L'Eliana commemorated the 6th of August the 50th anniversary of its summer cinema with a gala that brought together several generations and recognised its promoters. The celebration culminated with the screening of 'Cow Girl'.
The summer cinema of L'Eliana, one of the oldest in the Valencian Community, celebrated its 50th anniversary last Thursday, 6th of August, with a gala that gathered residents of all ages. The event served to review the history of this cultural space and pay tribute to those who have kept it alive for five decades.
The venue, which began construction in the 1970s alongside other municipal facilities such as the park, restaurant, and swimming pool, has been much more than a screening room. It has hosted concerts, proclamations, festive celebrations, and other public events that have made it an essential meeting point in the municipality.
However, the passion for outdoor cinema in L'Eliana predates the construction of the current space. As early as the 1960s, there were several summer terraces, such as Bernabé's cinema, Carlapio's in the town square, the Frontón of Bar Marco, or Montesol. Those venues were the seed of what is now a cultural reference.
The summer cinema of L'Eliana maintains an average of 14,000 spectators in recent seasons, and in some years it has exceeded 20,000. These figures demonstrate its relevance despite changes in audiovisual consumption habits and the rise of digital platforms.
During the gala, the L'Eliana Town Hall recognised the careers of mayors, cultural councillors, and those who have worked directly in the cinema's operation. Among the honourees were the relatives of Bernabé, the first projectionist and promoter of the cinema; Manolo Bayona and Janto Gil, as well as Pedro Uris, who was responsible for municipal cultural programming for over two decades.
The event also featured the participation of industry professionals and representatives of audiovisual initiatives linked to the municipality. The highlight came with the speech from director and L'Eliana resident Miguel Llorens, co-director alongside Cristina Fernández Pintado of the film 'Cow Girl'.
The film has a close relationship with the locality, as the production company The Fly Hunter has its studio in L'Eliana and the facilities of the Adult Education School were used for some rehearsals. After the gala and an al fresco dinner, attendees enjoyed the screening of the feature film.
The evening was enlivened by music from Pau Garcia, a local resident and member of the Unión Musical de L'Eliana, and a commemorative video of the anniversary was screened.
The mayor, Salva Torrent, highlighted that "the summer cinema is tradition, it is culture, it is building community. Generations of elianeros and elianeras have passed through this terrace. It is one of our jewels, the pride of our town.
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