The IV Film Festival of Telde concludes with record participation: 330 entries and a full theatre. ‘Idaira’ by Natt Monroy wins the Neptuno for Best Short Film at a gala that solidified its place in the Canary Islands calendar.
The Juan Ramón Jiménez Municipal Theatre in Telde experienced a night of cinema in capital letters on Saturday. With a full house, the closing gala of the IV Film Festival of Telde awarded the Neptuno prizes for this edition, which broke records for participation and attendance. The short film ‘Idaira’ by Natt Monroy took home the top award, the Neptuno of Telde for Best Short Film, in an evening that championed Canary identity as a banner.
Record participation and a reivindicative motto
This year, the festival carried the motto “Without a Neutral Accent”, once again focusing on Canarian culture as a distinctive value in audiovisual works. The organisers argued that the stories from the Archipelago do not need to be neutralised to reach the audience, and the response was massive: 330 registered participants, the highest number since the festival began four years ago.
For two weeks, cinema invaded various spaces in Telde with screenings, workshops, and meetings. The audience responded by filling the venues, and the closing gala was the crowning moment. The mayor, Juan Antonio Peña, and the councillor for Culture, Juan Martel, agreed that the festival is “now consolidated” in the Canarian audiovisual landscape. Peña highlighted culture as a tool to project Telde beyond its borders.
‘Idaira’, the big winner of the night
The Neptuno of Telde for Best Short Film went to ‘Idaira’ by Natt Monroy, a work that captivated the jury and became the big winner of the edition. But it was not the only award. The winners included the Neptuno for Special Jury Prize for ‘Mamma’ by Stephanie Longo, and the Audience Award, which went to ‘Vaya Suerte’ by Lucía Rubio and Sara Florido, which also won the Neptuno for Best Documentary Short and Experimental Film.
In the Social Perspectives category, the award went to ‘Pimpa’ by Isaac Dos Santos, while the Best Young Short Film was awarded to ‘Phoenix Canariensis’ by Jeffrey Lunaris, which also received the award for Best Cinematography. The Neptuno for Memories of Telde went to ‘El Carbonero’ by Felipe Álamo, and the El Pinzón Dorado Award for Best Short Film in the Canarian Shorts Section went to ‘Inmaculada’ by Amos Milbor.
A night of stars and a tribute to Antonia San Juan
The gala also featured an emotional moment with the presentation of the first Honorary Neptuno of Telde, a newly created distinction awarded to actress and director Antonia San Juan, a native of the municipality. The audience welcomed her with an ovation that underscored local pride for one of the most internationally recognized figures in Canarian cinema.
Additionally, special mentions were awarded: Best Direction to Carolina Montesdeoca and Armando Álamo for ‘Dr. Doramas’; Best Script for ‘Neutro(nius)’ by Laia Amador Ríos; Best Editing for ‘Querencia’ by Carmen Acosta and Irene García; Best Actress to Eva Cavadas for ‘REMXS’; Best Actor to Borja Texeira for ‘Sistema Canario de Navegación’; and Best Young Performance to Alejandro Guerra for ‘El Casting’.
Consolidation of an event that is now a reference
With four editions under its belt, the Film Festival of Telde has transitioned from being a gamble to a reality. The figures confirm it: more than 330 participants, a full theatre, and a programme that attracted professionals from across the Archipelago. For the residents of Telde, the festival represents a unique opportunity to enjoy quality cinema without leaving the municipality, with activities that turn the city into a cultural set for two weeks.
The next edition is already shaping up to be a challenge: to maintain growth without losing the reivindicative and local essence that has made it unique. For now, the organisers are already working on the fifth edition, aiming to continue attracting audiences and Canarian talent. The event, which gains more significance each year in the audiovisual calendar of the Islands, promises to keep making headlines.
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