Gijon International Film Festival opens tonight and it pays homage to one of the great directors and creators in Spanish cinema Vicente Aranda. The Catalan director, well known thanks to many films that have become classics in our country, such as “Lovers: A True Story, “El Lute” or “Mad Love”, will come to Gijon to receive this life time achievement award.

Vicente Aranda was born in Barcelona in 1926 and grew up, as far as films are concerned, in a movement called the “Barcelona School of Film”, which took place during the 60’s and whose source were the principles ruling the French Nouvelle Vague in the late 50’s. “Fata Morgana” (1966), his second film as a director, and also written by him, is one of the most representative films of this movement. These films had a very polished look and opposed the “politically correct” movies being made at the time.

With almost 30 long features in his career, most of them written by him, Aranda has received prizes in some of the most famous festivals in the world, among them Cannes, Berlin or San Sebastián where his film “Mad Love” meant the final recognition of the talent of one the most outstanding Spanish actresses of today, Pilar López de Ayala.

The director has a great talent directing actresses, like Victoria Abril who has starred in some of his most important films, such as “El Lute”, “La muchacha de las bragas de oro”, “Time of Silence” or “Lovers: A True Story” or Paz Vega in “Carmen”. And let’s not forget “Freedom Fighters”, a movie that became a milestone in our cinema as in it starred an outstanding female cast.

With this award the festival follows the path started last year, in its 50th anniversary, when they gave the live time achievement award to one of the masters of set design in our country, Gil Parrondo. In this edition they have chosen a director who has had a strong impact on Spanish cinema and who belongs in a generation of great talent, recognized both at home and abroad. FICX wants to set up a space to pay homage to the most outstanding figures in cinema, striking the perfect balance between the avant garde spirit of the movies we show and the necessary recognition to seasoned professionals.

Carmen Frías, Mujer de Cine award 2013

FICX, together with Mujer de Cine also honored in this 51st edition the work of a woman who has become a reference in Spanish Cinema, Carmen Frías. The two time Goya winner, for “The Mad Monkey” and “Belle Epoque” has also been nominated in two more occasions. She’s an editor who has worked with some of our best known directors, such as Fernando Trueba, Bigas Luna or Gerardo Herrero. Some of her works are already part of the history of cinema. Over 80 films and almost 40 years working set her as a key woman in Spanish cinema.