For more than 60 years the province of Almeria has been closely bound to western. It is a history with it ups and downs, and experienced its climax during the period of spaghetti western and the filming of classics such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly or For a few Dollars more.
Reviving that spirit, in 2011 came up the idea of giving value to that cinematographic legacy by creating the Almeria Western Film Festival. The purpose was to create a festival that would become a reference for the new trends of this genre in an international level. For that, the organizers had the unconditional support of Tabernas’ Town Council , without which it wouldn’t have been possible this festival dedicated to western films, unique in the whole Europe.
Seven anthological editions
From its first edition in 2011, the main location of Almeria Western Film Festival has always been the town of Tabernas, together with Oasys-Mini Hollywood and Fort Bravo villages where diverse meetings, screenings and forums take place with the objective of recognizing the value of western genre.
Throughout the successive editions, the festival has offered the best national and international screenings to the fans of this genre, becoming the perfect meeting platform for professional, amateurs, fans and general public.
Furthermore, along this previous seven years, cinema stars like Terence Hill, Eduardo Noriega, Mónica Randall, Fabio Testi or Sara Montiel have been present.
2018 Almeria Western Film Festival
From October 9th to 13th will take place this year’s AWFF edition and it is expected to surpass all previous editions . If last year’s edition counted 100 registrations, for this year it is expected to reach 1600 registrations! A data that confirms, not only festival’ success but also the good health that western genre is living.
This year’s edition is based in around fifty different educational and cultural activities , with an offer for all audiences with free access and free tickets.
The festival is organized in four sections: Full-length films, Short-length western and neo-western films, Retrospective and a new section named Panorama with three documentaries out of competition that will be premiered during the festival.
In the Full-length section, three will be from USA, two spanish, two australian, one french, one dutch and one more german. It is worth to say the film that opens the festival, Gone are the days, from Mark Gould, out of competition and that will be released all around Europe. It will also be the first time that the films Cassidy red, Dead men, The decadent and depraved and Ultravokal will be projected in our continent.
As Juan Francisco Viruega, AWFF 2018 director confirms: “This is the most ambitious programme so far, with an official section whose films and jury follow the international festivals A category official section guidelines and regulations, so full-lenght films that have already been in the spanish billboard have been dismissed “.
By other side, the official short-lenght films section counts up to 20 movies among fiction, animation and documentaries divided in western and neo-western. There are films from Spain, France, Italy, USA, UK, Australia,Germany, Mexico and Argentina; but also from unusual countries such as Iran, Nepal, South Korea or Costa Rica.
Sergio Leone’s Tribute
With the celebration of 50th anniversary of Once Upon A Time In The West filming in Tabernas, italian master film will be festival’s honor movie and will be shown after opening gala.
Additionally, to celebrate that anniversary, some activities have been organized. Such as a great mural by the artist Nauni, or the dramatizing of some of the scenes at Western Leone village by the group ‘Hijos de mil padres’, as several talks as well.
Furthermore, the famous actress Claudia Cardinale, protagonist of Leone’s work, will again return to Almeria to receive the prize ‘Premio Tabernas de Cine’.
The other Festival’s awards
Not only Claudia Cardinale will receive a prize during the celebration of AWFF 2018 edition, the festival will also award the prize ‘ Premio Leone in Memoriam’ to Carlos Simi, set designer and figurine maker at the Dollar Trilogy and at Once Upon A Time In The West; the award will be gathered by his widow and daughter in a tribute event to the set and costume designer.
The prize ‘Premio Desierto de Tabernas’ to a proffessional in active that has contributed to Taberna’s natural environment exposure as cinematographic icon, is awarded to Toni Novella, producer and production director, responsible of Pedro Almodóvar movies during the last decade.
And the actress Kiti Mánver will receive the award ‘Premio Asfaan’, from Asociación de Festivales Audiovisuales de Andalucía, that visited Tabernas while filming a chapter of Curro Jiménez serie.
If you are a western films passionate, of course you can’t miss this festival. It is a unique chance. Not only to see some of the current best films. But to live a genuine western experience in the places where some of cinema’s history most iconic movies and scenes were filmed.
And, of course, you can’t attend to such a big event dressed any which way . First, come to visit us at our store in Las Ramblas and get dressed with genuine western clothing!
And for all those who have planned to attend the festival, you know what your cowboy boots and western fashion store is: Corbeto’s Boots.
Twister water repellent black felt western hat
Natural cow hide gloves
Sendra mens square toe cowboy boots with harness
