“Almería is the home of cinema.” This is how Elena Sánchez began the presentation of the opening gala of Almeri International Film Festivalhas (Fical) 2024. And as a good host, the event opened the doors of the province to the film industry with a spectacular gala, a party full of glamor where stars like Santiago Segurawho received the “Honorary Prize” of the Festival, Marta Hazas, Juana Acosta, Mina El Hammani, Carlos Areces, Joaquín Reyes and Ernesto Sevilla. An event which also allowed us to enjoy the musical personality of the singer Coque Malla and which concluded with the first screening of “The Empty Zone”.
Cinema is present in every corner of Almería, its city and its province, where legendary feature films have been filmed, and today it has become the scene of the most powerful audiovisual productions. The International Film Festival, which reached edition number 23it’s time to share the joy of the province’s good time as a film set. And this will be done with the screening of 32 short films, 12 first films and 28 series, in addition to a rich program with round tables, exhibitions, literature.
Santiago Segura and Javier A. García during the presentation of the honorary prize to Fical
honorary prize
During the opening gala, the first of the stars was recognized: Santiago Segura. Actor, director, screenwriter and producer, one could say that he is the “King Midas” of Spanish cinemabecause every project he blesses is a box office success. Fical wanted to reward one of the most popular and appreciated filmmakers, a unique man in the industry for his character, his humor and his incredible vision. The president of the Almería Provincial Delegation, Javier A. García, presented him with the award and, in his speech, Santiago Segura highlighted Almería’s love affair with fiction. The mayor of Almería, María del Mar Vázquez, was also present at the opening ceremony.
During the film festival, the juries of the different awards were presented and the parallel sections were recalled, with the The “Raqa” team, its director and producer Gerardo Herreroits producer Mariela Besuievski and its main actress Mina El Hammani. In addition, tomorrow Saturday, “Raqa” will be screened in Fical, as part of “Pantalla Estrenos Almería”.
The recognition of Santiago Segura was the first chapter of the series which will be “filmed” during the ten days of Fical and which will bring the stars of fiction closer to the public of Almeria. This will happen with the “Special Festival Series Prize”, which will be awarded to “Entrevías”; the ‘Andalusian Cinema Academy Prize’ for the actor, YouTuber and streamer Brianeitor; the “Canal Sur Prize” for a powerful woman with very clear ideas like Marta Velasco; the Filming Almería award for best television series filmed in Almería for “Los Farad”; or the two new stars who will coexist on the city’s Walk of Fame, Veronica Sanchez and Najwa Nimri. And perhaps another highlight, the “Festival Series Honor Award” for the “Physics and Chemistry” phenomenon.
