V Memorables Film Festival 2023

'Melody's Whisper,' a Short Film About the Strength of Love When Memory Fades, Wins Big at the 5th Memorables Film Festival

• The production won the Best Short Film and Best Screenplay awards at Spain's most important Alzheimer-focused film festival, promoted by the CIEN Foundation and the Queen Sofía Foundation.
• The Best Leading Actor award went to Klaus, the protagonist of 'I Have Something to Tell You,' while the Best Leading Actress award was given to Monti Casquel for 'And You More.'
• The Best Supporting Performance award was won by David Montero for 'The Youngest.'

Madrid, November 24. The short film 'Melody's Whisper,' directed and written by Canary Island native Fabio Barber, triumphed at the 5th edition of the Memorables Film Festival, winning two of the ten "Neuronita" awards at the ceremony held at the Queen Sofía Foundation Alzheimer Center Auditorium. The gala was hosted by presenter Irma Soriano and Antonio Asencio, the festival director.

The production, which revolves around the unconditional love of a family facing the reality of a loved one suffering from Alzheimer's, is an ode to caregivers and the affectionate stories that endure despite adversity. In addition to the Best Short Film award, 'Melody's Whisper' also won the Best Screenplay award.

The Best Actor award went to Klaus, who starred in 'I Have Something to Tell You' as Juan, a father who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and faces the difficult task of breaking the news to his son. David Montero was recognized as Best Supporting Actor for his role as the youngest son in 'The Youngest,' delivering an emotional performance about the heartbreak of being forgotten by a father who no longer remembers having three children instead of two. The Best Leading Actress award went to Monti Casquel for her outstanding portrayal of a mother in 'And You More.'

The Silver Neuronita for the second-best short film, as selected by the jury, was awarded to 'Inanis,' directed by Miriam Moros Cristóbal, who expressed her joy at receiving the award and her satisfaction in contributing to Alzheimer's awareness. Lastly, the jury for this 5th edition decided to grant the Bronze Neuronita to 'The Youngest,' directed by Álvaro Gijón. The film, which centers on the theme of forgetfulness, and its actors' performances left a lasting impression on the audience, who filled the Queen Sofía Foundation Alzheimer Center Auditorium.

A total of 21 productions made this 5th edition of the Memorables Film Festival a record-breaking event in terms of participation. Notably, the awards for the best short films included monetary prizes of €2,000 for first place, €1,500 for second place, and €750 for third place.

"The participation, the largest in the history of the Memorables Festival, the quality of the films, the creativity of the directors, and the outstanding performances fill us with satisfaction. These works allow us to appreciate the drama caused by Alzheimer's disease—a drama that is not always visible and affects families and society at large. We want to help raise awareness about what this condition truly means: a human suffering that affects real people," emphasized Mª Ángeles Pérez, manager of the CIEN Foundation, during her speech at the gala. She also extended special thanks for the support of the Queen Sofía Foundation and the personal involvement of H.M. Queen Sofía in the scientific and awareness-raising efforts led by the CIEN Foundation.

The short films also explored themes such as the tensions among children over caring for a parent, the unconditional love of caregivers, and how a simple gesture—a touch—can bring back a person's memory and identity, even if only for a moment.

The Importance of Artistic Dissemination

During the gala, a panel discussion titled "Time, Memory, and Storytelling in Audiovisual Art" took place, featuring journalist, screenwriter, and communicator Antonio Asencio and transmedia producer Pablo Lara, known for his work on the acclaimed series "The Ministry of Time." Lara shared his professional and artistic insights on how memory and the past are constructed in cinema, while also praising the artistic quality of the showcased films.

In another discussion, "Images, Sounds, and Memory in Alzheimer's Disease," moderated by Antonio Asencio, participants included Pascual Sánchez Juan, Scientific Director of the CIEN Foundation, and Alberto Rábano, neuropathologist and head of the CIEN Foundation's brain tissue bank. They discussed the neurophysiological foundations of emotional memory triggered by images.

The festival organizers and the CIEN Foundation took the opportunity to express their gratitude to the jury members, composed of esteemed figures from the scientific and artistic communities: María Ángeles García De Cortázar, director of the Queen Sofía Foundation Alzheimer Center; Mª Dolores Almagro, President of CEAFA; Alberto Rábano, Director of the CIEN Foundation Brain Tissue Bank; past festival winners Cindy Fuentes Marín (2019), Liteo Pedregal (2020), and Carmen García (2021); Jose Vega, director at Three of a Kind Films; and presenter Irma Soriano.

More information: Román Espino, comunicacion@fundacioncien.es | 65 76 96 220

The CIEN Foundation (Research Center for Neurological Diseases) and the Queen Sofía Foundation present the 5th edition of the Memorables Film Festival, a cinematic festival aimed at promoting the creation and dissemination of short films about Alzheimer's disease.

The festival’s goal is to showcase how Alzheimer's affects individuals who experience, suffer from, or witness the disease’s effects, including their families, while shedding light on their reality in a positive way.

Official Selection and Professional Jury

A jury composed of members of the Carlos III Health Institute, the Queen Sofía Foundation, the CIEN Foundation, and renowned professionals from the Spanish film industry will evaluate the short films in the official section. These films must have a maximum duration of ten minutes and be fiction and/or documentary focused on Alzheimer's in any of its dimensions: its impact on patients' lives, scientific aspects, medical perspectives, or social consequences.

The awards include the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Neuronita for the best short films, which also come with monetary prizes of up to €2,000, as well as Neuronita awards in various categories (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Direction, Best Editing, etc.).

Festival registration is free, and submissions will be accepted until October 15, 2023.

Interested participants can check the festival rules and submit their entries below.