Photo: Ana Belén Fernández
Director Nacho Vigalondo (Superestar) and journalist Manolo Bellido have received the recognition of the 24th International Benalmádena Film Festival (FICCAB) at their opening on Saturday, October 18
The International Benalmádena Film Festival (FICCAB) started its 24th edition on Saturday, October 18, from the Casa de la Cultura de Arroyo de la Honey.
He has done so by granting his Award to director Nacho Vigalondo and film journalist Manuel Bellido, as well as a special recognition to Lebanese filmmaker Sam Lahoud.
Address Award to Nacho Vigalondo
Unclassifiable. From Hollywood to Spanish cinema. From Catwoman (Anne Hathaway) to Frodo (Elijah Wood). From the series of pirates to the movie of terror. Nacho Vigalondothat this year has released the series Overcoming, has received its statuette, the girl of Benalmádena to Best Direction, in code of humor and has asked that «the sofa (from the photocall) is the pet of the festival, because it has been the first time we have been happy in a photocall».
«When someone in my profile gets a prize for her pathYou have to get over the fear that it will look like the end of your career... since you want to keep doing more things. And it's just that for many directors every movie can be the last. I've worked a lot this year, but I've been watching the clock for eight years.».
And he added: «The main contribution who have the movies is that the filmmakers can tell you who we are, because, in a large percentage, telling me is telling you, the spectators, so that you will be reflected in our characters. I have to thank you that festivals like this make it possible for film directors like me to existI'm not a director or a director or a festival. mainstream«.
Special Prize for journalist Manuel Bellido
On the other hand, FICCAB has given its special prize to the Manuel Bellido, who, excited, has said that «as journalists we put our effort to go with the truth ahead. Since I was 18 years old, I have been making a commitment to this trade and I have ended up finding my particular refuge in Culture. In my last years of profession they put in my hands the best possible gift: nine seasons on Canal Sur of the program One Film. It's been the best years of my news career.».
Special recognition of Sam Lahoud
FICCAB has granted special recognition to the Lebanese filmmaker Sam Lahoudthat he could not go to the previous edition because his country's airport was being bombed by Israel. Lahoud has emphasized that «The only international influence of Lebanon is culture, as it is a small country. What Spain and Lebanon have in common are: a common history (the Phoenicians), the Mediterranean, the olive trees and our love for justice and peace, like this. that we greatly appreciate Spain's position with the conflicts in Lebanon and Palestine».
Lara: «Benalmádena is cinema that shines with its own light»
In a gala led with much ingenuity by the humorist Miguel Ángel Martín, Juan Antonio Lara, mayor of Benalmádena, has emphasized that the Festival has «an Official Section that is a mirror of an international city like ours. And the sign of this 24th edition reflects a film benalmádena. That film benalmádena is FICCAB: pure light, which shines with its own light».
Manuel López Mestanza, Vice-President of the City Council of Málaga, has emphasized that «It's a joy to support an event like FICCAB. I remember Benalmádena's Author's Film Week, in which the city became an international reference. This year, FICCAB is 24 years old and we have to thank both the City Council and the festival team.».
For his part, Carlos García Giménez, territorial delegate of Tourism, Culture and Sport of the Junta de Andalucía in Malaga, he said: «FICCAB has become an essential quote of culture in Andalusia. A space where audiovisual art becomes a vehicle of dialogue and shared emotion, where passion for cinema becomes a collective passion. The Festival is already a national reference that transcends the cinematographic. The Junta de Andalucía thus reaffirms its commitment to cinema as an engine for development and employment generation.».
About Nacho Vigalondo
Nacho Vigalondo just released his last feature film Daniela Forever, starring Henry Golding and Beatrice Grannò. In 2022 it premiered Our flag means death, an American series in which he runs several episodes with Taika Waititi.
In recent years he has run numerous series such as Just Before Christ (2019) for Movistar +, The Neighbor (2019) for Netflix or Pooka (Into the Dark) (2020) for Hulu in the US From 2019 to 2021 also submitted Vigalondo Midnight Madness for TCM Spain and for a year the late night show The Happy Twenty Orange TV.
In 2007, he directed his first feature film. Crime, presented at the Sitges Festival, and for which he was nominated for Best Revelation Direction at the Goya Awards. In recent years he has written and directed the feature External (2011), Open Windows (2014) and Colossal (2016) starring Anne Hathaway and Jason Sudeikis, he won several international awards that include Best Film in Fantastic Fest.
It has acted on projects such as The other side of Berto Romero or in the latest series created by Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, The Messiah (2023). Also with Suma Content just released a new project, Superstarwould be created by him and directed along with Claudia Costafreda.
His first short films as director received numerous awards at festivals around the world; he also received an Oscar nomination, among other awards, in 2004 with short films. 7: 35 a.m..
About journalist Manuel Bellido, Special Prize
The festival recognizes the journalist's brilliant career Manuel Bellido He will receive the Special Prize for four decades by spreading Spanish cinema and the evolution of Andalusian cinema from the first Goya of Benito Zambrano to the international success of Alberto Rodríguez.
Voice and image of Canal Sur Radio y Televisión, Bellido has witnessed and chronicled the evolution of Andalusian cinema, as well as interviewing large figures from the national and international landscape.
Programme Director One moviewith over 300 reports and about 800 guests, this space became a reference for the industry and the Seventh Art fans. Intiring, committed, he is also a scholar in music, especially rock.
With this recognition, the Festival gives value to a professional life dedicated to information and culture, marked by commitment, closeness and passion for cinema.
Throughout his career, Bellido has received numerous awardsincluding the Ateneo Medal of Malaga, and the Juan Antonio Bermudez Prize awarded by ASECAN, confirming its role as one of the major references of cultural journalism in Andalusia.
His humility and ability to transmit the essence of cinema have made him an essential chronist, capable of building bridges between film creation and the public.
The full programming available on the festival website ficcab.org.
