Amador Pastor, the regional minister of Education, Culture and Sports, has called for a cinema free from censorship and backed by public support at the closing ceremony of the XVIII edition of the Festival of Cinema and Word (CiBRA), held at the Palacio de Congresos in Toledo.
Pastor stressed that cinema should embody equality and educational values, congratulating the 14 award winners for their contributions to film, literature, education, and other societal fields. He presented the Alice Guy Award for Cinema to actress Ariadna Gil, recognising her over three decades of cinematic achievements, including roles in films such as Belle Époque, Soldiers of Salamina, and Pan's Labyrinth.
He also highlighted the significance of acknowledging female talent and advancing equal opportunities in both the film industry and society at large. The Alice Guy Awards commemorate the first female filmmaker in history and this year honoured women like Ariadna Gil, communicator Henar Álvarez, and former tennis player Arantxa Sánchez Vicario, who are all exemplars of talent, effort, and resilience.
Pastor emphasised the importance of engaging younger generations with cinema and literature, citing initiatives such as MiniCiBRA, which brings together nearly 9,000 primary and secondary school students, as well as the Reyes Abades Film Meetings and the Cinema and Education Days.
This year's recognitions also included the Toledo Film Award, presented to actor and director Sergio Peris-Mencheta; the Order of Toledo Award, awarded to actress Michelle Jenner; the Cinema and Education Award, given to Teresa Manes for her work against bullying; the Literary Award 'The Wind of the Moon', to writer John Connolly; and the Toledo Film Award for director Jim Sheridan and the series Dreams of Freedom. The ceremony also featured awards for Best Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, the Audience Special Award, and the Carlos Blanco Award, with recipients not disclosed in advance.
