The RIURAU Film Festival returns this summer to celebrate its 13th edition in the towns of Jesús Pobre, Xábia and Dénia, from August 17 to 28. This year, for the first time, the festival advances and concentrates its programming in just over a week, beginning with the RIURAU EXPRESS filming and assembly marathon in Jesús Pobre on Saturday, August 17 and Sunday, August 18. The activities will continue with screenings and will conclude with the Youth Cinema Curset on Wednesday the 28th.
Summer nights will host all screening sessions at 21:30 p.m., with a 15-minute break, bar and live jazz music.
This year, the festival has received nearly 2.400 short films from more than 80 countries, through the Movibeta, Festhome and Filmfreeway platforms, of which 603 belong to the Dance Film section. Of these, «43 short films have been selected to be screened in seven blocks for six days. The exclusivity of in-person attendance has implied a rigorous selection process, and we are very sorry that they were not able to enter more," said Anna Perles.
We highlight this year the significant presence of Iranian films, with varied themes and high cinematographic quality. The selection committee, made up of 12 members of the RIURAU Cinema School and external professionals, has chosen five Iranian short films, three of them directed by women, valuing visual storytelling as the main criterion.
The RIURAU Film Festival has the support of the Valencian Institute of Culture of the Generalitat Valenciana (IVC), the Provincial Council of Alicante and the town councils of Dénia, Xàbia and Jesús Pobre, in addition to the collaboration of the Salom Sabar Foundation and other sponsors and collaborators.
The municipal leaders who have been at the presentation, the mayor of Xàbia, Rosa Cardona, the councilors of Culture of Xàbia, Mavi Pérez, Dénia, Raúl García de la Reina and the mayor of Jesús Pobre, Josep Fornés, have thanked the members of the organizing Association for its great effort, work and dedication every year to keep this festival going, reaching a high level and participation. Anna Perles and Isabel Bilbao were present at the presentation as representatives of the RRFF.
Likewise, Bilbao has highlighted the presence of films from Spain, but attendees will also be able to enjoy the very high quality of creations from Iran and Turkey. "Iran is a power in cinema," he acknowledged.
At the event, the mayor of Jesús Pobre, Josep Fornés, highlighted the importance of the festival for the municipality "we love enjoying the riurau and the cinema in the cool of the night", and stressed that the riurau of Jesús Pobre "is our essence".
For his part, the Councilor for Culture of Dénia, Raúl García de la Reina, has pointed out that it is one of the cultural offerings of the month of August that take place in the Torrecremada park next to the Jazz festival "a perfect space" to host the cultural offer of the municipality.
Projections and activities
The festival will begin on Monday the 19th at the Gran Riurau de Jesús Pobre with a Fiction section, showing short films from Denmark, Turkey, France, Iran and Spain. The day will end with the short films shot during the RIURAU EXPRESS marathon and the awards ceremony, including the Audience Award.
On Tuesday the 20th, the screenings of Ficción en Jesús Pobre will continue, with Spanish and Iranian shorts. On Wednesday the 21st, the festival will move to the Riurau d'Arnauda in Xàbia, with screenings of short films produced by ECRR students and two other national short films. The day will conclude with the presentation of Awards and Diplomas to the students of the RIURAU Cinema School.
On Thursday the 22nd, in Xàbia, short films from France, Türkiye, Iran and Spain will be screened. On Saturday the 24th, in the Torrecremada Park in Dénia, it will begin with Fiction and will continue with Dance Films from Germany, France, Italy and Turkey.
On Sunday the 25th, there will be a double session: in the morning at the Auditori del Center Social, with the El Nostre Cinema section, sponsored by the Salom Sabar Foundation, and a round table on the local film industry. At night, in the Torrecremada Park, the latest films will be screened and the Grand Awards Ceremony will be held.
Other activities
- August 17 and 18: 7th Riurau Express Filming and Assembly Marathon in Jesús Pobre.
- August 20: Conference on cinema and LGTBI+ at the Center d'Art al Pati de Jesús Pobre.
- August 22: Conference “The profession of the actor/actress” at the Archaeological Museum of Xàbia.
- August 23: III Dance Film Seminar at the Dénia House of Culture and conference “Long live the short” at the Archaeological Museum of Xàbia.
- August 25: Meetings of Nostre Cinema with screenings and round table in the Auditorium of the Social Center of Dénia.
- August 27 and 28: Youth Cinema Curset at the headquarters of the Riurau Cinema School in Xàbia.
- In September, presentation of the conclusions of the Finds Del Nostre Cinema at the Dénia House of Culture.
