The Secretary of Culture, Language, and Youth, José López Campos, highlighted today the potential of rural Galicia in the cultural dissemination and dynamism, as demonstrated by the Cans Festival, which he referred to as "a unique event characterized by the diversity and quality of its audiovisual and musical offerings that brings together industry professionals, residents, and enthusiasts from all over Galicia."He made these statements at the presentation of the 23rd edition of the festival, which will take place from May 19 to 23 in the village of Porriño. The event was also attended by the Xunta's territorial delegate in Vigo, Ana Ortiz, and the director of the Galician Agency for Cultural Industries, Jacobo Sutil, as well as other institutional authorities and representatives of sponsoring companies. The event, at which Alfonso Pato and Marta Pardo—from the festival's management—detailed the lineup, took place at the Torreiro de Cans, one of the epicenters of the festival, which will spread much of its programming throughout the barns, garages, and cellars of the parish, in addition to featuring the traditional parades of chimpíns as official vehicles, which have now become one of its hallmarks.López Campos took the opportunity to congratulate the organization of the Cans Film Festival, run by the Arela Cultural Association, highlighting its commitment to Galician cinema "by serving as a showcase and meeting point between the best professionals in the industry and the general public, which grows every year."Global investment of more than 8M€The head of Culture for the Galician Government testified to the regional support for Cans, channeled through grants for professional audiovisual festivals, a line of funding through which the Porriño event receives more than 38,000 euros of the total 310,000 euros distributed among 11 events in the sector. He also recalled that this specific call is part of the more than €8 million that the Xunta will invest during 2026 to contribute to the financing of production, filming, and distribution processes.López Campos also highlighted the strength of the Galician audiovisual sector, "with productions that compete on equal footing with major international projects," and reviewed the latest awards and recognitions received in this field in recent months. "These achievements give us the strength to pursue greater internationalization of the sector and to consolidate Galicia as a major filming location where to develop impactful projects and even enhance what identifies us: our language, culture, and traditions," he stated. Galician Talent with International ReachThe Cans Film Festival will hold its 23rd edition from May 19 to 23 after receiving 235 entries, the second-best figure in its history, and regaining its status as a competition qualifying for the Goya Awards. The official competition will feature 13 short films in the Fiction and Animation sections, with up to 10 premieres and seven debut filmmakers, along with eleven entries in the Furacáns category, dedicated to non-fiction. The selected works address themes such as the environment, mental health, gender-based violence, memory, depopulation, identity, and the LGTBI+ universe, with styles ranging from social drama to animation, horror, black comedy, and hybrid narratives. *As liñas descontinuas*, by Anxos Fazáns, at the opening, and *360 curvas*, by Alejandro Gándara and Adriana Silva, in the documentary section, are some of the most notable Galician screenings.Other notable titles include the Galician premiere of Cara de cona, by Guillermo de Oliveira; the Spanish premiere of El jardín de Yuriana, co-directed by Rúa filmmaker Luis Solarat and Natalia Mejía and shot in the Peruvian Amazon; El lago silente, by Varo López, winner of the Silver Biznaga for the Audience Award at the Málaga Festival; or animated works such as Cátodo corazón, by Manu Sacoga, O mesmo, by Virginia Curiá, and O corpo de Cristo, by Bea Lema, an adaptation of the work with which the Galician illustrator won the National Comic Award. This year's edition will honor actor Celso Bugallo, and will recognize the careers of Jaione Camborda, recipient of the Honorary Pedigree Award, and Janet Novás, Paco do Burato, and Víctor Coyote, who will receive a Silver Chimpín. The international focus will be dedicated to the Portuguese Paulo Carneiro. The musical programming, also a major part of the Cans lineup, will include concerts by Nat Simons and Aurora Beltrán, Delafé DJ, Alana, and De Ninghures.
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