Por Pablo Arranz 
The exhibition ‘Welcome to a film city’ brings together a careful selection of behind-the-scenes photographs, along with their corresponding stills from the same film set, of finalist and guest films at the Alicante International Film Festival.
The exhibition was organized by the University of Alicante (UA), through the Vice-Rectorate for Culture, Sports and University Extension and the Faculty of Economics and Business, in collaboration with the Alicante International Film Festival, as indicated by the festival in a statement.
Specifically, the exhibition features photographs from five films in the festival’s official section, such as ‘The Power of Silence’, ‘The Instinct’, ‘Birds of Prey’, ‘What Remains of You’, ‘Little Calvaries’; as well as two guest films: ‘8’ and ‘The Book’.
The images will be on display in the hall of the Adif station in Alicante from May 12 to 24. The exhibition is part of a series of events programmed and managed by the Master’s in Communication and Creative Industries (Comincrea) at UA, under the name Giroscopia. The photographic experience in cinema, within the Creative Industries Sectors subject of the same Master’s program.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Juan Andrés Sánchez Jordán, Head of Stations in the Alicante Area; the acting dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Alicante, Mª Carmen Tolosa, and the director of the Alicante International Film Festival, Vicente Seva. It also had the presence of the teachers and students of the master responsible for the exhibition.
Tolosa expressed her «great pride» in inaugurating this exhibition «which showcases the great work and creativity of the students in this master’s program.» She emphasized that Giroscopia aims to bring the profession of still photography in film productions to society, highlighting the photographer’s perspective that documents, captures, and freezes in time everything that happens on a film set, which the general public is not accustomed to seeing.
Meanwhile, Vicente Seva stated that, following the success of last year’s exhibition, they were certain that the Adif station was «the perfect place for a new photography exhibition» and thanked Adif for their collaboration, «helping to promote and give visibility» to cinema. «I invite the people of Alicante to this photographic exhibition that hundreds of travelers arriving in our city these days will see,» he emphasized.
On his part, Sánchez Jordán noted that it is «a pleasure to welcome the 22nd Alicante International Film Festival to the station premises, which will always be ready to receive them.» «This exhibition is part of the Open Station program of ADIF’s Corporate Social Responsibility, and we hope to continue collaborating for many more years,» he declared.
Enric Mira and Claudia Ripoll, coordinators of Giroscopia and professors at the Comincrea Master’s program, detailed that the program of activities «is being very well received by the people of Alicante and the university community.» «Therefore, we hope that the exhibition ‘Welcome to a film city’ will mark the beginning of the 22nd edition of the Alicante Film Festival,» they highlighted.
As part of Giroscopia’s activities, this exhibition is complemented by two conferences where attendees can learn about the profession from prominent professionals in still photography: Manolo Pavón and Lucía Faraig. The conferences will be held at the University Headquarters in Alicante on May 8 and 22 at 7:00 pm.
Simultaneously, a film series in the original version around the theme of cinema and photography is taking place, with screenings on Tuesdays in May at 6:30 pm at the university headquarters on Calle San Fernando.