The International Film Week of Valladolid (Seminci) has confirmed this Tuesday the death of its director, José Luis Cienfuegos, at the age of 60.
According to local media reports, his death was sudden and was due to a stroke he suffered in Madrid, shocking the Spanish cultural industry.
The trajectory of José Luis Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos left a deep mark in festival management during his 30-year career. His career began in 1995 at the helm of the Gijón Film Festival, where he remained for 16 years and turned it, as the farewell communiqués recall, into an essential platform for the most innovative and daring filmmakers entering the country.
Later, in 2012, he took over the direction of the Seville Film Festival. His last stage began in 2023, when he took the reins of the Seminci, where he “shaped his unmistakable stamp”, being faithful to the historical spirit of the festival and, at the same time, achieving a “necessary renewal” in only three editions.
What the organization’s press release says
The press release issued by the Seminci underscores the impact of his vision: Cienfuegos was a manager who “radically transformed the way festivals are organized. Adopting a multifaceted perspective, he highlighted the crucial role of distributors, producers, critics and media in the promotion of auteur cinema.
The organization highlighted his latest work, the 70th edition of the Seminci, described as one of the most successful in the history of the event, for its “ambitious and heterodox programming” and for creating “places for dialogue and knowledge” that served as “useful and relevant spaces for the industry and filmmakers”.
Farewell messages to the renowned cultural manager
After hearing the news, many institutions and figures have expressed their sorrow. The City Council of Valladolid mourned the loss, and its mayor, Jesús Carnero, remembered him as a “lover of the city and of people and an enthusiast”.
The Ministry of Culture joined in the condolences, highlighting the legacy he leaves behind after three decades dedicated to promoting major film events. Likewise, key organizations such as the Film Academy, the San Sebastian Film Festival (which called him “a reference and a dear friend”) and the Feroz Awards reacted with deep sadness to the death of the manager.
