Alicante hosts another edition of Gastro Cinema, a festival that blends cinema with the flavors of local gastronomy. Twelve short films were selected from a pool of seventy-five entries, all vying for recognition in a competition centered on culinary themes. The screened works will be shown during MARQ Days, with free admission at 8:00 PM on September 13 and 14, and continues through September 18 in various locations around the city.
From the twelve works, nine are recognized as national selections. They explore appetizing and provocative angles: a ceviche-inspired piece connected to Pepe Lillo; a film titled Sharp and Noisy by Jaime Garcia Parra; a trio of motifs—glass, paper, and organic—linked to Almudena Vazquez; the idea of a center of the universe by Angel Puado; a film about John by Santiago Gatto; Lentil by Jose Antonio Campos; Crumbs by Jose Larrosa; If You Love Me Then Leave by Sofia Muñoz; and Fooling Le Mans by David Conil. The remaining three entries originate from Argentina: Last Coffee by Kevin Eisenberg; Intolerance by Marcos Rodolosi; and Encrypted Gramojo by Elizabeth Robles and Ulysses Milea. The audience will vote for the best short film, with the prize awarded at the closing gala on September 18, held at Alicante’s Main Theatre.
Short Intolerance is among the highlighted visuals, and information accompanies its listing as part of the festival’s program.
Gastro Cinema announces another year of events for all ages, including children-focused activities. Healthy cooking workshops are planned in Istanbul on Monday, September 18, hosted at the Alicante Central Market in collaboration with Mercalicante. These sessions aim to help children recognize the health risks of sweets, present fruit-based alternatives, guide families to the market to purchase fresh fruit, and encourage lifelong healthy habits.
The festival also previews a slate of guest films. It will host MACA’s Chocolate, the Cook of Last Wishes, and Babette’s Feast with free admission, while MARQ will host others, expanding the cultural footprint across venues in the city.
Participation in the event is highlighted by the presence of cultural leaders. Nayma Beldjilali, a member of the Cultural Council, and Gastro Cinema director Vicente Seva note that Cinema and gastronomy create a week of culture, tradition, and social connection. Films paired with wines and regional products, a short-film competition, talks, and a broad program aim to entertain while celebrating local dining and dining-related storytelling. This initiative is also intended to promote local restaurants and the broader culinary scene in Alicante.
Nayma Beldjilali emphasizes that the festival strengthens the link between cinema and the city’s restaurants. The focus extends to younger audiences, introducing healthy eating practices through parallel sections that run alongside the main competition and showcases.
Vicente Seva, who leads the Alicante Film Festival and oversees Gastro Cinema, expresses pride in the festival’s ability to unite screen arts and gastronomy. He highlights the event as a celebration of regional flavors, cinematic craft, and community engagement, with plans to broaden participation and invite more families to experience cinema in conjunction with culinary arts. The festival’s leadership envisions a future where film screenings, tastings, and workshops become a familiar weekly rhythm for residents and visitors alike, helping to frame Alicante as a hub for culture, food, and creativity. The collaboration with local cultural bodies underlines the city’s commitment to a vibrant, inclusive cultural calendar that resonates across generations and tastes.