28th Canary Islands Environmental Film Festival Opens in Garachico

The 28th Canary Islands International Environmental Film Festival (Ficmec) kicked off this Friday in Garachico, continuing its mission to blend cinema with contemporary music.

The opening day, held at the former Convent of San Francisco, centers on a special musical premiere commissioned by the festival. Tenerife-born composer Diego Navarro—known for his work on films like The Photographer of Mauthausen and Capture the Flag—has written an original piece dedicated to the Roque de Garachico. The performance will feature the Garachico Chamber Choir alongside a string and percussion ensemble. This commission highlights the festival’s goal of moving beyond film screenings to support original artistic production, a strategy that will continue in Icod de los Vinos with a performance by singer Fabiola Socas.

The festival’s opening schedule also features two major film premieres. At 5:00 p.m., the documentary Time and Water by Sara Dosa will explore the climate crisis in Iceland through the eyes of writer Andri Snær Magnason. This will be followed at 7:30 p.m. by the Canary Islands premiere of Le Chant des Forêts, a film by Vincent Munier that examines the biodiversity and sounds of forest ecosystems. Tickets for these screenings and the opening gala are available via the Tickety platform, priced at one euro for the gala and 2.50 euros for the afternoon films.

The day concludes with a live performance by the comedy group Abubukaka, who will present their show Otto Stragman at the Glorieta de San Francisco at 10:00 p.m. This free event offers a satirical look at current social issues, staying true to the group’s signature critical style.

This year’s program reinforces Ficmec’s role as a key cultural hub in the Canary Islands, successfully balancing environmental awareness with the performing and musical arts. The involvement of Navarro, who also directs the Tenerife International Film Music Festival (Fimucité), highlights the growing collaboration between the islands' major cultural events, which is essential for the long-term success and reach of the region’s film scene.