It is about creating a new cultural and touristic project that attracts a public specialized in cinema to the island : Festivalito, the Stars Film Festival.
The project of the digital cinema festival was decided in 2017 that the film festival should find a motif that identifies it with La Palma concluding that the inspiring motive of the Festivalito (Little festival) should be the island's sky, giving the local population the opportunity to share the experience of participating in the cinematographic creation, being actors, screenwriters , directors.
The Cabildo de La Palma considers that this festival is an extraordinary tool for spreading the patrimonial value of our sky among the youth, as well as to create awareness to preserve it from light pollution.
“We have crafted a festival, here in an island in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean, to help us comprehend the universe and our relationship with nature as humankind, sharing for a short time creativity and consciousness related activities. With this name we are honouring the vastness of the sky vault, which we are privileged to enjoy each night from the island of La Palma”.
Previous meetings were held since the end of the last edition with all the actors of the event to coordinate this cultural and astronomical activity.
A wide programme of meetings with XXIst century great characters are organized to discover and enjoy the works of wonderful musicians, filmmakers, scientists, philosophers, poets, therapists, psychologists, theologians, sociologists, spiritual leaders...They will address a wide audience in a comprehensible language, in order to share and expand knowledge.
Resources needed
The total amount of the practice is about 80.000,00€
Collaboration from the Cabildo de La Palma 44.000,00€
The regional government was also involved in the project.
Evidence of success
Success of participation: more than 270 filmmakers of ten nationalities take on the challenge of the XIII Festivalito La Palma to record a short film under the skies of La Palma in 7 days to present it to the Festival's competition section: La Palma Rueda.
More than 250 students participate in the II "Film and Stars" Festival of the XIII Festivalito La Palma.
A themed tapas and pinchos fair was included in honor of the stars of the Universe, music and humor, attended by a large audience.
Difficulties encountered
The organizers of the Festivalito encounter annually with the uncertainty of obtaining funding, which greatly complicates the programming of performances in advance that would help to carry out an advance promotion and oblige to improvise alternative solutions constantly.
Potential for learning or transfer
Bringing knowledge of the sky and provide a playful experience at the same time to the local population is a powerful tool to achieve one of the purposes of the program: public awareness that helps to understand how important the dark sky is and the lots of activities that can be developed under the stars.
To carry out this activity it is necessary to have a necessary organizational team and the will of the parties. Have personnel with enough training to organize cinema events that cooperate with a wide number of social strata: film fans, film directors, schools, gastronomy association, advisors in astronomy, etc... Otherwise it can be a failed action.
Tags: Sustainable, Tourism, Protection, Conservation, Pollution, Industry, Support
