Lanzarote’s dramatic volcanic scenery has provided the atmospheric backdrop for many a film maker over the decades. So it’s entirely fitting that the island now plays host to a fast growing Film Festival, not least as such events can only help to enhance Lanzarote’s repertoire of tourist orientated events and attractions.
Next week, from March 24th, the curtain goes up on the 14th annual edition of the Lanzarote International Film Festival and this year’s event looks set to be a real blockbuster, as the 2014 programme features 95 short films from around the globe.
Nearly 2500 short films were submitted by makers from across the world and these have now been whittled down by the judging panel. Resulting in a final selection of 15 documentaries, 30 animation shorts and 25 films made by national and international director’s respectively. All of the action is being screened at the Teatro Insular in the island capital of Arrecife until April 5th and tickets cost just €2 per screening.
As the organisers suggest on their Facebook page, cine enthusiasts should reserve a couple of hours each afternoon whilst the festival is on to go and watch one of the thirteen ‘jewels’ of Spanish cinema or some of the 95 short films that made the cut. The jury this year is composed of numerous professionals from the world of Spanish film.
Three locally made short films will be shown on Lanzarote, having been selected this week to form part of the Spanish Film Festival in Malaga. The work of Nayra Sanz, David Pantaleón and David Cánovas will all be premiered in Southern Spain between 21st and 29th March. Their movies are respectively called ‘Un dia cualquiera'(Whichever Day), ‘La Pasion de Judas'(The Passion of Judas) and ‘Mascarita'(The Little Mask).
This year there is also a new category of entries, with short animation films now included in the range of movies on show. As the director of the event, Ismael Curbelo, explained the quality of animated film is now so good that it is impossible not to create space for this particular format of celluloid storytelling in the 2014 festival and future editions.
English language speakers should head for the daily International Short Film screenings which kick off at 22.30 each night of the event. Whilst documentaries and animation are screened at 17.00 and 18.30 respectively. The full programme for the two week event can be found on their website: www.festivaldecinedelanzarote.com
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