The forthcoming edition spotlights film scores, with James Bond and notable Spanish contemporary novels as featured protagonists. Sonafilm Marina Alta Film Music Festival kicks off this Friday and runs through August 26, offering the public five concerts, four of which are free, woven into its lineup.
The festival’s aim is simple: to showcase live orchestral interpretations of iconic scores from cinema and now television, proving that music can be as spellbinding as moving images. The idea originated with artistic director Javier Gil six years ago. Gil, who also directs the Universal Symphony Orchestra, specializes in film soundtracks. The project began under the banner of Sonafilm and, with the support of local municipalities and external sponsors, has expanded each year to include other Marina Alta towns such as Dénia, El Verger, Calp, and Teulada-Moraira.
The festival opens today at the Teulada-Moraira Auditorium with G&S Pocket, a group first to revisit their music from video game worlds as well as the epic scores from Bond films. The festival will culminate on August 26 with Bond’s Music, performed at the Ondara Plaza de Toros, where the guest conductor will lead the Universal Symphony Orchestra in a program featuring themes from Russia With Love, Skyfall, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Moonraker, License to Kill, For Your Eyes Only, Goldeneye, Die Another Day, and Goldfinger that have resonated with audiences for decades.
James Bond Soundtrack Concert Poster
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“This year marks the longest programming to date and the first time Spanish composers are invited to attend the festival. Live performances give a chance to appreciate their work in a field where editing and arrangement are crucial,” explains Javier Gil. Sonafilm stands as one of four festivals of this kind in Spain, alongside Tenerife, Malaga, and Seville, growing since its third year into a broader platform for film music in the region.
Luis Ivars and Manel Santisteban
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One of the standout concerts will be Made in Spain Soundtrack, taking place Saturday at Calp Auditorium at 9:00 p.m. The event features Diego Navarro conducting the festival’s orchestra, with performances by Manel Santisteban, a prolific composer known for works such as Brain Drain and films like Three meters above the Sky, along with other artists who have shaped the musical landscape of cinema. The program also highlights pieces tied to television and film, including scores associated with popular series and feature films. Notable names connected to the project include Arnau Bataller, Vanesa Garde, Ivan Martinez Lacamara, and Arnau Bataller’s recent contributions to Way Down, Mediterranean, and Live Twice. The festival also features veteran composers like Luis Ivars, who has contributed to Tabarka, Captain Thunder and the Holy Grail, Sugar Times, La Dama Boba, and 22 Angels, with the ensemble augmented by Cecilia Krull, the renowned vocalist behind several key pieces in the program.
Universal Symphony Orchestra in Ondara arena in a previous edition
Ivars praises the festival’s commitment to Spanish composers for film and television. He notes that the performances are bold and filled with virtuosic moments, including pieces from 22 Angels and Captain Thunder alongside collaborations like Capture the Flag, Mediterranean, and Paper House, featuring Cecilia Krull performing as the lead vocalist on select pieces.
Valencia Brass Tape will perform August 24 as part of Metal Films inside Auditorium El Verger Culture House, while Dénia Teatre Auditori Social Center will host an event on August 25 where Pop Culture Group explores the musical world of cinema, including Quentin Tarantino’s scores. The festival also hosts a space for book talks and film discussions, continuing the tradition of blending music with cinema and literature. For more information: Sonafilm official site.