The Puerta Ferrisa auditorium, located within the Impulsalicante headquarters, which is the Local Development Agency of the Alicante City Council, will host the fifth edition of the Alicante Smartphone Film Festival from 16 to 21 November. This year, the festival introduces a new series of activities focused on training, motivation, and professional development in the audiovisual sector, named Alicante Smartphone Emprende.
This initiative seeks to connect young people, students, and those interested in pursuing a career in the creative industry with the realities of the film industry. Mari Carmen de España, the Councillor for Employment and Local Development, expressed her gratitude to festival director David Seva for his efforts in creating this opportunity for young individuals to enter the audiovisual sector using accessible tools, such as mobile phones, which facilitate content creation in formats akin to cinematic production.
The programme includes meetings with industry professionals who will share their experiences, creative processes, and the various career paths available in the industry, ranging from acting and directing to audiovisual production and advertising.
All activities will take place at the Puerta Ferrisa Auditorium in Alicante. The programme will kick off on Monday, 16 November, at 10:00 AM, featuring Alicante director and screenwriter David Valero, who will engage with the audience following a screening of his film Enemigos. This session will delve into the film's creative process and address themes such as bullying, empathy, and resilience while providing attendees with insights into Valero's professional journey.
On Wednesday, 18 November, at 10:00 AM, actress Hada Nieto from Alicante will share her career path, from her early days in acting and her connection to the festival, where she won the Province of Alicante award in its inaugural edition, to her involvement in national and international audiovisual productions.
Two additional meetings will take place on Thursday, 19 November. At 10:00 AM, director and screenwriter Álvaro García Company will discuss creating short films with limited resources and the potential of smartphones as production tools in film and advertising. At 11:30 AM, audiovisual producer Laura Ponce Uribe, who has professional experience in Spain, Mexico, and Ecuador, will share her insights into the industry and explain the various job opportunities and new formats within the audiovisual sector.
David Seva, the festival director, remarked, "With this new line, the festival expands its programming beyond cinematic exhibition and strengthens its educational dimension, creating a space for direct contact between professionals and those interested in joining the cultural and creative industries." The festival, dedicated exclusively to short films shot with smartphones, has already received over 200 submissions, with the call for entries remaining open until 9 November through Movibeta and Festhome. The short films will compete in categories including Fiction, Comedy, International, Province of Alicante, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Direction, with a total of €2,000 in prizes to be awarded.
The Alicante Smartphone Film Festival is supported by the Provincial Council of Alicante, the Local Development Agency of the Alicante City Council (Impulsalicante), the Valencian Institute of Culture, Coca-Cola, and other collaborating entities.
