Alcalá de Henares once again becomes a hotspot for cinema lovers as the 54th ALCINE Short Film Festival kicks off. From November 6 to 16, the city fills with a creative atmosphere, and its streets and historic buildings turn into venues for premieres, concerts, and meetings with renowned filmmakers.
This year, the organizers are focusing on a variety of formats and genres. Along with traditional short films, audiences can expect feature-length movies, live music, exhibitions, and themed discussions. Special attention is being given to young creators: they have dedicated screenings and workshops where they can showcase their work and interact with industry professionals.
Premieres, awards, and new names
The festival opened with a tribute to one of the brightest figures in Spanish cinema — Álex de la Iglesia, who received the festival’s first-ever ‘Piedra Angular’ award. This honor is given to those who began their career at ALCINE and now inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
Throughout the week, viewers can attend screenings at iconic venues such as the Salón Cervantes theater and Corral de Comedias. The program is packed: from European short films to documentaries and animation. Featured titles include ‘El último arrebato’, ‘Jone, a veces’, ‘Olivia y el terremoto invisible’, ‘Esmorza amb mi’, ‘Muy lejos’, ‘Romería’, ‘A Complete Unknown’, ‘Flow’, ‘The Brutalist’, and the cult classic ‘Mulholland Drive’ in honor of David Lynch.
Accessibility and new formats
The festival maintains its commitment to accessibility: some events are free, and tickets for main screenings cost a symbolic 3 euros, or just 1 euro for special cardholders. This makes it possible to attract a wide audience, including students and young people.
ALCINE is not just about screenings—it also features interactive events. For instance, Corral de Comedias will host a meeting with the duo Pantomima Full, while Gilitos-Labcrea will run a short film marathon showcasing works from Spain, France, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. Special Cantera ALCINE sessions are set up for emerging filmmakers, giving them the chance to showcase their work and receive feedback.
Finale and Future Plans
The festival will culminate in a gala with the announcement of winners and an awards ceremony. The same day will feature concerts and special screenings, followed by a retrospective dedicated to Iván Zulueta and the traditional “Vermouth Session” with the audience choice award.
The festival will close with a concert by the city orchestra and a family-friendly film screening. But the cultural calendar doesn’t end in November: until mid-December, the city will keep showing the festival’s best films.
In 2025, organizers promise to expand the competition program: 47 films from Spain and across Europe will compete for the main prizes. New themed sections will be introduced—AL(U)CINE for fans of fantasy and horror, (J)ALCINE for comedy lovers, and ALCINE IGUALDAD, dedicated to equality and inclusion. Alcalá de Henares once again confirms its status as one of the country’s leading cultural centers, where cinema is not just an art form, but a way to bring people together and inspire new achievements.
