20/02/2015 - The veteran producer, distributor and exhibitor has resigned as president of the Film Academy for personal reasons and in order to give a boost to the revitalisation of the institution

Yesterday (19 February), the Spanish Film Academy officially announced that Enrique González Macho has stepped down from his position as president of the institution, citing purely personal reasons. Less than a year after he was re-elected in this post, the veteran producer, distributor and exhibitor will be replaced by actor Antonio Resines, who until now has been first vice-president, a job that will now fall to director Judith Colell.

Looking forward, Resines asserted in an interview with Cadena Ser that he will call for elections as quickly as possible and that he has no intention of putting himself forward.

González Macho explained that his decision was based on his need to be able to dedicate more time to his professional activities (“I’m not rich; I have to concentrate on my work”), while simultaneously putting forward his commitment to revitalisation: “New people, good people should come along: there are always more highly esteemed people than oneself. One must bid farewell when his or her time comes; it’s a very positive thing.” 

At his send-off, he made the most of the occasion to jump to the defence of the Academy and the Spanish film industry, while also having a pop at the government, which he described as “a political power that has not been of any help. I don’t think the situation can possibly get any worse after the elections.”

González Macho’s retirement has taken the film industry, and the world of culture in general, by surprise, despite the fact that he had been giving out plenty of messages that seemed to announce that he was gradually distancing himself from the job. There has been no lack of sympathetic reactions coming from every corner of the sector; all have celebrated his career at the Academy.

(Translated from Spanish)