Tenerife’s CinemaTrans Festival Returns to Champion Social Cohesion and LGTBIQA+ Visibility
Tenerife’s fifth CinemaTrans festival returns from May 13 to 16, featuring a diverse program of films and tributes centered on social cohesion and the celebration of trans and non-binary identities.
The fifth edition of CinemaTrans, Tenerife’s trans film festival, returns this year as a powerful stand for cultural unity in an increasingly polarized political climate. Organized by the Pedro Zerolo Foundation, the Pedro Zerolo Cinematheque, and the Charlas de Cine Association, the festival will run from May 13 to 16 at Multicines Tenerife and TEA (Tenerife Espacio de las Artes).
This year’s theme centers on social cohesion. The festival’s promotional poster pays homage to the 1980s classic The Breakfast Club, reimagined with trans and non-binary individuals. This choice highlights the importance of "chosen family" and safe spaces, serving as a direct response to the rising hostility toward the LGTBIQA+ community.
The program is designed to be inclusive and thought-provoking. A special 'Guest Letter' section will explore bisexuality through the work of the late Canarian filmmaker Roberto Pérez Toledo. The festival will host a tribute screening of his film Los amigos raros, featuring his sister, Oriola Pérez, and producer Borja Terán, followed by a discussion with journalist Daniel Valero and Meritxell Salazar of the Diversas Association.
The festival also honors historical memory and academic contributions. The 2026 Activism Award will be presented to Marcela Rodríguez, a Tenerife carnival icon and survivor of Franco-era repression, whose life is documented in Memorias Aisladas and Triángulos Rosas. Additionally, the new outreach award will recognize Lucas Platero, a teacher and researcher who co-founded Spain’s first university LGTB association.
On the cinematic side, the festival celebrates international trans visibility. The 2026 Film Award will go to La misteriosa mirada del flamenco by Diego Céspedes and Iván & Hadoum by Ian de la Rosa, with both teams in attendance. The lineup also includes the short film Solo Kim, directed by Javier Prieto de Paula and Diego Herrero, and a satirical opening gala performance by content creator Alba Boek on May 14.
Beyond the main screenings, the festival is expanding across the island with a traveling series and a special meeting with Gonzalo Abaha, representative of the Equatorial Guinean association "Somos parte del Mundo," at Espacio Diverse in La Laguna. This year’s event is supported by the Cabildo de Tenerife, the City Council of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, and partners including the University of La Laguna’s Film Department and Culturamanía magazine.