organization
The Casal Lambda Film Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary To be exact, this coming October 23 will mark exactly 20 years since the Casal Lambda Film Festival was first launched. This is the twentieth anniversary of the oldest LGBT... (Read+ )
Emilio Ruiz, President of Casal Lambda
Emilio Ruiz, President of Casal Lambda
casal lambda
C/ Verdaguer i Callís, 10 (08003) Barcelona
Tel. 933 195 550
Fax 933 103 035
mostra@lambdaweb.org
Tel. 933 195 550
Fax 933 103 035
mostra@lambdaweb.org
Web> lambda.cat
Emilio Ruiz
president
Joan Soldevila
secretary
Alfons Santos
treasurer
Aran Jiménez
administrator
Jordi Trilla, Josep Maria Ricart
vocals
Jordi Samsó
educational coordinator
Patrick Cerrato
translation coordinator
he Casal Lambda Film Festival celebrates its 20th anniversary
To be exact, this coming October 23 will mark exactly 20 years since the Casal Lambda Film Festival was first launched. This is the twentieth anniversary of the oldest LGBTI film festival in Spain! The festival, now known as FIRE!!, was established in 1995 in the conviction that culture is a necessary and unbeatable vehicle that can help us to establish a real normalisation of homosexuality. In short, an event and a commitment that both continue to be more valid then ever, even today.
So, this year is our anniversary, and we could not agree more with what Josep Anton Rodríguez wrote in his book reviewing the first ten years of the festival: "a birthday is the triumph of life… the triumph of people over the inflexible passing of time". So let's celebrate! Let's raise a glass and wish long life to FIRE!!
It is only right that we should now remember those who steered the festival on its way in the past. The first director, Xavier Daniel, and Jaume Gil, who took over at a difficult time. Our film festival has had its ups and downs but, from the perspective that only time makes possible, we are convinced that FIRE!! is a key event for the LGBTI community, amongst professional sectors, the media and the public administration, both in Catalonia and in the rest of Spain.
A lot has happened over these two decades. From the initial enthusiasm to the risk of disappearing until it finally came of age, the festival has evolved, adapting to the times, changing dates, reinventing itself year after year. We have created an original, innovative cultural event and, above all, FIRE!! is attracting ever larger audiences.
Why is this? Largely, it is due to the quality of the festival programme. Casal Lambda considers that there are two key factors in this. Firstly, the artistic and technical team, directed by Joako Ezpeleta and Antoine Leonetti, who lovingly shape and design each new edition. Their professionalism, experience and trajectory have been recognised in recent years, resulting in rising spectator numbers, greater media coverage and more involvement, although to a degree that continues to be insufficient, on the part of the public administration. The second major factor is the legion of volunteers who devote their time and hard work to the festival. To the Casal volunteers, above all, our sincere thanks.
Looking towards the future, we can be sure that FIRE!! is necessary, as culture is in our lives, as is the struggle for recognition and full respect for the LGBTI community. However – and this is our closing thought – a future for FIRE!! needs audiences that believe in our festival, and funding that should be generated both by the work of Casal Lambda and through clear, firm political will on the part of the public administrations.
Emilio Ruiz, President of Casal Lambda
To be exact, this coming October 23 will mark exactly 20 years since the Casal Lambda Film Festival was first launched. This is the twentieth anniversary of the oldest LGBTI film festival in Spain! The festival, now known as FIRE!!, was established in 1995 in the conviction that culture is a necessary and unbeatable vehicle that can help us to establish a real normalisation of homosexuality. In short, an event and a commitment that both continue to be more valid then ever, even today.
So, this year is our anniversary, and we could not agree more with what Josep Anton Rodríguez wrote in his book reviewing the first ten years of the festival: "a birthday is the triumph of life… the triumph of people over the inflexible passing of time". So let's celebrate! Let's raise a glass and wish long life to FIRE!!
