Laydon Film Club at Ibi: A Long-Standing Pillar of Cinema Returns to the Screen
The Laydon Film Club, run as a nonprofit partnership by ibis, has spent four decades spreading the joy of cinema. After a pandemic pause that stretched nearly three years, the organization is resuming its regular program this year under a refreshed board. The forecast calls for a return on January 19 with a screening at Teatro Río de Ibi, followed by weekly free-admission films.
In November, the club offered a small prelude to the season with a Thursday night program featuring a Berlanga miracle—Swimmer (1969), starring Burt Lancaster and directed by Frank Perry. This film will anchor the return on January 19 and will be followed on January 26 by Jacques Deray’s Swimming Pool (1969), with Alain Delon and Romy Schneider. The selection continues to align with a broader thematic approach at the start of the year.
February will carry a thematic banner under the umbrella “anti love,” presenting titles such as Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) by Edgar Wright, Forget Me (2004) by Michel Gondry on February 9, Kill Bill (2003) by Quentin Tarantino on February 16, and Kill Bill II (2004) on February 23, creating a cohesive, provocative program through the month.
The new leadership, including María Tauste on the right in team photos, marks a fresh chapter for Cineclub Layndon. Remaining information and ongoing updates will be provided as the year unfolds.
The remainder of the 2023 schedule anticipates up to 35 films, with new board members selected last September bringing a youthful perspective. The president is María Tauste, joined by Ángel Lozano, Blanca Rodríguez, Antonio Bordera, and Damián Venteo, all ages between twenty and forty. The group emphasizes that participation grew from a shared passion for cinema; many members knew one another beforehand, but their involvement with the club deepened this connection. Tauste notes that the team selects titles through flexible loops and strives to weave connections among the films, sometimes choosing programs that seem to diverge before revealing a common thread.
There is a notable sense of necessity for Cineclub Layndon. In a municipality without a traditional cinema—its closest commercial theater is in Alcoy—the club serves as the primary venue for audiovisual culture. Support from the Ibí Municipality Building Culture Directorate helps sustain the space, contributing 7,000 euros to activities organized by the club. The remaining funds come from member contributions, up to 11,000 euros (30 euros per year), and support from partner organizations.
Screenings occur in a theater utility room with a 99-seat capacity. A pre-film presentation opens at 20:00, and the main feature begins at 20:30. Tauste encourages audience members to join as partners, offering a Welcome Pack that includes a tote bag bearing a Taxi Driver inscription, which can be purchased separately, along with picture postcards and fanzines.
The club’s mission, established in 1982 with its first recorded meeting, centers on spreading cinema and paying homage to influential works. Tauste explains the evolution of the club’s name, noting that it originally referenced Barry Lyndon by Stanley Kubrick, but the spelling shift from Lyndon to Layndon occurred early on and became a lasting identity.
The current board believes this renewed journey will enrich the municipal audiovisual landscape by making film accessible to a broad audience and strengthening a sense of belonging through cinema. Looking ahead, plans include potential events such as a festival, expert talks, workshops in schools, or a series of films set within the Valencia Community, all designed to broaden civic engagement with the art form. marked citations: information provided by Cineclub Layndon leadership and local cultural authorities.