Rosana Pastor expressed immense pride at being honored in her homeland and at a festival she has supported for many years. The Elche International Independent Film Festival plans to award her the highest honor, the Silver Palm, during the closing ceremony of its 45th edition. Luis Boyer, president of the Mediterranean Foundation and festival organizer, joked that there is no gold that could outshine a Palm. The moment is framed as a celebration of a long-standing artistic partnership and a testament to Pastor’s influence across Spanish cinema.
Pastor regards the Elche Film Festival as a major national event. She highlighted how the festival has grown and emphasized the significance of its winners reaching the Goya Awards. The honoree also expressed gratitude for the screening of the documentary Francisco Brines: The Signs Are Revealed, a tribute to the Valencian poet who won the Cervantes Prize in 2020.
Rosana Pastor to pay tribute to Elche Film Festival
During the closing ceremony, top productions will receive awards. The cultural mayor, Marga Antón, remarked that Elche possesses rich cultural assets and that festivals like this amplify the city’s status in cinema and theater. She pointed to the community’s passion for the arts and noted projects in education across Mystery, Palm Grove, and Puçol, underscoring the council’s commitment to offering programming that spans cinema, dance, and theater for diverse audiences. The city is described as a hub of culture that proudly serves as a beacon for the region’s creative life.
The foundation’s director, Luis Boyer, spoke of strong pride in honoring Rosana Pastor at the Elche Film Festival. He described her as a leading figure of Spanish cinema and noted that Pastor embodies the values of the festival: artistic excellence, a spirit of innovation, ongoing growth as a filmmaker, and a steadfast partnership with cultural institutions and the audiovisual sector.
Elche Film Festival received 55 feature films and 2,450 short films in its 45th year
Pastor reflected on personal choices about identity, emphasizing decisions guided by both mind and heart to live with dignity and be received with kindness. She described her transition from acting to directing as a natural progression, and she expressed happiness in remaining connected to acting, a profession she prepared for through deliberate craft.
Over the years, the Elche Film Festival has honored many prominent artists, including Fernando Fernán Gómez, Sara Montiel, José Luis Garci, Sancho Gracia, Juan Diego, Cayetana Guillén Cuervo, Vicente Molina Foix, and last year’s recipient Mariano Barroso. The event has become a significant cultural milestone in the region.
closing
The Closing Gala of the 45th Elche Film Festival is scheduled for Friday, July 22 at 21:30 at l’Hort del Xocolater. The ceremony will present all category awards, including the Fundación Mediterráneo Award for Best Short Film, the Ciutat d’Elx Award for Best Short Film, and the FesCurt Award for Best Production. This year, for the first time, the Best Feature Film Award will be chosen from eight feature films featured in the official section.
Organized and sponsored by the Fundación Mediterráneo, the festival is a collaborative effort with the Elche City Council and the Elche Luis Buñuel Cinema Club. Details about programming and news are shared through the foundation’s channels and press materials.