Dolores Ben, a leading figure in Galician audiovisuals, dies

Ben was the founder of Sonodor and Cinemar Films, contributing decisively to the formation of the audiovisual industrial fabric in Galicia. He chaired AGAPI for more than a decade.

has passed away Dolores Ben (Ortigueira, A Coruña 1956) , a reference in Galician audiovisuals. Although her higher education began at the School of Architecture of the Complutense University of Madrid, she did not finish her studies as she was attracted from a very young age to the world of audio, which led her to join the Hispavox record company.

With the start of Galicia Television, returns to his homeland, settling in Santiago de Compostela where he worked for three years for CTV, a leading company in Galician dubbing.

Later, in Vigo and at just 24 years old, he founded the company with some partners. Sounder, dedicated to the recording and dubbing of films in Spanish and Galician for cinema and television. Already the sole owner of the company, Sonidor began to dub many international films into Spanish for distribution to cinemas throughout Spain.

From audio it makes the leap to full audiovisual services with the creation of Cinemar Films, providing Galicia since 2008 with an offer not seen until then in the Community with cutting-edge facilities in the Novo Milladoiro business park.

The Cinema Films facilities were designed by engineer Philip Newell, an expert in creating prestigious sound studios around the world. Furthermore, thanks to their work and the financial effort made, the Cinema Mixing Room meets the “Dolby Premier” requirements for its exceptional acoustic conditions.

In addition to being a businesswoman, from 2007 to 2019 she was at the head of the Galician Association of Independent Producers (AGAPI) como presidenta. Participó en la comisión del Congreso de los Diputados para la redacción de la Ley de Cine de 2008. Su carrera le valió el Premio de Honra, de los Premios Mestre Mateo 2012 y, como presidenta de AGAPI, recogió el Premio da Cultura Galega Audiovisual, en el año 2014.

Desde AGAPI han destacado en un comunicado que “Dolores fue un ejemplo de mujer firme, luchadora e imprescindible en el panorama cultural gallego y estatal. Lamentamos profundamente la pérdida de una mujer pionera, valiente y comprometida. Queremos desde aquí enviar todo nuestro cariño a sus familiares y amigos”.

“Desde la Asociación queremos agradecer públicamente su labor y su trabajo incansable a favor del bien común. Deseamos toda la suerte para que su legado y su memoria pervivan siempre en la empresa Cinemar Films, fundada por ella en el año 2008, y que ahora seguirá adelante un poco más huérfana”, señalan dede la Asociación.