The 'Train to the South' arrives in Alicante: the first Colombian film showcase

Alicante will become a melting pot of cultures at the start of spring with the first edition of 'Train to the South', the inaugural Colombian film gathering in the province. Between March 22 and 29, ten films will be screened in five venues in Alicante, San Vicente, and Elche.

This event aims to open a cinematic dialogue with the province and serve as a source of reconnection with a homeland for the 21,000 Colombians residing in Alicante. It is especially directed at those who wish to explore beyond the cinematic borders of the current Alicante film listings and those who feel a connection with the universal themes addressed by the films: coming of age, family ties, mental health, the journey of forgiveness, as well as the tension between the present we inhabit, the future we pursue, and what we leave behind.

The journey begins on Saturday, March 22 at the Alicante Museum of Contemporary Art (MACA) with 'From the Other Side', a documentary where director Iván Guarnizo reconstructs the search and encounter with Güérima, a former FARC guerrilla who, years ago, held his mother captive. Both will participate in a discussion after the screening, opening an unprecedented dialogue space in the city.

The cycle will continue its journey until March 29 with documentaries and fictions that employ various narratives, from direct cinema to animation and experimental language.

All screenings are free and, for the most part, will be followed by reflection spaces with protagonists, production representatives, and invited experts from inside and outside Alicante. Reservations are required through the EventBrite platform. The full program can be viewed on their website -https://trenalsur.org/-.

The film showcase catalogue exists thanks to the support of filmmakers, the Ministry of Cultures of Colombia, and the Colombian Consulate in Valencia. Additionally, Solidaridad Internacional País Valenciano has collaborated with the project since its inception, and the Impulsa Cultura Proyecta call has selected it for support in its 2024 edition. Besides these organizations that have contributed in kind, 'Train to the South' has launched a crowdfunding campaign, its only source of funding.