It is only right that we should now remember those who steered the festival on its way in the past. The first director, Xavier Daniel, and Jaume Gil, who took over at a difficult time. Our film festival has had its ups and downs but, from the perspective that only time makes possible, we are convinced that FIRE!! is a key event for the LGBTI community, amongst professional sectors, the media and the public administration, both in Catalonia and in the rest of Spain.
A lot has happened over these two decades. From the initial enthusiasm to the risk of disappearing until it finally came of age, the festival has evolved, adapting to the times, changing dates, reinventing itself year after year. We have created an original, innovative cultural event and, above all, FIRE!! is attracting ever larger audiences.
Why is this? Largely, it is due to the quality of the festival programme. Casal Lambda considers that there are two key factors in this. Firstly, the artistic and technical team, directed by Joako Ezpeleta and Antoine Leonetti, who lovingly shape and design each new edition. Their professionalism, experience and trajectory have been recognised in recent years, resulting in rising spectator numbers, greater media coverage and more involvement, although to a degree that continues to be insufficient, on the part of the public administration. The second major factor is the legion of volunteers who devote their time and hard work to the festival. To the Casal volunteers, above all, our sincere thanks.
Looking towards the future, we can be sure that FIRE!! is necessary, as culture is in our lives, as is the struggle for recognition and full respect for the LGBTI community. However – and this is our closing thought – a future for FIRE!! needs audiences that believe in our festival, and funding that should be generated both by the work of Casal Lambda and through clear, firm political will on the part of the public administrations.
Emilio Ruiz, President of Casal Lambda
VENUES
AND PRICES
AND PRICES
Happy birthday, FIRE!! Many happy returns to FIRE!! in this, its twentieth summer! With the most sincere congratulations of the French Institute to the Casal Lambda team, which has successfully organised this international film festival..." (Read+ )
Yannick Rascouët, French Institute´s Director
Sala Hiroshima
Vila i Vilà, 67
Aurora, 24
Aurora, 24
Web> hiroshima.cat
Cinema Zumzeig
Béjar, 53
93 250 9140
93 250 9140
Web> zumzeig-cine.eu
Happy birthday, FIRE!!
Many happy returns to FIRE!! in this, its twentieth summer! With the most sincere congratulations of the French Institute to the Casal Lambda team, which has successfully organised this international film festival for two long decades, making this annual show an educational and cultural event of the first order at the service of the LGBTI cause.
Freedom! Respect! Tolerance! Unfortunately, lesbians, gays and transgender and intersex people continue to be victims of harassment, torture, arbitrary detention and even murder, in complete Impunity in too many countries. The struggle for the decriminalisation of homosexuality is a priority. Even today, there are laws against homosexuality in around 76 States, and in 5 of these it is even punishable by death. This situation is not acceptable.
Everyone should enjoy the same protection under these rights, without discrimination, with respect for human rights recognised by international instruments. France supports the goal of universal decriminalisation of homosexuality and works actively on this issue with its partners and NGOs to define an approach that will ensure any United Nations initiative in this respect a good chance of coming to fruition. This requires building ever-increasing alliances and promoting awareness-raising on the ground.
Awareness-raising: that is what Casal Lambda does, consistently and persistently. That is why the French Institute supports the foundation, hosting FIRE!! once more. Although it is true that intolerance has not disappeared, that the conquest of rights is a long journey and that too many dramas still take place before our very eyes – and that it is difficult in such circumstances to celebrate an anniversary - 20 years of FIRE!! is, nevertheless, an opportunity to celebrate the impressive engagement of Casal Lambda, the festival organising team, the volunteers and the audiences that always turn out faithfully to back this event.
As we celebrate this twentieth edition, we hope that FIRE!! will continue to screen the engaged, quality films that we have become use to, providing food for thought and enormous pleasure, for many years to come.
Long live FIRE!!
