The 19th edition of the Getafe Negro festival, dedicated to crime fiction, was unveiled at the Espacio Mercado in Getafe, a city in the Madrid metropolitan area. The presentation included Sara Hernández, the mayor of Getafe, Luis José Domínguez Iglesias, the councilor for Culture, and Maica Rivera, the festival's director.
This year's festival will take place from October 14 to 25, featuring more than sixty activities such as roundtables, discussions, lectures, film screenings, live radio shows, theater performances, concerts, workshops, role-playing games, storytelling sessions, exhibitions, and reading clubs. The event aims to showcase a diverse lineup of over one hundred authors from three continents: Europe, America, and Asia.
Highlights of the Festival
The festival will kick off with a special event commemorating the 20th anniversary of Juan Mayorga's play El chico de la última fila. This will include a screening of the film adaptation directed by François Ozon, followed by a discussion featuring Mayorga and Lorenzo Silva, the honorary director of Getafe Negro.
Additionally, the festival will celebrate significant anniversaries, including the 30th anniversary of the character Petra Delicado, the 50th anniversary of Agatha Christie's death, and the 90th anniversary of Federico García Lorca's passing.
New Initiatives
For the first time, the festival will include the I Congress of Crime Fiction, organized in collaboration with the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR). This congress will focus on Stephen King and the evolution of noir literature, addressing themes such as violence, memory, and social conflict.
Moreover, the festival will feature a solidary initiative led by the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, where young volunteers from the pediatric oncology department of a local hospital will share their experiences in a discussion aimed at promoting social commitment in the fight against cancer.
Recognition and Awards
As part of the festival, the XVII José Luis Sampedro Award will be presented on October 21 to writer and journalist Juan José Millás, joining a prestigious list of past recipients.
The complete program for the 19th edition of Getafe Negro is available on the festival's official website, getafenegro.com.
