The 46th Huesca International Film Festival brought together more than 8,500 spectators, this figure sets a new record in the recent history of the festival and consolidates the upward trend of the last five decades. A new sample of the great acceptance and importance the festival has got in the city; regarding 2017 the figure shows an increase of about 700 viewers. Raised under a consolidated programme, some of the novelties introduced in this edition have really been great achievements thanks to its high attendance, as the screenings in Plaza General Alsina that brought together more than 900 people in its two showings.
The short film showings are ‘the jewels of the crown’ of the festival, as they are defined by the director Rubén Moreno, and that is why the viewers rise therein is specially thrilling, reaching a record in a sole showing when 220 people were accounted for watching competing works at the Olimpia Theatre. Likewise, it is worth stressing that the two galas held on the occasion of the City of Huesca Award to Aura Garrido (June, 8) and the Luis Buñuel Award for José Sacristán together with the Pepe Escriche Award for the Film Academy (June, 13) were full; both gathered more than one thousand people that enjoyed the screening of films like Solo and Formentera Lady, which arrived to Huesca prior to their commercial release.
One more year, the organization is concerned with reaching all kinds of audiences and that is why, in addition to classic activities like ‘Elderly to the Festival’ or ‘Children to the Festival’, (assembling over 700 children at the Olimpia Theatre), collaboration is carried out with CADIS, the Aragonese Institute of Women or the LGTB+ collective, among others. On the other hand, there is also a concern for the promotion and economic development of the city and hence concrete actions are implemented with the Huesca Traders’ Association or the Hotel and Catering Association or initiatives directly focused on tourism and the attraction of filming.
As for the media, the festival consolidates as a news spotlight at a national as well as at an international level, with Iberoamerica still occupying an outstanding position. The success of the Romanian short Miss Sueño and the Mexican La huella, at the International and Iberoamerican contests respectively, has brought a significant impact in the media of these countries, in such important headlines as the Forbes Magazine, Reforma newspaper or the news agency Notimex; likewise, the information generated by the festival has reached other countries such as Chile, Cuba, Iran, Peru, Portugal, Italy or Venezuela. A total of 752 impacts, so far, with a prominent presence in radio, television and written press in some of the most striking media at a national level.
Social networks continue as one of the cornerstones of the festival communication. With a potential of social influence that reaches more than 5,600 followers among all @festivalhuesca accounts, this year’s increase rises up to 30%. As for the site, it received more than 50,000 visitors between Mars and June, reaching 1,000 daily visits in the month of June.
With an overall budget of around €200,000, every edition the festival achieves an economic valuation that would be equivalent to several millions of euros, always prioritizing suppliers coming from Upper Aragon, which represent around 95% of the total.