Yannick Rascouët,
Director of the FRENCH INSTITUTE
Many happy returns to FIRE!! in this, its twentieth summer! With the most sincere congratulations of the French Institute to the Casal Lambda team, which has successfully organised this international film festival for two long decades, making this annual show an educational and cultural event of the first order at the service of the LGBTI cause.
Freedom! Respect! Tolerance! Unfortunately, lesbians, gays and transgender and intersex people continue to be victims of harassment, torture, arbitrary detention and even murder, in complete Impunity in too many countries. The struggle for the decriminalisation of homosexuality is a priority. Even today, there are laws against homosexuality in around 76 States, and in 5 of these it is even punishable by death. This situation is not acceptable.
Everyone should enjoy the same protection under these rights, without discrimination, with respect for human rights recognised by international instruments. France supports the goal of universal decriminalisation of homosexuality and works actively on this issue with its partners and NGOs to define an approach that will ensure any United Nations initiative in this respect a good chance of coming to fruition. This requires building ever-increasing alliances and promoting awareness-raising on the ground.
Awareness-raising: that is what Casal Lambda does, consistently and persistently. That is why the French Institute supports the foundation, hosting FIRE!! once more. Although it is true that intolerance has not disappeared, that the conquest of rights is a long journey and that too many dramas still take place before our very eyes – and that it is difficult in such circumstances to celebrate an anniversary - 20 years of FIRE!! is, nevertheless, an opportunity to celebrate the impressive engagement of Casal Lambda, the festival organising team, the volunteers and the audiences that always turn out faithfully to back this event.
As we celebrate this twentieth edition, we hope that FIRE!! will continue to screen the engaged, quality films that we have become use to, providing food for thought and enormous pleasure, for many years to come.
Long live FIRE!!
Yannick Rascouët,
Director of the FRENCH INSTITUTE
equip fire!!
Nothing to celebrate!! From the very first, the philosophy behind FIRE!! has been guided by the goal of going beyond the LGBT sphere to transmit the festival's message to society as a whole in the understanding that homosexuality represents neither a privilege nor an obstacle to being like everyone else and living as one pleases... (Read + )
Joako Ezpeleta, Director of Mostra FIRE!!
Joako Espeleta
director
Co-founder of the International Festival of Benicàssim, journalist and cultural manager, director of the radio and television show " Viaje a los Sueños Polares " for many years and editor of "Spiral" Magazine. Currently, he coordinates and produces exhibitions and cultural projects.
Gregorio Soria
Graphic Design
Graphic and Audiovisual Designer, he has worked mainly in the cultural sector and specifically for the record industry. He has created dozens of album covers. Among his Spanish clients we can highlight La Casa Azul, Elefant Records, Naïve, Rock de Lux, CD Drome, 40 Principales, Stop Sida and many more. He has also worked for companies from Japan, Norway, Korea, Germany, and the U.K. He has also his own record company named Annika.
Vero Dos
Web design and programming
Juanma Carrillo
Audiovisual & Community manager
A filmmaker and a photographer, he graduated in audio-visual production in Madrid and Paris. He worked in the French musical media and he has published together with different artists such as Nan Goldin, Sophie Calle or Wolfang Tillmans. His work moves between the avant-garde cinema and video art, a discipline in which he has been rewarded internationally, with works like To play at crying, Dishonoured Bodies or, recently, 1941, that has been screened in places like Iran, India, Romania, Japan, The Philippines or China. Works like This leak or Cannibals have been presented in museums like the MNCARS, the AMA Museum of Washington or the Barbican Centre of London.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
> Rocío Bermúdez, Roberto Enríquez, Fernando Ezpeleta, Nori Furlan, Ernest González Bellavista, Carlos Mayor, José María Melguizo, Víctor Sastre, Antti Savinen, Alan Moore, Marc Andreu, Esteban Bernatas.
> The volunteers' team of Casal Lambda
> AMPGIL.
> The volunteers' team of Casal Lambda
> AMPGIL.
