22/06/2009

Industry unity and closer relations with audiences will be the two guiding principles of Álex de la Iglesia’s mandate at the head of the Spanish Film Academy. The vote and his subsequent appointment yesterday were a mere formality, as the Basque director was the only candidate.

Since he announced his intention to become president, De la Iglesia has repeated the idea that, as an institution, the Academy should represent industry unity. Yesterday, he emphasised this again, referring to directors such as Pedro Almodóvar and José Luis Garci, whose return he will encourage by putting “psychological and emotional” pressure on them. Moreover, De la Iglesia intends to include hitherto unrepresented professional groups, such as exhibitors and distributors.

The major issue for the Academy and the sector as a whole is improving the image of Spanish cinema in the eyes of audiences. The Basque director commented: "Our target will be the viewers. The Academy must respond to the needs and wishes of audiences, because if nobody goes to see a film, it doesn’t exist”. He added: “We want viewers to be proud of their film industry".

Other proposals put forward by the new president include teaching film in schools, encouraging women’s involvement in the audiovisual sector and holding the Goya Awards ceremony two or three weeks later than planned, in order to increase visibility of the selected films.

The presidential team will be composed of the two previously named vice-presidents, actress-director Icíar Bollaín and production manager Emilio Pina, and possibly a third, probably of Catalonian origin, so that “the autonomous regions are well represented with a greater number of filmmakers”.

De la Iglesia, who will preside over the Academy for the next three years, succeeds current Minister of Culture Ángeles González-Sinde.

(Translated from Spanish)