The film director Alejandro Amenábar has expressed this Saturday his intention to shoot in Alicante next year, and specifically in the Ciudad de la Luz studios, which he has described as “fantastic”. In fact, he has advanced that his team is currently working to bring the filming of his next film to the Valencian Community. “I have always been left with the thorn of doing something around here”, he has confessed.
“I have a link with the Alicante area, because my family lives here. I hope to be filming within a year or so,” declared the director, who this Saturday at the opening of the Paseo luz de las estrellas within the framework of the International Festival of Cinema of Alicante. The space pays tribute to the actors, actresses and directors “recognized from the national film scene” who have gone through this film competition, the festival organization has indicated in a statement.
Amenábar, who will receive the Premio Lucentum of the Alicante International Festival today, visited the Ciudad de la Luz during the morning, where he gave a press conference together with the director of the Alicante Film Festival, Vicente Seva, and the general director of City of Light, Antonio Rodes.
Regarding the award, he declared that it is “an honor” for him to be in the City of Light within the framework of the Alicante Festival. “Years ago I visited these studios and I have always been left with the thorn of doing something here,” he admitted.
At the same time, he explained that he feels “strange” to receive a lifetime achievement award: “When I look back, I don’t have that many movies either, but I’ve been doing this for 25 years and I’m very grateful for this recognition.”
This “symbolic” tribute, the Paseo luz de las estrellas, is made up of five chairs dedicated to Antonia San Juan, Belén Rueda, Alejandro Amenábar, Fernando Colomo and Fele MartÃnez, and is located in the gardens of Ruperto Chapà square next to the Teatro Principal of Alicante, where the inaugural gala of the contest will take place.
The premiere was attended by the first five honorees. This initiative of the Alicante International Film Festival in collaboration with the City Council was launched seven years ago with the old promenade located in front of the port.
The honorees have been “very grateful” for this recognition, which in the case of Fele Martinez was on his land, which, for him, has been “a real honor.” For Fernando Colomo, it has been “a surprise” of which he is “very happy”. “In addition, it is a very elegant chair,” he stressed.
For his part, Alejandro Amenábar, after stating his intentions to shoot a film in Alicante, pointed out that the chair is “a good sign”. “I hope within a year to be occupying a chair very similar to this one to shoot here,” he added.
The sculptures in the form of chairs that adorn this space have been designed by the Alicante artist Isaac Peral and are made of polished steel. This new location is the definitive one and will be expanded with more sculptures that will bear the names of different honorees who have already gone through the different editions of the contest, in order to turn this space into a “key point” of tourist and cultural attraction for the city.
The director of the Alicante Film Festival, Vicente Seva, thanked Amenábar for his visit: “We have been trying for many years and it is a gift for the 20th anniversary. We will always be very grateful, it is a dream come true that today I receive the Lucentum Award” .
For his part, Antonio Rodes has declared that it is “an honor” that an exponent of Spanish cinema visit the studios, which are now “reborn as a catalyst for the industry and it is an enhancement”.
The Alicante International Film Festival has the support of the Alicante Provincial Council, Alicante City Council, Alicante City
