Venezuelan Film Festival Returns in November After Prior Cancellation

According to the source consulted, according to a consulted report, Karina Gómez Franco, president of the Venezuelan Film Festival, confirmed the return of the event from November 22 to 26 at the Cinex theaters in the Parque Costazul shopping center in Margarita. The festival will take place as a double edition covering the years 2025 and 2026.

The program will include nearly 80 feature films of fiction and documentary, along with short films and productions from the University Audiovisual category. Around 40 films pending from the previous edition will be screened, while approximately 38 will correspond to this year. The festival is practically free, with a $12 individual pass and $10 for groups of 10 students.

The return follows the cancellation of the event in 2025, caused by a complaint filed by the law firm Raymond Aguiar, representing Christian W. Canache Aguiar, lawyer and executive producer of the film Hotel Houffer, against Gómez Franco and Fundearc before the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Comptroller General of the Republic, the National Autonomous Center of Cinematography and the Ministry of Culture for alleged administrative and financial irregularities, fraud, scam and incitement to hatred, in addition to possible violations of laws protecting cultural and artistic heritage. The direct censorship of the documentary Una pauta peligrosa: descubriendo la corrupción en la Venezuela de Maduro, by Juan Andrés Ravell, about Álex Saab, was later added.

Gómez Franco declared that nothing has been proven regarding illicit enrichment or incitement to hatred, and that the festival is as broad as possible. She said one must take a deep breath, count to 10 and move forward, because national cinema functions on its own and Fundearc will continue with the official competition.

The festival will pay tribute to the late businessman Alexis Montilla, of La Venezuela de Antier, and the production company Cinesa.