The “BCN Sports Film – Barcelona International FICTS Festival 2025” part of the International Circuit “World FICTS Challenge”has officially started its 15th edition with a “Opening Ceremony” at the Museu Olímpic i de l’Esport Joan Antoni Samaranch.
Prof. Franco Ascani, President of the Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs attended at the Opening Ceremony.
Hosted by journalist Mireia Vicente, the event brought together authorities, audiovisual and sports industry professionals, and sports film enthusiasts, marking the beginning of a week full of inspiring stories.
A celebration and tribute event
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished institutional and cultural figures. David Escudé, Barcelona’s Sports Councillor and President of the Barcelona Olympic Foundation, officially opened the festival with a speech highlighting the role of sports as a driver of social and cultural change. During his speech, he paid tribute to Josep Roca, a key figure in the history of sports and event management in the city.
Escudé has also expressed gratitude for the presence of Juli Pernas, trustee of the Barcelona Olympic Foundation and member of the executive committee of the Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs; César Thovar, territorial representative for Sports in Barcelona on behalf of the Government of Catalonia; Carme Puig, head of audiovisual festivals at the Catalan Institute of Cultural Enterprises and Enric Truñó, trustee of the Barcelona Olympic Foundation.
Tribute to Cinema and Sports
The festival’s artistic director, Agustí Argelich, emphasized the diversity and quality of the selected productions for this edition. With 81 productions from 34 countries, the festival reaffirms its commitment to sports cinema and its power to convey values such as perseverance, teamwork, and resilience.
One of the major new features of this edition is the addition of the Teatre Mercè Rodoreda in Sant Joan Despí as a new venue, joining the already established Cinemes Girona, INEFC Barcelona, Centre Cívic Cotxeres de Sants, Centre Cívic Bon Pastor, Institut Français de Barcelona, Ateneu de Sant Just, and EUSES – Campus de Salt in Girona.
FICTS President Prof. Franco Ascani awarded with “Diamond d’Honneur” the Art Director of the Festival Agustí Argelich
SpotSport 2025: first award of the night
During the ceremony, the winner of the SpotSport 2025 contest, which awards the festival’s official promotional spot, was announced. This year, the award went to Ignasi López Fàbregas for his piece “Cinema i Acció”, which captivated the jury with its creativity and ability to convey the magic of sports cinema.
The award was presented by Àlex Bescós, head of marketing at the newspaper SPORT, who handed over the prize to the winning creator. The finalists were also recognized and invited on stage for a group photo with the attending authorities.