A free film festival where you can not only watch movies: Arancine, the Aranjuez Film Festival, celebrates its second edition this 2025 -after its successful debut last year- from October 30 to November 8 with a program that goes beyond screenings.
This is not a typical film festival and that is why the screening of feature and short films -although it is a fundamental part of the program and in some cases there are even talks with their directors- is not, by any means, the only activity that can be attended .
With the aim of promoting film culture in Aranjuez among all audiences, there are also workshops, contests, performances and even guided film tours to discover the corners of the city that have been the scenes of films.
Full program of Arancine 2025
Thursday, October 30th
- 18:30H: Opening Gala (Carlos III Theater). Presentation of the FALUA Awards and musical performances (Tornado Alley Jazz, Pop Choir and Swing Kids…). Screening of the short film Y los sueños te atrapan, by Miguel Mora.
Friday, October 31 – Halloween Special
- 11:00H: FX Workshop (Pavia URJC Building). Behind the monsters of cinema: the craft of the characterizer taught by Aran Gaspar (Mother of Monsters).
- 17:30H: Special Horror Film Session (Isabel de Farnesio Shopping Center). Screening of the short film Caraoscura (Raúl Cerezo and Germán Sancho) and Listen (Javi Prada). Screening of the film No profanarás el sueño de los muertos ( Jordi Grau). Discussion with the filmmakers Carlos Grau and Germán Sancho.
- 17:30H: Costume contest.
Saturday, November 1st – Family Special
- 11:00H: That magical time machine (park next to Isabel de Farnesio Shopping Center). Halloween face painting by Legends of Magic, performance by Juanta the Magician. Figuring set in the years 1900-1920 by Asociación Cultural Aranjuez 2050.
- 17:30H: Afternoon of cinema and culture in family (C.C. Isabel de Farnesio). Classic soundtracks with Joaquín Rodrigo Children’s Choir, choreography by Natalia Aguirre’s Dance School and recreation of Coco with Palmira School.
- 18:30H: Children’s screenings (Isabel de Farnesio Shopping Center). Screening of Superescolares 2 (Íñigo Echávarri) and Buffalo Kids. Award ceremony for best children’s costumes.
Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November
- 11:00H: Film Routes. Guided tours through the emblematic corners of Aranjuez that have been the scene of films and series. Reservations are required at info@festivaldecinearanjuez.es.
Monday, November 3rd
- 17:30H: Official short film contest.
Tuesday, November 4th
- 11H: Costume design in cinema (Pavia URJC Building). Talk by costume designer Rosi López.
- 17:30H: Arancine 90’s (Isabel de Farnesio Shopping Center). Screening of the documentary Paco Gordillo and his legacy and the short films Que Marylin me perdone and El mito y su muerte, by Raúl Álvarez.
- 19H: From the big screen and Aranjuez (Isabel de Farnesio Shopping Center). Talk on the history of cinema in Aranjuez, by Manuel Martínez Gómez in collaboration with Aula Abierta de la Universidad de la Universidad Popular de Aranjuez.
Wednesday, November 5
- 11H: Artificial intelligence in the creation of films (Pavia URJC Building). By Íñigo Echávarri.
- 17:30H: Special Film Stories (C.C. Isabel de Farnesio). 100% Storytelling show, inspired by cinema.
- 18:30H: Very loud laughter (Isabel de Farnesio Shopping Center). Silent film session with live music by pianist Irene Albar.
Thursday, November 6th
- From 11 am to 5:30 pm (Hospital San Carlos URJC Building). Official Short Film Competition.
Friday, November 7th
- 11H: The 12 principles of animation (Pavia URJC Building). Talk by Carlos González.
- 18H: Screening of Sorda (Hospital San Carlos URJC Building). With a talk by its director, Eva Libertad.
Saturday, November 8th
- 11H: Magic for the whole family (Town Hall Square). By Legends of Magic.
- 17:30H: Closing Gala and awards ceremony (C.C. Isabel de Farnesio). Performances by Orquesta Intermezzo, Natalia Aguirre, Alberto R. Valhermoso, Teatrez and DOOMBØ.
Except where otherwise specified, the activities are free access until full capacity is reached.
A festival that pays homage to another
The germ of this film festival is in another, now defunct: the Muestra de Cine Ciudad de Aranjuez, “an event that was fundamental and a success with critics and audiences in the 90s and 2000,” explained from the organization.
That event marked generations of young people passionate about cinema, offering them the opportunity to take their first steps in the seventh art. Now, with this new festival, those same young people want to give back to Aranjuez a valuable space from which to vindicate and project out local talent.