Antoine Leonetti
coordinator
Cultural Manager, PhD in Law, production manager of the Barcelona Human Rights Film Festival, he collaborates at the Valsáin Foundation for the promotion of democratic values. He is the author of studies on the cultural education and also writes for the Swiss art magazine "Art Passions".
Jessie Park i Rafael Sánchez
Communication
Public Relations, designer and an artist in many disciplines. She is the creator of the complements label "Jin Sun Park", cofounder of Circuit, an event that mixes fashion, art and music in Barcelona. Since 5 years ago, she is the Director of PARKDIVISION, Press and P.R. agency specialized in fashion, health, beauty, art, culture, and lifestyle.
Willy Melguizo
digital comunication
Project manager in the cultural and social field. Director of sponsorships in festivals and cultural and social projects.
Jorge Vañó
short films coordinator
Degree in audio-visual communication. Master degree in filmmaking at ESCAC. Specialised in direction and writing, he is currently working as a programmer of VOD (video on demand) contents.
Jonás Torres
communication and production assistant
Producer, with a degree in audio-visual communication, he is the founder of communications agency Play On Barcelona embodying different projects in communication, events organisation, and community management.
Nothing to celebrate!!
From the very first, the philosophy behind FIRE!! has been guided by the goal of going beyond the LGBT sphere to transmit the festival's message to society as a whole in the understanding that homosexuality represents neither a privilege nor an obstacle to being like everyone else and living as one pleases. We have never wanted to rest on our laurels or bathe only in the warmth of our own community.
That is why we identify with the defence of the rights of any person who is discriminated against because of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political ideas or any other opinions, national or social background, economic position, birth or any other grounds. Freedom over all dogma, respect, justice and equal rights for all based, not on a local or nationalist standpoint, but on a universal vision. We are not only activists for the rights of LGBT people, but also for the universal rights of all human beings. And film is our vehicle of expression.
Here, and anywhere else in the world, "think global, act local". Think globally, because the rights of the LGBT community are not confined to a single territory, and we will never cease to insist that, whilst there are countries where homosexuality is punishable by death, imprisonment or discrimination, our struggle will still be necessary, and we will continue to carry our flame: to protest, to remember, never to give in. And act locally, because this is our most powerful weapon; that of setting an example in our own personal, professional, social and familial environment, each in his or her own position, using the weapons at hand, never turning a blind eye or looking the other way.
Unfortunately, the world situation is becoming radicalised, and the freedom and equality of many citizens continue to be threatened by huge financial structures, international terrorism, organised crime, corruption, religious extremism... That is why there is nothing to celebrate; because 20 years have not been enough and we must continue to fight; and because we know that we at a turning point in the cycle of things, a transformation of the global consciousness from a new public and personal ethics which emerge. And we want to contribute to this change.
FIRE!! supports the globalisation of human rights.
Joako Ezpeleta,
Director of Mostra FIRE!!
From the very first, the philosophy behind FIRE!! has been guided by the goal of going beyond the LGBT sphere to transmit the festival's message to society as a whole in the understanding that homosexuality represents neither a privilege nor an obstacle to being like everyone else and living as one pleases. We have never wanted to rest on our laurels or bathe only in the warmth of our own community.
That is why we identify with the defence of the rights of any person who is discriminated against because of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political ideas or any other opinions, national or social background, economic position, birth or any other grounds. Freedom over all dogma, respect, justice and equal rights for all based, not on a local or nationalist standpoint, but on a universal vision. We are not only activists for the rights of LGBT people, but also for the universal rights of all human beings. And film is our vehicle of expression.
Here, and anywhere else in the world, "think global, act local". Think globally, because the rights of the LGBT community are not confined to a single territory, and we will never cease to insist that, whilst there are countries where homosexuality is punishable by death, imprisonment or discrimination, our struggle will still be necessary, and we will continue to carry our flame: to protest, to remember, never to give in. And act locally, because this is our most powerful weapon; that of setting an example in our own personal, professional, social and familial environment, each in his or her own position, using the weapons at hand, never turning a blind eye or looking the other way.
