Covid Love, a short film selected for the competition, which will be shown at MARQ as part of the program. The exposure this film offers the festival’s themes of food, health, and community is framed as a timely reflection of contemporary society (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).
Screening of seven selected short films
In parallel, the festival’s cultural partner Manresa has published a set of gastronomically themed short films that were chosen from this year’s competition. The jury, composed of producers David Valero, Adam Aliaga, and Guillermo López Aliaga, selected seven entries from a diverse pool. The works include Three Seater Table by the Ilicitano filmmaker Álvaro G., produced with support from the Alicante team Meka Rivera; Jalapeño Pepper by Álvaro Moriano and Alexander de Vega; Covid Love by René Nuijens; Hawaiian Pizza by Pep Puig; Solidarity Day by Gabriel Lugido López; Perrunillas by Dena Parro Marquez; and Therapy Meal by Jorge Barceló. These selections are presented as a concrete showcase of cross-border collaboration and creative storytelling around food and shared experiences (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).
The seven selected short films will be released on the 26th with free admission at MARQ beginning at 19:00. The festival invites audiences to explore these cinematic stories that intertwine flavors, places, and human moments, offering a window into different culinary cultures through the lens of concise storytelling (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).
For those seeking more information, the Gastro Cinema platform provides access to the festival’s entire schedule. Some events are available on demand, while others require tickets. Demand has already reached capacity for the inaugural premiere, and tickets are nearly sold out for the MARQ garden screening of Fuera de carta and for the black fideuà workshop scheduled on the same day (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).
Notes: The festival emphasizes accessibility and cultural enrichment for the public. Attendees can enjoy a curated blend of film screenings and gastronomic experiences, with a focus on community involvement and regional representation. The coordination between organizers, local institutions, and cultural sponsors is presented as the engine driving the event’s ongoing growth and visibility (Gastro Cinema Festival, attribution).