The Rural Film Festival is entering its eleventh edition and will relocate to Camp d’Elx, screening a total of 73 films from June 30 to July 9.
The Mayor of Rural Development, Felip Sánchez, introduced the program alongside the festival directors Jaume Quiles and Alberto Gutiérrez. This year four new districts join the initiative compared with the previous edition: Special, La Marina, Torrellano, Perleta, Pla de Sant Josep, Asprella, Arenales del Sol, La Hoya and Las Bayas. Ten nights of screenings will offer an up-to-date view of international cinema in both short and feature formats, centered on rural life and sustainability. The awards ceremony will take place in La Marina.
A sustainable film festival in the eight districts of Elche
As the councilor emphasized, the event aims to raise awareness about the realities of rural areas and the ecological and environmental issues filmmakers address in these works.
Quiles stated that twelve screenings took part in the competition, with nine in the official section, two for children, and an intergenerational competition titled “No ten iaia, o sí!” which invites people to create short films and lets older participants cast votes.
The program is expected to showcase films from about 42 nationalities. Last year saw more than a dozen film entries, with women representing a substantial portion of participation, signaling progress toward gender equality in cinema.
The lineup includes feature films, short features, medium-length pieces, and documentaries, with 28 animated titles and 13 narrative works. Participating countries span Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, Ukraine, Iran, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and others across South America and Europe. Several films will enjoy national premieres within the district venues.
Gutiérrez noted that the event is organized by the Elche City Council, the National Institute of Culture, Generalitat, the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMHE), and a variety of associations.
Camp d’Elx becomes the stage for legendary films in support of Rural Film Fest
He also highlighted the festival’s standout achievements last year. Aiming for a smaller carbon footprint, the festival has continued to push sustainability in 2023 with signs printed on recycled paper, T-shirts made from certified organic cotton, and a fleet transition to electric vehicles. All outdoor performances rely on solar power to minimize environmental impact.
The councilor urged filmmakers to participate and engage with the festival, offering a platform to showcase Camp d’Elx’s lifestyle, culture, and art to a broad audience.