Fimucité Launches 20th Anniversary Edition in La Laguna
Fimucité launched its 20th anniversary in La Laguna with a world-premiere recital by pianist Aleksander Debicz, marking the start of a week-long program of film music concerts and educational masterclasses.
Fimucité, the world’s longest-running film music festival, kicked off its 20th anniversary this Saturday in La Laguna. The opening event, held at the Teatro Leal, featured the world premiere of Golden Piano Stories, a recital by Polish pianist Aleksander Debicz.
Hosting the festival in La Laguna is part of the city council’s strategy to bring culture to historic venues and boost their international profile. Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez and Councilor for Culture Adrián del Castillo highlighted the city’s ability to host world-class events, noting that this partnership has become a staple of the festival’s schedule.
Debicz’s performance showcased his unique ability to reinterpret film scores, moving from classics like Exodus and Mary Poppins to modern soundtracks like Pecadores. Known for blending classical training with improvisation, Debicz explained the challenge of adapting music originally written for digital or orchestral arrangements into solo piano pieces. The pianist is a celebrated artist with seven albums under Warner Classics and multiple Fryderyk award nominations.
Festival director Diego Navarro has curated a high-impact program for this milestone anniversary. Following the opening in La Laguna, the festival moves to the Auditorio de Tenerife. Highlights include the national premiere of John Williams Reimagined on July 16, symphonic screenings of Star Wars: A New Hope conducted by Eímear Noone on July 17 and 18, and the closing gala on July 19.
Beyond the concerts, the festival continues to support education through the Fimucité Film Scoring Academy. From July 14 to 16, the CajaCanarias Cultural Space in Santa Cruz de Tenerife will host masterclasses and sessions with industry experts, including John Corigliano, Stephen Warbeck, and Craig Stuart Garfinkle, further establishing the festival as a key hub for audiovisual composers and professionals.