Over the course of more than ten months, the Muestra de Cine de Lanzarote’s programming team—under the guidance of key figures in international film analysis, such as Roger Koza—reviews submissions for the Official Competition Section, as well as numerous titles showcased at some of the best festivals around the world. The goal is to identify works where cinema explores contemporary issues in the most compelling way while simultaneously examining its own relevance as an artistic medium with intelligence and boldness. This exhaustive selection process often requires the team to review more than 500 feature films from across the globe to discover what is truly extraordinary. After this rigorous process of curating, debate and a process of elimination, a refined selection of five to eight films is chosen to form this carefully crafted programme.
For the 14th edition of Muestra de Cine de Lanzarote, seven films have been selected for their ability to demonstrate that cinema remains a medium rich in possibilities. These films, shot in at least seven different countries—Northern Ireland, Democratic Republic of the Congo, France, Peru, Palestine, Vietnam and Argentina—address critical issues that are essential for reflecting on the present.
In the coming days, various films will be screened at El Almacén, offering a wide range of perspectives. These include stories where human rights are crushed by unchecked police or colonial systems, films where members of Andean communities grapple with the immense weight of racial and cultural conditions that marginalise them, and works revisiting the scars of armed conflicts and wars through the memories of those still haunted by their traumas. Other films explore the lives of nations and communities forced into conditions that are, quite literally, “unliveable,” while others still find ways to celebrate the beauty of a planet seemingly on the brink of collapse. This is, ultimately, a unique opportunity to experience the finest cinema of our time, followed by moments of reflection and in-depth discussion.
