- The new edition includes the "Nuevo Documental Andaluz 'cycle, a space organized with the Diputación de Málaga that will show the most recent works of Andalusian directors
- The official competition short film section has received almost 1,200 entries from around the world
The next Saturday, October 19, will begin a new edition of the International Benalmádena Film Festival (FICCAB) that will bring to the city of the Costa del Sol guests such as Canadian filmmaker Atom Egoyan, director Arantxa Echevarría, filmmaker Jose Antonio Hergueta and actor Fernando Esteso.
The Casa de la Cultura del Arroyo de la Honey and the Exhibition Centre of Benalmádena Costa are the chosen spaces to house the projections of the tapes to competition and the parallel activities, which will take place from 19 to 26 October. In this XXIII edition, the Diputación de Málaga joins the City Council of Benalmádena as a collaborator of the Festival, with the incorporation of the cycle 'Nuevo Documental Andaluz'.
This was announced by the Vice President and Deputy of Culture, Manuel López Mestanza, along with the Council of Culture of Benalmádena, Jésica Trujillo, and Jaime Noguera, director of FICCAB, during the presentation of the 2024 edition.
In this sense, López Mestanza has highlighted the transcendence of FICCAB, not only in the province, but throughout Spain, which is supported by the large number of editions that he has already held and which have made it a classic on the agenda of those who bet on an innovative cinema with new filmmakers and filmmakers. "There are few cities that have as much links to the cinema as Benalmádena."
On October 19, the Casa de la Cultura del Arroyo de la Honey will host the inaugural FICCAB gala where the Malaysian producer and filmmaker José Antonio Hergueta will be awarded as the best director. Hergueta is known for its historical research work in works such as' Operation Ursula 'or' Caleta Palace ', on the fall of the city of Malaga in 1937. The International Award will also be awarded to Canadian director Aton Egoyam, winner of several awards at the Cannes festival and nominated twice to the Oscars.
As Noguera has explained, the actor Fernando Esteso will receive the award "La vida de cine" ("A life of cinema"), for his valuable contribution to Spanish cinema throughout his outstanding film career. For the occasion the FICCAB will project "Los Liantes," starring Andrés Pajares. Among the honors in previous editions are Ana Belén, María Asquerino or Fernando Guillén.
Basque director Arantxa Echevarría, focused on giving voice through the camera to marginalized communities and visibilizing topics such as gender identity and sexual diversity with films such as' Carmen and Lola ', and' Chinas', will also receive a award on October 26.
New Andalusian Documentary
One of the novelties of this edition is the Nuevo Documental Andaluz cycle, a space organized with the collaboration of the Diputación de Málaga that will show the most recent works of Andalusian directors.
The works that will be planned address different approaches and focus on issues related to an ethnographic look to flamenco (La singla, on the deaf dancer Antonia Singla), the passion for cinema and its forgotten stars (Osario Norte, Miradas del Cine Español, Steven wants to meet you), or the claim of people and silent historical events (My last condemnation, Rostpanier, Generation Jarcha).
As every year, the official section of short-films for competition becomes one of the most expected actions between the festival's programming, where 29 selected works will be displayed among the almost 1,200 entries made from around the world.
Many of the short films are starring personalities known as Patricia López Arnáiz (recent Silver Concha at the San Sebastián Film Festival), Itziar Ituño, Tristan Ulloa, Omar Banana, Daniel Grao, Ramón Barea or Fele Martínez.
This selection has debuts in the direction of actresses such as Sara Sálamo, Marta Etura or Eulalia Ramón, who will compete to rise with one of the awards Nita de Benalmádena, with 2,000 euros (first prize), 1,000 euros for the second, and 500 euros, to the best Malaysian short film. Likewise, distinctions will be given to the best direction, the best script and the best interpretation.
In addition to the short films for the competition, FICCAB will show in its program "Interfestivals," a sample of short films from different festivals, which this year has works from Ghana, Egypt, Cameroon or South Africa, from the Madagascar Short Film Festival. Another of the competitions represented will be Morocco Short from Rabat and the European note will be presented by the Mediterranean Film Festival in Split.
The Festival will publish a new issue of Benalzine magazine, on this occasion it is a monograph about film personalities that this year will be dedicated to Marlon Brando to commemorate the centenary of its birth and the shooting of 'El Baile de los Malditos'.
For the little ones
The youngest also have one more year with a section in the FICCAB, as it returns' The School goes to the Cinema ', the training program that invites the educational centers of Benalmádena to discover the cinema with film projections and short films programs in morning sessions.
The Benalmádena Exhibition Centre will also host on Saturday, 26 November, a free workshop on sound for boys and girls, from the age of 8. The activity will be coordinated by the Minichaplin school and participants will be able to discover the secrets of this trade and its relationship with the cinema.