Unfortunately, the world situation is becoming radicalised, and the freedom and equality of many citizens continue to be threatened by huge financial structures, international terrorism, organised crime, corruption, religious extremism... That is why there is nothing to celebrate; because 20 years have not been enough and we must continue to fight; and because we know that we at a turning point in the cycle of things, a transformation of the global consciousness from a new public and personal ethics which emerge. And we want to contribute to this change.
FIRE!! supports the globalisation of human rights.
Joako Ezpeleta,
Director of Mostra FIRE!!
> ...
> To all we could have forgotten
> To all the public that supports us all year long..
sponsors
organized by
with the support of
Congratulations to FIRE!! for 20 years of championing a fairer and freer world through LGBT cinema. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General are proud to sponsor FIRE!! on its 20th anniversary and support the presence of American films in a festival that embodies the diversity, inclusion and equality...
(Read + )
(Read + )
James Costos, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and Andorra
On the 20th anniversary of FIRE!! International Festival of Gay and Lesbian Film of Barcelona
Congratulations to FIRE!! for 20 years of championing a fairer and freer world through LGBT cinema. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General are proud to sponsor FIRE!! on its 20th anniversary and support the presence of American films in a festival that embodies the diversity, inclusion and equality that the United States strives for both at home and abroad.
The fundamental principle guiding the U.S. government's efforts in this area is that the human rights of LGBT persons are no different from the human rights of everyone else. All people deserve to be treated with dignity. This principle finds expression in recent initiatives ranging from increased benefits for LGBT U.S. government employees, to new programs to protect refugees and asylum seekers, to the launch of the Global Equity Fund, a coalition of 13 like-minded governments, corporations, and foundations that has funded groups in over 50 countries that work to protect LGBT rights. While these developments may appear unprecedented, they are actually just a continuation of the long American tradition of fighting for freedom for all.
Admittedly, much remains to be done. About 80 countries worldwide still criminalize homosexuality, and five countries define it as a crime punishable by death. In many other places, LGBT persons suffer arbitrary arrest, harassment, discrimination, and violence. Through the tolerance and pluralism it projects, the FIRE!! Festival combats these challenges, exemplifying the moral progress we can achieve when we work together for open-mindedness in our artistic, cultural, and political communities. May you take pride in your achievements to date and let this year's films inspire your efforts for years to come.
James Costos,
U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and Andorra
Congratulations to FIRE!! for 20 years of championing a fairer and freer world through LGBT cinema. The U.S. Embassy and Consulate General are proud to sponsor FIRE!! on its 20th anniversary and support the presence of American films in a festival that embodies the diversity, inclusion and equality that the United States strives for both at home and abroad.
The fundamental principle guiding the U.S. government's efforts in this area is that the human rights of LGBT persons are no different from the human rights of everyone else. All people deserve to be treated with dignity. This principle finds expression in recent initiatives ranging from increased benefits for LGBT U.S. government employees, to new programs to protect refugees and asylum seekers, to the launch of the Global Equity Fund, a coalition of 13 like-minded governments, corporations, and foundations that has funded groups in over 50 countries that work to protect LGBT rights. While these developments may appear unprecedented, they are actually just a continuation of the long American tradition of fighting for freedom for all.
Admittedly, much remains to be done. About 80 countries worldwide still criminalize homosexuality, and five countries define it as a crime punishable by death. In many other places, LGBT persons suffer arbitrary arrest, harassment, discrimination, and violence. Through the tolerance and pluralism it projects, the FIRE!! Festival combats these challenges, exemplifying the moral progress we can achieve when we work together for open-mindedness in our artistic, cultural, and political communities. May you take pride in your achievements to date and let this year's films inspire your efforts for years to come.
James Costos,
U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and Andorra
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