The showcase, which begins on November 3 with conferences and debates in collaboration with UNED Lanzarote, will bring films and filmmakers from around the world to the island. The program combines screenings with conferences, encounters, courses, workshops, and educational and family activities, linking film culture with the territory and citizen participation.
The Minister of Culture of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Jesús Machín Tavío, highlighted the importance of villages in creating community and defended the legacy of past generations, expressing pride in the choice of 'Villages' as the central theme. Meanwhile, Héctor Fernández, CEO of SPEL–Turismo Lanzarote, emphasized support for initiatives that highlight the island's uniqueness and international projection.
Elisabeth Cedrés, representative of the Centers for Art, Culture, and Tourism (CACT), reaffirmed the entity's commitment to the showcase and the promotion of culture, noting the CACT's identification with an edition that links the villages and identity of Lanzarote.
Javier Prieto, Director of Institutional Relations for Turismo de Islas Canarias, stated that the showcase has established itself as a benchmark event for independent creation, bringing cinema to citizens and promoting local talent. He recalled that Turismo de Islas Canarias sponsors cultural events that contribute to a top-tier activity agenda.
Javier Fuentes Feo, artistic and production director of the showcase and the non-profit association Tenique Cultural, described the project as 'local, with a local vision, with local vocation, but with global ambition,' emphasizing that Lanzarote is its 'true star.' This edition will highlight the history and ways of life of the island's villages, connecting them with global experiences.
The Official Section will feature five international feature films, and a jury will deliberate in public, a hallmark of the showcase since 2018. The Trasfoco section will explore 'Villages' with films from all eras of cinema, while the competitive section 'Cruce de Caminos: cineastas de Canarias' will provide a space for filmmakers from the archipelago.
The program extends beyond screenings with courses on cinematic photography by Mauro Herce and sound by Eva Valiño and Belén López, alongside conferences with UNED and a popular encounter on the experiences of the island's villages with people over ninety years old at Bodegas El Grifo. A workshop on making rosettes from recycled materials will be held, and the honorary award will be a special bottle from Bodegas El Grifo, with competitive section awards featuring pieces designed by Juan Brito.
