The inaugural event will take place at 7:00 PM at the Cultural Center and will serve as the starting point for a program that will extend until April 25, featuring screenings, meetings with artistic teams, parallel activities, and a reinforced commitment to the audiovisual industry. The gala includes the presentation of the Skyliner award to Alicante-born actor Fele Martínez, as well as the premiere of the short film Quemar al padre, directed by Rafa Piqueras. The screening will be attended by part of the artistic team, including actresses Empar Ferrer and Mireia Pérez, as well as poster artist Assad Kassab.
“"The recognition of Fele Martínez is “apt” because the actor “has a solid and versatile career and is one of the most recognized names in Spanish audiovisuals.” Furthermore, he highlighted that the performer “has a trajectory that combines feature films, television, and theater and maintains a real connection with the festival ecosystem."
The festival director, Beatriz Hernández, emphasized the momentum with which this edition begins, stating that “we start with a very powerful gala and a weekend that will concentrate a lot of talent, but the most important thing is that we maintain that rhythm throughout the week.” The tenth edition of the festival thus strengthens its profile as a consolidated cultural event in Benidorm, with a proposal that combines exhibition, reflection, and direct contact between creators and spectators.
The weekend program will continue on Sunday with two notable events. The first will be the talk-vermouth El actor frente al mar, presented by Carles Francino, who will converse with Fele Martínez in an open meeting for the public. This activity will also serve as a prelude to the Altafulla International Film Festival (ALT IFF), whose second edition will be presented during the event. On the same day, the festival will also open its space to feature films with the screening of Cel meu infern teu, by Benidorm-born director Alberto Evangelio, as part of the series En ocasiones veo largos. The session will feature the presence of Sandra Cervera, Tania Fortea, and Víctor Palmero, awarded the Lola Gaos for his role in the film and also a member of the cast of Quemar al padre.
After this weekend kickoff, the festival will unfold an intense program over the following days with official sections, team meetings, and parallel activities. One of the pillars of this edition will be PRISMA, the professional space of the event, which will take place between April 22 and 24. During these days, PRISMA will bring together filmmakers, producers, and programmers in networking sessions, presentations, and one-to-one meetings, with the aim of strengthening the professional dimension of the festival and opening new collaboration opportunities within the audiovisual sector.
Another key aspect of this tenth edition will be its international projection. Mexico participates as a guest country in a specific program that, as defended by Beatriz Hernández, strengthens the ties between both cinematographies both on screen and in the professional sphere. The festival will also maintain its commitment to accessibility, audience education, and parallel activities, with proposals that expand the experience beyond screenings and consolidate its open character to the public.
