The 17th edition of the Som Cinema festival has commenced with an inaugural session that underscored the festival's significance in promoting young talent in Lleida. Judith Vives, the festival director, stated, "This is a festival where not only Catalan films are screened to showcase local filmmaking, but it has also expanded to include parallel activities that encourage aspiring industry professionals to realise their projects."
Running from 21 to 25 October, the festival features 57 films, including 31 in competition for a €2,000 prize for the best fiction film. The official selection includes six feature films, 14 short fiction films, six feature documentaries, and five short documentaries. Additionally, the 'Somos Secundaria' section will showcase seven short films.
Screenings are taking place at the Screenbox Lleida, with free showings also scheduled at the Ilerna centre and the University of Lleida's (UdL) Rectorate auditorium.
Pilar Bosch, the councillor for culture at the Lleida City Council, remarked during the ceremony that Som Cinema aligns with the strategy of the Catalonia Media City initiative, which aims to establish Catalonia as a prime filming location. She highlighted cinema's ability to convey values, culture, and the region's landscapes, asserting, "Cinema is a universal generator of values that can enter every home."
Núria Casado, the UdL's vice-rector for culture, praised the festival's organisers for celebrating not only Catalan cinema but also contemporary film production. She noted that this year, the university has strengthened its partnership with Som Cinema through a new section allowing students to showcase their work.
The event featured Ana Serret, director of the inaugural film, "Apuntes para una ficción consentida," along with producer Xesc Cabot and actress Violeta Rodríguez. Serret explained that the film's concept emerged from her encounter with the protagonist, Isabelle Stoffel, who bravely leaves her home country of Switzerland to pursue acting in Spain, facing challenges with her accent and identity. The film also reflects the reality of a changing Madrid, where small businesses are disappearing, displacing long-time residents.
"Apuntes para una ficción consentida" tells the story of Lea Grand (Isabelle Stoffel), a Swiss actress in Madrid striving to succeed while grappling with uprootedness, precariousness, and language barriers. Surrounded by unique characters, she is obsessed with portraying Teresa of Jesus, despite being repeatedly rejected by casting directors due to her German accent.
This morning, the presentation of the SomUdL shorts took place at the Rectorate auditorium, a new section introduced this year for all UdL students, supported by the Vice-Rectorate of Culture. The inaugural SomUdL features four works: "Café para llevar," "El chat," "Gaudir por Gaudí," and "Meteorit herido."
Tomorrow morning, short films created by students from the Higher Degree in Show Production at Ilerna will be screened at 9:50 am, alongside the documentary "Bestia" at 11 am, presented by director Helena Garza. In the afternoon, the Screenbox will host two sessions of short films at 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm, featuring titles such as "SRA. Antonia," "Fragmentos de mí," and "You are not a real woman." The Ilerna centre will also present the Som Secundaria shorts at 6:15 pm. Later, the documentary "El destino de panacea" will be screened at 8:00 pm, followed by the feature film "C os de vidrio" at 10:15 pm, with appearances from director Marc Comabella and producer Eva Pagerols.
Som Cinema is organised by Suggeriments, with support from the Lleida City Council, the Institute of Ilerdenc Studies of the Lleida Provincial Council, ICEC-Generalitat de Catalunya, the University of Lleida, and the Fundació Horitzons 2050.
