**Tijuana Filmmaker Wins at Málaga Festival**
Alejandro Montalvo, a filmmaker based in Tijuana, has found a unique way to tell stories rooted in his local territory while engaging with global audiences through cinema. His latest work, “Surgencia,” released in 2024, earned him recognition at the prestigious 28th Festival de Málaga in Spain, notably winning the Silver Biznaga Audience Award for Best Feature Film. This award highlights the intersection of Baja California’s cultural richness and international cinema, emphasizing Montalvo’s impactful storytelling through the fusion of tradition and contemporary themes.
Presented at the Teatro Echegaray on March 18, “Surgencia” stood out in the eighth edition of the Cinema Cocina section, beating out nineteen other Spanish and international documentaries that focused on gastronomy. Besides the accolade, the film was awarded a monetary prize of two thousand euros.
Upon receiving the award, Montalvo expressed his delight, stating, “It’s an honor that our film continues its journey in such significant festivals, and this award acknowledges Baja California’s cinema. ‘Surgencia’ reaffirms its impact in the international scene, showcasing the cultural and natural wealth of Baja California through documentary filmmaking. The immersive visual language and narrative, which intertwines tradition with the present, invites audiences to reconnect with nature and the territory through gastronomy.”
“Surgencia” is an immersive road trip from the vineyards of the Guadalupe Valley to the oasis of San Ignacio in Baja California Sur, starring enologist Hugo D’Acosta and chef Benito Molina. The film explores the ties between the environment, gastronomy, and regional identity. When discussing his work, Montalvo commented, “I don’t feel comfortable with the responsibility of representing the region, but these platforms reaffirm that there’s a distinctive Baja Californian cinema with its own identity, featuring narratives that cross borders and engage with universal themes.”
### **Secondary Article: “Cinema Cocina” Section Thrives at Málaga Festival**
The Cinema Cocina section at the Festival de Málaga, dedicated to documentaries exploring the world of gastronomy, continues to gain attention and prestige. This year, the section showcased twenty films from various countries, highlighting diverse culinary traditions and stories, reflecting the integration of food with cultural and regional narratives.
Films within this section captivated audiences with their unique storytelling, using the art of cinema to transcend cultural barriers and offer insights into the intricate connection between food, environment, and identity. This year’s winning entries, including Alejandro Montalvo’s “Surgencia,” have demonstrated that the appreciation for culinary arts and its representation on screen is a resonant and evolving field within international cinema.