When autumn begins to paint the valleys of El Bierzo in shades of ochre and red—and the vine leaves transform as if holding onto the last of the summer sun, and the light grows warmer and softer—we know that our date with cinema has arrived once again.

“Our Perspetive, Our Cinema” is not merely a slogan for this edition of the festival; it is a tribute to films shot in this region, to the landscapes brought to life on screen, and to the filmmakers from El Bierzo who—whether close to home or far away—have never stopped looking back to their roots. For cinema is not just a window onto the world; it is also a mirror in which we recognize ourselves, a way of expressing who we are.

Over the past twenty-four years, more than one hundred and forty works have graced our screens, proudly carrying the name of El Bierzo: short films and feature films, documentaries and fiction, debut works and established careers. Behind each one lies a filmmaker who chose—camera in hand—to tell a story originating here or centered on this place. We wish to dedicate this edition to all of them—both those still filming today and those who are no longer with us.

Our tribute also extends to filmmakers from El Bierzo who are currently shooting around the world, bringing their unique perspective to stories far removed from the region, and to those who, despite not being born here, chose our lands for their filming, finding something worth telling in our landscapes, our light, and our people. Through their films, El Bierzo has traveled to screens we never could have imagined.

Yet this commitment to memory does not distract us from our original mission. Once again, the festival maintains its official competitive sections for short films—National, International, and Film Schools—where the finest cinema will vie for the recognition of the audience, the sole judge of this event. Alongside these, we feature our parallel sections: Close Looks, which showcases cinema from Galicia, Asturias, and León—territories that share a common border culture, intertwined traditions, and a similar way of storytelling with El Bierzo; BAFTA Shorts, presenting the best short films recognized by the British Academy; What a Session, our initiative bringing the best children’s cinema to local schools; Our Current Cinema, a showcase for the latest contemporary productions from El Bierzo; and Our Classic Cinema, a section organized in collaboration with the Municipal Library and the Ponferrada City Council to highlight our audiovisual heritage. As a complementary activity, See to Educate brings cinema—in an online format—to preschool and primary classrooms in Ponferrada, introducing young children to audiovisual education.

For this edition, we are looking both inward and outward, toward the past and the future: we are revisiting and celebrating cinema that captures the essence of El Bierzo, while continuing to open our screens to the best films from around the world.

Thank you all for your continued trust in “Mi Retina me Engaña.” Happy 24FICP / 2026.

ANTONIO DONÍS
Director of the Ponferrada International Film Festival