SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE 8 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The actor Imanol Arias, the patron of the Villa de La Orotava Short Film Festival, emphasised this Friday the dedication to fiction that this festival embodies, as well as the exceptional quality of the productions showcased in the official selection.
“I have come to learn and enrich my knowledge from the efforts of all the creators involved in this edition,” he stated during the press conference held to unveil the festival, clarifying that he is not present to deliver “any masterclass” on filmmaking, “quite the opposite”.
“Society, now more than ever, requires fiction, genuine fiction that aids us in comprehending what is truly occurring in the world. I arrive in La Orotava with the anticipation of witnessing outstanding works and I hope that at some point, a director from this festival can engage with me,” he expressed.
The mayor of La Orotava, Francisco Linares, praised the dedication that La Orotava has shown towards culture over the past twenty years.
“The execution of this 19th edition is a true reflection of our policy, where, even in times of utmost crisis or during a pandemic, we have not deducted a single euro from the cultural sector. Hence, the dream envisioned by two young individuals nearly 20 years ago with the inception of this festival has now materialised into reality and has become a reference point in the cinematic world, even at a national level,” he stated.
Pedro González, the island director of Foreign Action for the Cabildo of Tenerife, underscored the significance of having venues like Teobaldo Power to disseminate culture throughout the island.
“We appreciate the efforts made by local councils such as La Orotava, which enable the utilisation of crucial spaces like their auditorium to host significant events like the one we are presenting today,” he remarked.
Mario Silva, co-director of the La Orotava Short Film Festival, articulated in numerical terms the prominence that the festival has gained throughout its history: “Over these 19 years, we have distributed 75,000 euros in prizes, received more than 13,000 short films, of which 450 have been showcased, and we have welcomed over 13,000 attendees. This weekend marks the peak of the festival, but it is essential to remember that since the beginning of October, we have been progressively rolling out our programme, placing special emphasis on the educational aspect.”
