The Lanzarote International Film Festival Internacional (FICL) unveiled the programme for its 26th edition at an event held on the Islote de Fermina, attended by Jesús Machín, the Lanzarote Island Council’s Minister for Culture; Ángel Vázquez, the CEO of the Centres for Art, Culture and Tourism; Javier Prieto, the Director of Institutional Relations at Canary Islands Tourism; Esther García, representing SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote and the Lanzarote Film Commission; and the festival director, Ismael Curbelo.

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From 11 to 23 May, Lanzarote will once again become a hub for filmmakers, industry professionals, students and the general public. Over two weeks, the film festival will host screenings, talks, competitions, educational activities and inclusive events across multiple venues on the island. The programme brings together a diverse and high-quality selection of more than 60 films, including short films, special screenings and entries in the competition. Screenings will take place at venues such as CIC El Almacén, the Víctor Fernández Gopar “El Salinero” Theatre and Multicines Atlántida.

At the heart of the film festival are its official competition sections, featuring films in the categories of Spanish Fiction, International Fiction, Animation, Documentary and Canarian Shorts. The screenings will be held at CIC El Almacén on 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22 May, with sessions open to the public. As in previous years, audiences will be able to take part by voting for the People’s Choice Award.

The festival will also present special screenings of feature films such as De todos lados un poco, directed by Álex O’Dogherty; The Redemption, by also actor-director Daniel Guzmán; and I Won't Die for Love, by first-time feature film director Marta Matute. All sessions will take place in the Buñuel Room at CIC El Almacén and will be attended by the directors.

The FICL also continues to support emerging talent through initiatives such as the Roberto Pérez Toledo Short Express Film Competition, which challenges participants to create a short film between 11 and 17 May. Also returning are the School Short Film Competition, aimed at pupils from various schools across the island; the Film Mural Competition, which will once again transform the Plaza de El Almacén into an open-air exhibition space; and the Window Display Competition, which involves local businesses in Arrecife.

The film festival will once again organise activities aimed at audiences of different ages and groups. The Children’s Short Film Screenings took place in April, with more than 20 schools and around 4,500 pupils participating. Additional screenings will be organised for older people, social organisations and inmates at Tahiche Prison, along with a new edition of “Seniors without Shame”, whose gala will take place on 13 May at the Municipal Theatre in Tías. This initiative enables residents of care homes and day centres to take part in creating short fiction films alongside professional teams.

The programme will continue on 4 June, with a special session organised in collaboration with Liquid Sounds, combining film and live music based on Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver.