The Catalan Cinema Academy pays tribute to its new Honorary Members

As a prelude to the IV Gaudí Awards, the Catalan Film Academy names Carmen Contreras, Teresa Gimpera, Jordi Feliu, Josep Maixenchs and Josep María Queraltó as Honorary Members 2012.

The mayor of Barcelona, ​​Xavier Trías, received this Monday at the Albéniz Palace the nominees of the IV Gaudí Awards and the new Honorary Members of the Catalan Cinema Academy. The reception was also attended by members of the Board of Directors and the president of the Academy, Joel Joan, who recalled that “today's event serves to pay tribute to the veterans of our cinema.”

Trías has offered his support to the Academy “so that Catalan cinema continues its process of internationalization and prestige.” The mayor recalled that "in times of crisis, culture is more necessary than ever and must be one of our priorities, and even more so if it is in our language."

The actresses Carmen Contreras and Teresa Gimpera, the director and screenwriter Jordi Feliu, the founder and director of the Higher School of Cinema and Audiovisuals of Catalonia (ESCAC) Josep Maixenchs, and the film collector and restorer José María Queraltó have been elected Honorary Members 2012 for their career and contribution to Catalan cinema. The members of the Board of Directors of the Academy have delivered commemorative statuettes to the new members, who have spoken a few words of gratitude with the exception of Carme Contreras, who was unable to attend the event for health reasons, her daughter Mª Carmen Lloret and the actor Galo Soler have done so on her behalf.

Once the nominations were finalized, the nominees for the IV Gaudí Awards took the traditional family photo at the doors of the Albéniz Palace together with the mayor and the president of the Academy.