Blanes premieres film festival with 4,500 registered movies from 122 countries

A new international film festival has been born in Catalonia. Blanes, the first municipality on the Costa Brava when coming from Barcelona, unveiled the new proposal on Tuesday, taking place from May 11 to 18. Overall, 4,500 movies have registered to participate in the competition from 122 countries.

Out of these, 80 people have selected 140 short films and 40 movies to compete in the first edition of the Blanes Costa Brava International Film Festival.

The municipality's mayor, Jordi Hernández, highlighted the "large international" presence and celebrated the worldwide interest.

A jury will now select 25 winners, which will be unveiled on May 18 during the event's closing ceremony.

Meanwhile, the town will see several activities organized in addition to the films, such as two painting exhibitions by journalist and presenter Andreu Buenafuente and Spanish designer Javier Mariscal. 

Mariscal is known for illustrating the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games mascot and other main attractions in the Catalan capital, such as the 'La Gamba' sculpture in the Passeig Marítim boulevard.

On May 11, the city council will organize a 'flashmob' open to everybody, and the following day, there will be the 'zombie walk' parade, where students will paint anybody who wants to participate.

A short film contest will also see filmmakers create a movie in less than 24 hours. Blanes has also organized a concert featuring several movie soundtracks.

Hotels and campsites are offering discounts to festival ticket holders, while restaurants will prepare special menus inspired by various movies.