10/05/2023 - We spoke to the new director of the Valladolid International Film Week to see what his first impressions are as the head of this event

The Spanish film festival scene was shaken up recently when José Luis Cienfuegos was named as the new director of the Seminci (Valladolid International Film Week) (which will hold its 68th edition from 21 to 28 October), replacing Javier Angulo, a journalist who led the event for 15 years. The Asturian has previously directed the Gijón Film Festival (1995-2011) and the Seville European Film Festival for the last ten years. We spoke to him a few days after being named director.

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Cineuropa: How have your first few days been as director of Seminci?
José Luis Cienfuegos: This is one of the most beautiful challenges a festival director can face, giving the festival a different feel, while respecting the history of the event. In this new phase, I want to build something new, but while preserving the history of a festival that has been important in giving visibility to auteur cinema. These solid foundations that have been built over time must help us gain momentum, to embark on new paths and open doors to new filmmakers Valladolid, to other ways of understanding what a film festival is and at the same time to make our stamp on the new programming and organisational team, which will join the existing one.

In other words, are you going to put your own take on an already well-established festival?
In Seville the festival reinvented itself, and in Valladolid the challenge is to continue along new paths without forgetting the cinema of the past. This dialogue between present and past will be one of the goals of this new phase of the festival, as well as preserving film heritage. It’s a festival that has always focused on retrospectives and maintains a line of publications, it’s an example of resistance. Festivals have been reducing this aspect and Seminci, however, maintains a clear line of studies.

For a Spanish film buff, the name Seminci is almost sacred. Does this weigh on you when taking on the festival?
On the contrary. I learnt it all by going to Seminci as a viewer, with a scholarship from the university when it was directed by Fernando Lara. I consider myself a disciple of his, as I learned from him what a structure and programming scheme was, his careful retrospectives, the rigour of the cycles... We’re going to continue to promote education, as we have done before in other festivals. Seminci already worked with young audiences and it’s very participatory. It’s an event that belongs to the audience and I’ll be respectful of that feeling of belonging. It’s also a challenge to meet expectations.

In Valladolid, its residents are overwhelmingly loyal to their Seminci.
We’ll see how they respond to the proposals on offer in 2023. The changes are limited this year because the bases have already been published with the traditional sections, but above all looking towards 2024, the changes will be more substantial.

Valladolid is in a strong position as a filming city, with its Shooting Locations Marketplace (read more), the celebration of the next Goya Awards... The city is making a strong commitment to cinema.
Yes, it’s been a pleasant surprise. These first few days working there, to see how there’s coordinated work, with a strategy and vision for the future, with an impressive certainty that cinema is important in Valladolid, a city of cinema recognised by UNESCO. We’re working on this and in light of the Goya celebrations we’re already planning activities. Meaning, all this allows us to find partners we can work with throughout the year. These are the solid foundations on which Seminci is built.

So, you’re taking on a well-fertilised field.
Yes, open to new experiences. That’s how I’ve felt during these first days in office. I’ve received many messages of encouragement and positive support.

Finally, are you going to maintain or expand the industry part of the festival?
Important distribution events have been held in the past at Seminci and we’re going to work and grow on this. There are already talks with the associations of sales agents and distributors to make this happen. This festival has always been a key link to connect the cinema in festivals to that in cinemas, to make films reach commercial cinemas, with major prizes: 200,000 euros distribution grant and prizes for directors. It’s a substantial amount and I think this is one of the festivals with the strongest awards in the world.

(Translated from Spanish by Vicky York)