Both filmmakers, leading figures in Castilian-La Mancha cinema with a Goya 2025, receive the warmth and recognition of the festival on the eve of its celebration, which will take place from 1 to 11 October
Calzada de Calatrava, September 1 to 11, 2025.
Calzada de Calatrava, 28 September 2025. The Rafael Serrano Cultural Centre was the setting this Saturday for the tribute to the brothers Carlos and Roberto Valle within the framework of the XII Calzada de Calatrava Film Festival, which brought together nearly a hundred spectators in an event full of emotion and quality cinema. The festival presented a plaque to both of them and closed the ceremony with a standing ovation for both filmmakers.
During the evening, two of their most renowned works were screened: ‘Semillas de Kivu’, co-directed by Carlos Valle and Néstor López and distinguished with the Goya 2025 Award for Best Documentary Short Film, and ‘Kairós’, by both brothers. After the screenings, attendees were able to participate in a discussion with the filmmakers, natives of Consuegra (Toledo), whose international career already totals more than 300 nominations at festivals around the world.
The event was attended by the Mayoress of Calzada de Calatrava, Gema García; accompanied by the Vice-Minister of Culture and Sports, Carmen Teresa Olmedo; the director of the festival, Hernán Valdés; the Councillor of Culture, Isabel García; as well as councillors from the government team, members of the festival organisation and a dedicated audience for the occasion.
“With this very special gala we kick off our 12th Calzada de Calatrava Film Festival, highlighting what is really important to us: the film industry and the work that is done in our region”, underlined the Mayoress, Gema García. “With the help of the Valle brothers, who despite their youth have been in the industry for many years and already have international recognition, we show how the cinema made in Castilla-La Mancha grows year after year. In this edition we have received 70 short films of impressive quality, a figure that reflects the exponential progress of the festival in its twelve years of history”, he added.
In the same vein, the Vice-Minister of Culture and Sports, Carmen Teresa Olmedo, highlighted the relevance of the tribute, because “we are recognising two filmmakers who are already regional and national references. The Goya they won for Semillas de Kivu is a well-deserved award that thrills us all. The regional government is proud to support careers like theirs, and we will continue to do so. He also announced that “next week we will publish the 2025 grants, with an investment of 50,000 euros for new productions made in Castilla-La Mancha. In these ten years we have supported more than 50 short films with 300,000 euros, because we believe in the talent of this land and that many more recognitions like yours will come”.
For his part, the director of the event, Hernán Valdés, highlighted the festival’s commitment to local talent. “We are closely linked to the creators of our land and to the marvellous stages that Castilla-La Mancha has to offer. Hence the importance of our Made in Castilla-La Mancha section, which is also a reflection of careers such as that of Carlos and Roberto Valle, to whom we pay tribute today for their enormous contribution to cinema”. Valdés stressed that “we are enormously proud and grateful to have two filmmakers with us who have enormous potential and who will continue to bring us triumphs and recognition with their film projects”.
With this act, the XII Calzada de Calatrava Film Festival starts its engines to celebrate, from the 1st to the 11th of October, an edition that promises to be unforgettable.
Programmeón of screenings
The section ‘Made in Castilla-La Mancha’ will celebrate a historic record of participation, with 12 short films finalists including El libro de Mario, by Daniel Chamorro, #Noconsiento, by Conrado Escudero; Amándala, by Ana Isabel Barberán; 3000 elefantes, by Miguel Piedrafita and Israel Carrillo; Sacramento, by Ismael Sepúlveda; Sostén G3,7, by Rut and David García; El amigo de los pobres, by Javier Fuentes; Egoísta, by Teresa Bellón and Úrsula Gutiérrez; Brava, by Aeterna Producciones; El perverso mundo de los cubitos de hielo, by Joaquín Górriz; Refugio, by Dorian Sanz and Rodri Muñoz; and El pretérito imperfecto, by Javier Muga.
The national short films include 893 kilómetros, by Rubén Guindo; Carmela, by Vicente Mallols; Pipiolos, by Daniel Sánchez; Origami, by Álvaro León; Behind the wall, by Martín D. Guevara; La mort, by Jesús Martínez Nota; El otro, by Eduard Fernández; Una cabeza en la pared, by Manuel Manrique; Cólera, by José Luis Lázaro; Zona wao, by Nagore Eceiza; Sexo a los 70, by Vanesa Romero; Violetas, by Borja Escribano; Homework, by Nacho Arjona; Ángulo muerto, by Cristian Beteta; Líbranos del mal, by Andrea Casaseca; Lola, lolita, lolaza, by Mabel Lozano; Insalvable, by Javier Marco; 29 de febrero, by Diego Fandos; Pietra, by Cynthia Levitan; Pálpito, by Marisa Crespo and Moisés Romera; Donde se quejan los pinos, by ED Antoja; Disonancia, by Raquel Larrosa; El lado más bestia de la vida, by José Antonio Campos; and Emilia, by Rafa Arroyo.
As a novelty, the Muestra de Cine Español – Largometrajes (Spanish Cinema Showcase – Feature Films) will be presented, with three internationally acclaimed titles: Sorda, by Eva Libertad, Sirât, by Oliver Laxe, and Romería, by Carla Simón. The screenings will take place at the Rafael Serrano Cultural Centre, with four screenings of national short films and two screenings dedicated to Castilla-La Mancha.
A festival with a vocationfor the future
A festival with a vocationfor the future
The programme is completed with the involvement of local cultural groups such as the music band, the theatre group, the dance group and the Popular University, who will participate in the closing gala.
Director Hernán Valdés concluded by inviting everyone to enjoy the Calzadian festival. “We want neighbours from all over the region and nearby towns to visit us from 1 to 11 October. This year we will have more films, more activities and a unique atmosphere. We are waiting for you in Calzada de Calatrava”, he said.
The XII Calzada de Calatrava Film Festival thus reaffirms itself as a cultural reference in rural areas, capable of combining cinema, heritage, education, tourism and citizen participation under the inspiration of its most universal neighbour, Pedro Almodóvar.
In this twelfth edition, the Calzada de Calatrava Film Festival is sponsored by the Association for the Development of Campo de Calatrava, within the framework of the LEADER programme, co-financed by the European Union, the Spanish Government and the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha. The festival is also subsidised by the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha and the Diputación Provincial. It also receives financial support from Productora el Deseo, Finca La Rosala, Fundación Globalcaja and Carpintería Calatrava. It also counts with the collaboration of the Public Schools Ignacio de Loyola and Teresa de Jesús of Calzada de Calatrava, the IES Eduardo Valencia of Calzada de Calatrava, cultural collectives and associations of the town, JR Fotografía, Mi Escapada Favorita, CortoEspaña, Premios Fugaz as Festival amigo, and the platforms Movibeta and Festhome.