Puerto de la Cruz to Host Afro-Indigenous Film Festival

Next month, the town of Puerto de la Cruz will host 'Afro-Indigenous Gazes', a film festival bringing together productions from Latin America and Africa. This event started five years ago in the Dominican Republic, where filmmakers of African descent and those from the Canary Islands began collaborating on shared projects. You can catch these films from November 22 to 29 at various locations in the city, including Sala Timanfaya and the Costa Martiánez Tourist Complex.

Tenerife filmmaker David Baute is directing this cultural event. He launched the festival yesterday at the Costa Martiánez Tourist Complex, near César Manrique's 'Homage to the Sea' sculpture. This artwork, by the Lanzarote artist, symbolizes the meeting of the two continents at sea – a theme that inspires the 'reality cinema' featured in the festival. Baute described this cinema as 'more artistic, blending documentary and fiction, often using non-professional actors, natural settings, and a lot of creativity.'

The festival and its film market are also the result of a 'strong partnership' between various festivals in Latin America and Africa. This collaboration aims to support projects that grew out of their initial joint efforts, as Baute explained. Additionally, a special program showcasing films by Canary Islands filmmakers has been chosen in partnership with the local film festival association, and details will be shared next week.

Highlights of 'Afro-Indigenous Gazes' include a tribute to Chilean filmmaker Mayte Alberdi, whose films have been nominated for Oscars and won awards at the Goya, Cannes, and San Sebastián Festivals. The festival will also host the Canary Islands premiere of 'Historia del buen valle' (Spain/2025), the latest film from José Luis Guerin, which recently earned the Special Jury Prize at the San Sebastián Festival. Baute remarked, 'It's a privilege to welcome these two major figures of reality cinema to Puerto de la Cruz.'

The festival's industry section, the Afro-Indigenous Gazes Market, is split into two parts: one for projects still in development and another for those further along in production. The goal is for these films to eventually be shown at future festivals in Puerto de la Cruz.

David Baute was joined at the presentation by several officials: Leopoldo Afonso, the Mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, and Desiré Díaz, the Culture Councilor. They highlighted the town's dedication to 'quality culture,' which has made it a leader in developing public cultural initiatives. Also attending were José Carlos Acha, the Culture Councilor for the Cabildo de Tenerife, who spoke about the importance of spreading cultural activities beyond the main centers, and Cristóbal de la Rosa, Director General of Cultural Innovation and Creative Industries for the Government of the Canary Islands. De la Rosa believes 'Afro-Indigenous Gazes' offers a crucial look at two continents with 'highly complex social dynamics.' He added that cinema, with the Canary Islands acting as a bridge, can help create a better world for both regions.