In a heartfelt closing gala for the 18th edition of the Festival of Cinema and Word (CIBRA), Toledo's mayor, Carlos Velázquez, paid tribute to the victims and families affected by the tragic train accident in Urda. The event featured the presentation of the Toledo Cinema Award to Irish director Jim Sheridan, recognised for his international career and ability to tell deeply human stories.
Mayor Velázquez praised Gabriel Castaño, the festival director, for leading the event for 18 years, noting its established place in the city’s cultural agenda. He emphasised CIBRA’s role in bridging cinema, literature, and education, describing it as a meeting point for creators, professionals, and audiences from around the world.
Particularly noteworthy was the festival's educational impact, having introduced cinema to 12,000 schoolchildren this year. Velázquez described this achievement as “truly impressive,” asserting that the festival goes beyond merely screening films; it shapes new generations of viewers and transforms culture into a shared experience.
The mayor also expressed gratitude to the organisers and the support from various institutions that make this cultural event possible, highlighting the collaboration of the City Council as a key partner and the honour of hosting the closing gala at the Municipal Auditorium “El Greco.”
Alongside actress Marta Belmonte, Velázquez presented the Toledo Cinema Award to Jim Sheridan, whose films, including “My Left Foot,” “In the Name of the Father,” and “In America,” are considered classics of cinema. The mayor noted that Sheridan’s work addresses universal themes such as dignity, freedom, justice, and family, through stories that transcend borders and remind us that behind every great film is a perspective capable of moving and provoking thought.
In his speech, Velázquez advocated for Toledo to enhance its historical relationship with cinema, stating, “Toledo has always been a city of film. Now we also want to be a city that makes films.” He highlighted the City of Cinema project in the historic Polvorines Park, which aims to revitalise a degraded area along the Tagus River, turning it into a new hub for economic, cultural, and audiovisual activity.
Finally, Velázquez reiterated the importance of supporting initiatives like CIBRA, which contribute to solidifying Toledo's cultural projection and creating an ecosystem where talent, creativity, and collaboration among institutions, businesses, and professionals can turn ideas into opportunities.
