Soria recovers big screen cinema after seven years

'Campeones' and 'Sanfelices' will inaugurate the Cines Mercado next Wednesday within the framework of the Think Europe meeting. The screening of both titles will be preceded by a discussion with the presence of the Minister of Culture, José Guirao, and the two directors, Javier Fesser and Roberto Lázaro.

At a time when there are news related to movie theater closures, Soria will once again have a large format room with the inauguration next Wednesday of the Cinemas Market. The inauguration, which will coincide with the celebration of the international congress Think Europe on sustainable development, will have two titles of great symbolism for Soria with the projection of Champions by Javier Fesser and Sanfelices by director Roberto Lázaro from Soria, seeking with both projects to support integration and cohesion through culture and sport.

Prior to the viewing of both titles, a colloquium will be held with the presence of the Minister of Culture, Jose Guirao, the president of the Numancia Sports Club, Moisés Israel Garzón, and the directors Javier Fesser y Roberto Lázaro. Members of the directing team of the film nominated for eleven Goya awards will also participate in this screening. The colloquium will be open, the screenings by invitation with the aim of giving special prominence to the ANDE Soria athletes and the 'Sanfelices' project team. Access to the cinema, with its usual passes and purchase of tickets, will be from Thursday.

Carlos Martinez, alcalde de Soria, ha explicado que “creemos que es una buen marco la apertura de estos cines dentro del programa del II Think Europe ya que la cultura y el deporte son herramientas que ayudan a la cohesión y la integración. En nuestra ciudad, estos dos elementos, más allá de las infraestructuras, enriquecen a las personas y mejoran su bienestar como ciudadanos. La apertura de este espacio supone ampliar la oferta cultural con el doble objetivo de dinamizar económicamente la ciudad, de forma especial el Casco Histórico, y además ofrecer un mayor abanico de actividades para los sorianos y sorianas”.

Martínez recalled that the cinemas are part of a global intervention with the action in the Municipal Market and the entire area of ​​influence with Calle Doctrina, Calixto Pereda and that it is already exerting a energizing effect with two new housing developments, a hotel and ten new activity licenses in the vicinity of Bernardo Robles, among other aspects. This action has also been an example of public-private collaboration with this financing through European funds, collaboration of the Board, municipal financing and private investment. "It is clear that the bet is having an effect, it has its rhythms but it is an ongoing process that is already beginning to offer results." “This cultural initiative also continues to strengthen the fabric of the city and the neighborhoods, adding to others we have underway such as the Alameda Cultural Space, which will also open in the second quarter of the year, or the Barriada Cultural Space, whose works will begin next Monday,” he noted.

Regarding what it means to open some cinemas in Soria, recovering big screen theaters for the city after seven years, the mayor explained that "this type of action is in line with the fulfillment of the 2030 Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and is a way for us all to understand what they mean and how we can become part of them. They are ways to integrate society on this path and, therefore, the choice of titles and the collaboration of the Government to be able to have the film 'Campeones', its directing team and the assistance of the Minister of Culture as an example of how integration can be worked hand in hand with sport and culture. The other film 'Sanfelices' also invites reflection on the situation of the territories and has a clearly Sorian identity with the focus also on depopulation with that recourse to the territory."

Also within the Think Europe program, a film series has been included under the title Visions in Feminine with films by different directors from European countries. The screenings will begin on Thursday and will share dates with the programming that will be updated each week with three daily sessions, five on weekends, many children's titles and premieres on Fridays.