The Alicante cinema festival lit up a Saturday night with a glamorous opening that signaled its 20th edition. The event has grown into a city-wide highlight and a cornerstone of the regional film industry. The competition matured over two decades, becoming a definitive platform for filmmakers to showcase their work, push boundaries, and gain broader recognition. This opening gala, presented in the historic Teatro Principal, featured remarks from esteemed industry figures and underscored how these gatherings support professionals, nurture talent, and celebrate shared creativity.
Award ceremonies at this issue of the festival honored veterans and rising stars alike. Alejandro Amenábar, Karra Elejalde, and Nathalie Poza received distinct recognitions: the Lucentum Award, the Honor Award, and the Alicante City Award, respectively. These moments carried more weight than simple trophy presentations; they reflected the personal journeys of the honorees and the impact of mentors, collaborators, and audiences on their careers. The emotion of the evening grew with each acknowledgement, especially when Poza and Elejalde’s tributes brought a surge of genuine feeling to the stage.
Blanca Portillo stepped forward to present the Alicante City Award, welcoming the recipient with warm words. Poza’s description as a “star full of light” who has long carried a distinctive presence in her characters resonated with the crowd. Poza herself spoke to the transformative power of such gatherings, noting that the joy of these meetings cannot be captured on small screens alone but must be experienced in cinema, where shared experiences dissolve solitude and invite audiences to return to the theater.
Karra Elejalde’s moment arrived alongside Dani Rovira, highlighting a strong personal bond between the two actors. Elejalde described the award as an opportunity to celebrate a friendship that has become a beacon for the festival. His gratitude was tempered with a reminder that great cinema requires ongoing support from festivals that nurture tomorrow’s talents. The surprise of the award did not overshadow the humility with which he accepted, and his words echoed the belief that these festivals form the foundation for future projects and collaborations.
On behalf of the festival, Belén Rueda delivered thanks to the organization for its continued support of cinema. She handed over her recognition to Amenábar, whose succinct remarks suggested a vision for the future: the idea that this prize should not close a chapter but rather open a new one. Amenábar expressed a desire to shoot his next project in Alicante, a wish that underscored the city’s growing role as a dynamic production hub and a source of inspiration for filmmakers. His gratitude extended to the audience and the broader community, including family members who shared the premiere that evening.
Vincent Seva, the director of the Alicante Film Festival, offered a heartfelt thank you to all three winners and to everyone who supports the festival’s ongoing mission. He also called for greater institutional involvement, arguing that as the city advances, the festival must advance alongside it. The message was clear: sustained investment and collaboration from cultural institutions and local government are essential to keep the festival vibrant and relevant for audiences across Canada, the United States, and beyond, while maintaining the intimate charm that many attendees value.
Throughout the evening, the festival’s atmosphere blended gratitude with ambition. The awards not only acknowledged individual achievements but also highlighted the broader ecosystem that makes cinema possible—from producers and technicians to festival volunteers and festival-goers who keep the lights bright and the seats filled. The night captured the dual essence of Alicante’s festival scene: a tribute to proven talent and a hopeful gaze toward fresh voices that will shape the next twenty years of storytelling in the region and around the world. As the crowd dispersed, conversations lingered about forging new collaborations, securing future screenings, and continuing the festival’s momentum in a city that has embraced film as a core cultural driver, inviting the world to witness its evolving cinematic voice.