Madrid launches first Ibero-American restored classic film festival

Madrid's Plaza Mayor will transform into an open-air cinema this weekend for the inaugural Platino Clásicos festival, the first international event dedicated to restored classic films from Ibero-American culture. The festival, launched by the Platino Awards for Ibero-American Audiovisual, aims to preserve and exhibit the cinematic heritage of Spanish and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Kicking off on Friday under the slogan 'Cinema Returns to the City,' the festival will screen Luis García Berlanga's 1963 film 'El verdugo,' followed by Carlos Saura's 1975 film 'Cría cuervos' on Saturday. Both screenings will include musical performances and brief talks, offering a preview of what is planned to become the leading restored film festival in Ibero-America starting in 2027. Future editions will utilize both public spaces and cinemas.

Enrique Cerezo, president of the Platino Awards, expressed pride in launching this "unprecedented cultural initiative," which joins the broader "Platino universe" encompassing industry events, educational platforms, and financing tools. He highlighted Madrid's selection as the festival's birthplace due to its status as a "global capital" of culture. The event celebrates the shared legacy of 23 Ibero-American nations and their 800 million inhabitants, organized by EGEDA and FIPCA with support from various Madrid institutions and the Filmoteca Española.