The filmmaker, a recipient of four Goya Awards, will be the focus of the tribute during the festival's opening gala, scheduled for May 23, 2026, at the Teatro Principal de Alicante.
This award aims to distinguish the careers of Spanish directors, and in previous editions, it has been presented to significant figures in Spanish cinema. Berger, known for feature films such as Blancanieves and Robot Dreams, has expressed his gratitude for this recognition.
“"It is a great honor to receive the Ciudad de la Luz Award. Very good friends like Álex de la Iglesia, Isabel Coixet, Agustín Díaz Yanes or Paco Plaza have received it previously. I love being part of this club and that this edition of the Alicante Festival also features a complete retrospective of my work. Film directors are vain and we love awards. They are like pats on the back and encouragement to embark on our next cinematic adventure."
The director of the Alicante International Film Festival, Vicente Seva, highlighted Berger's career, describing him as a "great director." Meanwhile, the general director of Ciudad de la Luz, Fermín Crespo, emphasized the filmmaker's "creative rebellion," stating that he "builds worlds with the patience and precision of a goldsmith."
As part of the event, the Alicante International Film Festival, in collaboration with the Cinema and Audiovisual Classroom of the University of Alicante, has organized a screening series of Pablo Berger's films. Following the screening of Robot Dreams on May 22 at Ciudad de la Luz, there will be a discussion with the director. Access to the screenings will be free, with prior registration on the Festival's website.
