The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a program running from today until May 3rd. This cinematic event, a benchmark in the Archipelago for auteur cinema, will feature over a hundred films from various regions.
The inauguration will take place tonight at the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium, where the legendary silent film Faust (1926) will be screened. This German cinema classic, marking a century since its premiere, will be accompanied by live music from the Canarian band GAF y la Estrella de la Muerte, known for its progressive rock.
“"The desire to talk about cinema is the essence of a festival."
In addition to screenings, the festival will include the Cinematographic Craftsmanship Conferences, a forum for dialogue with prominent filmmakers and actors. A special initiative has also been planned for young people aged 25, who will be invited to screenings at Cine Yelmo Las Arenas.
The event will dedicate its 25th Anniversary Special Award to Chinese filmmaker Bi Gan, considered one of the most original talents of the last decade, with a cycle of eight of his works. The weekend will also feature the Canarias Cinema section, presenting four feature films and fourteen short films related to the Archipelago, competing for the Richard Leacock awards.
The Official Section, which positions the festival in the international circuit, will begin on Monday, April 27th, with the Spanish premieres of ten feature films and fifteen short films. The program is complemented by regular sections such as Panorama, Magic Lantern, and Camera Obscura, among others.
