Malaga Festival: 10 reasons to come

El próximo

The 21st edition of the Malaga Festival kicks off on 13 April, a film event that has earned the right to be one of the most important in the country on its own merits. Year after year, the Malaga Festival strives to build a stronger image, to bring better films and, at the same time, to vindicate Spanish cinema. Let’s not forget that, within our country, it is the only one that does so in the strictest sense of the term.

But this year there are many reasons to visit it. If you are a film lover, maybe you are thinking about it. Here are 10 reasons for you not to think twice and visit us during the week of the Festival.

There has been more competition than ever

From the early days of the Malaga Festival to the present day, it has rained a lot. In the early days of this film event, almost no renowned Spanish directors dared to present their films in competition at this festival; however, once they pass through here, they lose the right to compete in other renowned festivals. The main festivals require that the film has not been premiered at any other festival before. Well, the trend is changing, as evidenced by the fact that this year almost 2,300 films have been submitted for consideration for screening. Of these, 166 were finally selected.

Female-led productions are taking up an ever-increasing share of space

It is not us who say so, but Juan Antonio Vigar, director of the Malaga Festival. At a historic moment for women, in which their place in society is being vindicated, the Festival is committed to them. Of the 166 films to be screened, 61 are directed by women. That is nearly 40%. These figures are relevant. Let’s remember that, in the past Goya Awards, there was hardly any female presence in directing. Well, the fact that in this edition of the contest the number of female directors will increase may have a positive influence on next year’s gala. We’ll keep an eye on it!

This will be the most international edition

Let’s remember that the Malaga Festival is also called Cine en Español. And that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s about films made in Spain, which is also true. Beyond our borders, there are more than 500 million Spanish speakers. Latin America accounts for the vast majority of that population. And, as its organisers assure us, this edition will be the most Latin American of all. Sixty per cent of the films to be seen at the Malaga Festival will be foreign. And in the official section alone, almost half are Ibero-American: nine out of 20 films come from Latin America. This is undoubtedly a way of enriching the content of the event.

Guillermo del Toro will be among us

The big winner of the last Oscars, Guillermo del Toro, will be the star of a festival that is attracting more and more well-known faces. On the one hand, he will receive the Málaga – Diario Sur Award in tribute to his career. On the other hand, a book about him written by Antonio Trashorras will be presented. But, above all, he will give a masterclass at the Cervantes Theatre on 16 April at 4 pm. In it, he will explain details about his creative process. And not only that: at the festival there will be a special cycle with his most famous films (except The Shape of Water, which is currently on the commercial circuit). Who gives more?

Malaga is full of celebrities

During the days of the Malaga Festival, the city is an endless parade of famous faces. As well as having the chance to see them on the red carpet, we find actors, actresses and directors in every corner: restaurants, museums, bars… Just another incentive to feel a little closer to all those people we admire

There are commercial films..

From more friendly and commercial titles, such as the films presented out of competition, to auteur productions: all types of cinema have a place in this festival. Among the first, Las leyes de la termodinámica (The Laws of Thermodynamics), a romantic comedy directed by Mateo Gil, one of the greats of our cinema. This director has been the screenwriter of some of Amenábar’s great films, such as Mar adentro and Agora. Also out of competition, and closing the festival, we will have the chance to see El mejor verano de mi vida, by Dani de la Orden, “a kind and funny comedy”, in the words of the organisers, and a great film to watch with the family.

… and also author cinema

For those who like more intimate films, or films far removed from the blockbusters, there is also a place for them at the Malaga Festival. Among the films in competition, we can see Violeta al fin, a feminine look at the life of a woman alone in the last part of her life. Also in the official section, Ana de día, the story of a woman who discovers she has a double. And, in the same section, Los adioses, in which the main character, Rosario, lives a life against the tide in a society ruled by men. All of them starring and directed by women, in line with what we mentioned earlier.

There is much more cinema than in the official section

In addition to the official competition section, the Malaga Festival has many others: Malaga Premiere, where exclusive films (both cinema and television) are premiered, such as, for example, the new series Vis a vis. Also very interesting is ZonaZine, where new creators show alternative productions outside the commercial circuits. The documentary section brings no less than 17 titles, dealing with subjects as varied as the Sanfermines, the life of a woman told through the home videos recorded of her childhood or the journey of a single mother without resources to find her place in the world. This year, moreover, the focus is on Brazil, from which several recent titles from its filmography will be scre

You can revisit titles that triumphed the previous year.

Increasingly, the Malaga Festival is becoming a breeding ground for the most notable national productions. That’s why they have the Harvest of the Year section, in which the films that had the greatest repercussion at galas such as the Goya Awards the previous year (and several of which were present at the last festival) are brought back to life. On this occasion, we will be able to see Handia, Verano 1993 and La librería, which triumphed at the aforementioned awards. We will also find No sé decir adiós (Goya for Best Actress), El autor (Goya for Best Actor) and Abracadabra (with eight Goya nominations), in case you missed them!

The whole city breathes cinema

But the most attractive thing about Malaga during the festival is, beyond the huge range of films on offer, everything it brings with it. The streets breathe cinema, and many of the cultural venues are reconfigured during these days to include part of the week’s offerings. The Cervantes theatre and the Albéniz cinemas host the vast majority of film screenings. But they are joined by many more venues: the Picasso Museum, the Episcopal Palace, the Plaza de la Merced… Masterclasses, book presentations, film forums, round tables, exhibitions… Take a look at the Activities section and choose your favourites. We’re waiting for you!