'Cine de Barrio' Honoured with the Silver Lighthouse at the l'Alfàs del Pi Festival

The l'Alfàs del Pi Film Festival announced on Tuesday one of the prominent names to be honoured in its 37th edition. The iconic Spanish Television programme 'Cine de Barrio' will receive the Silver Lighthouse in recognition of its contribution to the dissemination, recovery, and preservation of Spanish cinema, in the year it celebrates its 30th anniversary.

The award ceremony will take place during the festival's inaugural gala on Saturday, July 5, at the Casa de Cultura in l'Alfàs del Pi. It will share the spotlight with actor Julián López, whose tribute was announced at the last Fitur edition, as well as another prominent figure in the national acting scene to be revealed soon.

Since its debut in 1995, 'Cine de Barrio' has become a television staple for lovers of classic national cinema. For three decades, it has brought a carefully curated selection of films to Spanish homes, covering a significant part of the country's cinematic history, with a special focus on films from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. In addition to rediscovering works that time had forgotten, the programme has served as a platform to pay tribute to actors, actresses, directors, and industry professionals who are part of the nation's collective memory.

The mayor of l'Alfàs del Pi, Vicente Arques, highlighted the significance of this tribute. "'Cine de Barrio' has been, for these 30 years, a bridge between the public and the history of Spanish cinema. Its ability to move, to recover films and faces that are part of our collective imagination, makes it a deserved honouree," Arques stated. "It is a programme that has dignified our cinema and brought it closer to millions of homes every week," he added.

In the same vein, Luis Larrodera, the festival director, emphasised the programme's consistency and commitment throughout its trajectory. "Since its inception, 'Cine de Barrio' has been clear about its philosophy: not allowing Spanish cinema, especially from past decades, to fall into oblivion. And it has succeeded remarkably, recovering films but also giving voice to those who made them possible. This work deserves recognition," Larrodera pointed out.

The l'Alfàs del Pi Film Festival will be held from July 5 to 13 and will feature a diverse programme including film screenings, meetings with audiovisual sector professionals, specialised courses, and parallel activities designed for all audiences. As every year, the festival reaffirms itself as a cultural reference in the province of Alicante and in the national cinematic landscape.