ReachExtra
Not that long ago Algeciras was home to many cinemas: El Almanzor, El Delicias, El Florida, El Magallanes… but alas, as has happened in many other cities, the commercial cinemas of yesteryear disappeared one after the other until finally the Las Palomas multiplex closed its doors for the last time in 2000 marking the end of the commercial cinema era in Algeciras.
However, the love for the Seventh Art did not disappear with it and at the end of 2013 “El Grupo 4 en Letra”, in conjunction with the Alcultura Association and the University of Cadiz (UCA), set up the Alcultura Cineclub which offers a regular programme of film screenings every Thursday, from October until May, at 7 pm, in the auditorium of La Escuela Politecnica Superior. Currently, the Cineclub attracts an average of 150 cinema goers.
Eugenio Vega recalls: “We came up with the idea while out walking one Sunday afternoon and commenting on something we had heard lon the radio about a movie club in Gerona (Northern Spain). At that time, even the multiplex in Palmones had closed, so we said to ourselves: Why don´twe gather together a group of friends and set up a movie club here in Algeciras?”.
Eugenio, Mercedes Silva and Inma Gutiérrez are the names to the faces behind this now well established venture, Over the last four years, the Alcultura Association has followed up during the months of July and August, with a summer cinema their open-air areas in the old Dock of El Saladillo. Last summer successful offerings, attracted audiences of nearly 300 people.
This is, however, a non-profit initiative. The members of the Cineclub can buy a movie pass that allow them to see all the films screened during the season (this year it is 40 euros for a total of 32 films) and this contribution, plus the monies from the box office sales, is entirely designated to the running of the operation. In addition, the University by provides one film per month which is tscreened in its original version with subtitles.
On Thursday, 4th October 2018, the Alcultura Cinema inaugurated its sixth season with one of the most special films of the year: ‘Champions’, a film by Javier Fesser which will represent Spain in the next edition of the Oscars. “This is not about ordinary cinema, it´s much more than that …a meeting of friends with a passion not only for watching good films, but also for enjoying the experience together, and appreciating and talking about it afterwards… “, said Eugenio Vega, referring to the interesting and intimate discussions chaired every Thursday by Angel Luis Jimenez, which attracts a small but enthusiastic and faithful group of followers.
