Reasons to love Málaga

There are many reasons to love Málaga, from the timeless beauty of its old town to the hubbub of the cosmopolitan “Muelle Uno” portside area; or from the golden sands of “La Malagueta” beach – with its “chiringuitos” (beach bars) preparing the characteristic “espetos” (barbecued sardines on a skewer) – to its offering of fairs, festivals and cultural events over the course of the year.

Your last chance to catch Málaga Film Festival 2019: La Malagueta Beach

It is precisely the latter which I want to draw your attention to today. This weekend is your final chance to head up to the 22^nd Málaga Film Festival in the provincial capital, which showcases the best contemporary Spanish filmmaking talent.

Closing this Sunday 24^th March, one of Spain’s most prestigious and well-represented film festivals sees the screening of documentaries as well as short and feature-length films across 18 locations in central Málaga, with the winner receiving the coveted “Biznaga de Oro” prize for best picture.

Film and food

However, this year’s gala has a twist. The theme is “Cinema Cocina”, fusing filmmaking and gastronomy for the first time since Málaga Film Festival’s inception in 1998.

An alliance between Lumen Proyectos Gastronómicos¹ – a food event and public relations firm – and the tourist/gastronomy guide Guía Repsol² has brought about the union between these unique artistic experiences that, on the one hand, evolve according to changing trends and, on the other hand, have traditional techniques and values at their core.

The idea is also to show through the medium of film certain age-old recipes, dishes and cooking styles pertaining to each Spanish region, as well as celebrate advances and innovation in the field of gastronomy in recent years.

Not interested in Spanish film?

If, like me, you’re not a film buff and the draw of great food is stronger than the Spanish arthouse genre, there’s something for you in Málaga this weekend, too.

From this lunchtime (Friday) until Sunday, international food trucks return to the Costa del Sol and, for one weekend only, will be located at Plaza de la Marina (just over the road from the port) in Málaga.

From 12.30pm until 11pm daily, you can enjoy the finest food from across the globe including Valencian paella, Argentinian grilled meat and Mexican tacos, amongst many others, all the while accompanied by music and a great atmosphere.

Not a meat eater? No problem. There will also be a food truck exclusively serving organic and vegan treats, so everyone is catered for.

Your last chance to catch Málaga Film Festival 2019: Food truck food

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a great family-friendly plan this weekend, I would definitely recommend passing by the food trucks and picking up some international street food and, in the process, taking advantage of the impressive spring weather.

And, if you’re a cinephile and your Spanish is up to scratch, you can do no better than get yourself down to Málaga Film Festival this weekend. Follow the link to the festival’s website at the bottom of the post for more info.