The Circuit

by Emilio Mayorga
Spain’s third biggest city, backing off from a sparkling Mediterranean down on its eastern seaboard, Valencia’s a paradox, a place of vast ambitions and - being Mediterranean - a relaxed life-style. 

The Moors lived there for centuries. It still tells: in the huge orange groves, the city’s round turret towers, the bustle, Valencia’s noise, its poky old parts, its paella.

Valencian’s parties, sometimes surreally. In March, for its Fallas, Valencia’s fiesta, its townfolk drag out huge cardboard and wood sculptures of well-known figures - politicians, film stars - which they’ve spent months building, then burn them to cinders, tossing fireworks into the blaze.

But Valencia’s has galloped into the present. In events, or buildings, its ambitions run high. Sometimes literally. The Chicago Spire, projected to become the highest scyscraper in the U.S., is designed by Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava.

Valencia’s City of Arts and Sciences is astonishing: You don’t have to look further than its sci-fi chic architecture.

The city hosted the last America’s Cup.

The regional government of Valencia is ploughing Euros270 million ($425 million) into its Ciudad de la Luz studios, where Francis Ford Coppola’s shooting “Tetro.” 

Now, the nearby town of Alzira is building Spain’s first Museum of Audiovisual Arts.

And, being Valencia, it doesn’t have one film festival  it has two: the Cinema Jove and the Mostra de Valencia.

Late June’s Jove (which means “young” in Valencian), which wrapped last Saturday, showcases new generation trends and talents. Until recently, directors had to be under-35 just to get into its competition.  It screens a few world preems, often from local helmer’s such as, this year, Pau Hernandez’s “El Kaseron” (pictured).

Fest winners tend still to be firs t- or second-timers - like Estonia’s Veiko Ounpuu, who snagged Cinema Jove’s Golden Moon for “Autumn Ball.”

Or they’re at least young-ish, such as  Macedonia’s Teona Strugar, who received a special jury mention for "I Am From Titov Veles.”

Cinema Jove’s Film Future Prize, a traditional fest plaudit, went to Spanish actress Barbara Goenaga (pictured).

Jove winners, like Valencia itself, deserve more attention.