SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 1st March (EUROPA PRESS) –
A new promenade in Santa Cruz de Tenerife has been dedicated to the renowned filmmakers Ríos brothers, “following a process supported by local residents and seven institutions in the city, which was unanimously approved by the City Council.”
The mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, announced the official inauguration of the walk, situated in the Salamanca neighborhood, the childhood locality of the brothers. Alongside the honourees, Teodoro and Santiago Ríos, and their families, the mayor was joined by council members.
The initiative to honour the Ríos brothers was initiated by the Autonomous Organization of Culture (OAC), supported by various local institutions and associations, as well as over a hundred residents who backed the proposal.
In his address, the mayor highlighted the artistic roots of the Ríos family, starting with Teodoro Ríos Sr., a prominent painter and cinema enthusiast from the Canary Islands. Santiago, his elder brother, gained fame as a dramatic actor on Cuban television. Additionally, their mother, an actress educated at the local Arts School, influenced their artistic development.
The Ríos brothers were instrumental in establishing the first Canarian film group, the Tenerife Amateur Film Group, and subsequently formed the first production company in the Canary Islands. Their works ranged from documentaries to advertising campaigns, earning national recognition such as the National Medal for Tourist Merit.
Through their films, including ‘Guarapo’, ‘Mambí’ and ‘El Flight del Guirre’, the brothers depicted the immigrant experience and the struggles of the people authentically, earning nominations and accolades for their evocative storytelling.
Mayor Bermúdez praised their creative contributions, highlighting their directorial role in the first Historical Reenactment in Tenerife ‘Nelson, on the attack’ in 2008, and expressed gratitude for their invaluable portrayal of the city and its history.
The Ríos brothers, accompanied by their loved ones, expressed their gratitude to the mayor for the recognition bestowed upon them with the renaming of the promenade, now known as the Ríos Brothers Promenade.
The ceremony concluded with a musical performance by the Municipal Band of the city and a screening of the film Guarapo at the Víctor Cinema, commemorating the brothers’ cinematic legacy.
