'Autumn' and its metaphor of the journey as a memory triumph at the VI Memorables Film Festival

• The production won the award for Best Short Film and 3 of the 7 categories at Spain’s most important Alzheimer’s Festival, supported by the Center for Neurological Diseases Research (CIEN) and the Reina Sofia Foundation.
• The Best Actor award went to Manuel Galiana, the lead of Otoño, and the Best Supporting Actress award went to Aurora González, from the same work.
• The recognition for Best Actress went to Luichi Macias, in A mamá con jamón, a short film that also earned the Neuronita de Plata award.

short film that also earned the Neuronita de Plata award. Madrid, November 8th. Otoño and A mamá con jamón were the big winners at the CIEN's Memorables Film Festival Gala, a cinematic event that in 2024 consolidates itself as a key reference for raising social awareness about Alzheimer’s through film.

The festival annually gathers filmmakers committed to showing the reality of Alzheimer’s with touching and personal stories. This year, 23 short films were presented, exploring, through art, the most intimate aspects of Alzheimer’s and its impact on families and those who suffer from it.

The night culminated with Otoño receiving the Neuronita de Oro as Best Short Film. The production by directors Anabel Díez and Luis Centurión also won awards for Best Actor, for Manuel Galiana’s lead role, Best Supporting Actress, for Aurora González’s role, and Best Screenplay.

The story revolves around a metaphorical train journey taken by an elderly man, a former Renfe employee, in a trip that also represents an impossible return along the paths of a fading memory. Otoño stands out for its deep screenplay and Manuel Galiana’s performance in the leading role, which, along with the intimate portrayal by Aurora González as the protagonist's daughter, captivated the admiration and applause of the large audience gathered at the Alzheimer’s Center Reina Sofia Foundation. The emotional depth and authenticity of the short made it deserving of the highest recognition at this edition.

On the other hand, the Neuronita de Plata, which honors the second-place prize, went to A mamá con jamón, a family reconciliation story centered on Carmen, a mother with Alzheimer’s. The outstanding performance by Luichi Macías also earned her the Best Actress award. A mamá con jamón sensitively explores a family’s efforts to rediscover the bonds of love, the importance of shared memories, and most importantly, the value of caregivers.

The gala, which had a strong turnout, awarded the Neuronita de Bronce to Me olvidé de vivir, a short film by Jesús García Nuño de la Rosa, which tells the true story of the daily life of a woman with Alzheimer’s and her caregivers. This work was deeply moving and resonated with many families of people living with this disease.

Other awards went to Despertares, by Emilio Gómez López (Best Soundtrack), Me olvidé de vivir, by Jesús García Nuño de la Rosa (Best Cinematography), and El bosque del ayer, by Luis Ángel Mendaña (Best Editing).

A CIEN initiative that solidifies in 2024

During the gala, Mª Ángeles Pérez, Manager of the CIEN Foundation, expressed her satisfaction with this new edition of the festival: "The Memorables Film Festival allows us to bring the devastating reality of Alzheimer’s to the forefront through art. These short films are a valuable tool for raising awareness and creating consciousness in society, and they help us connect in a unique way with the reality of a disease that affects not only patients but their families and caregivers."

CIEN’s Scientific Director, Pascual Sánchez, highlighted the event's importance for the scientific community and the general public: "It is essential that cinema and visual arts continue to be vehicles for educating and raising awareness about Alzheimer’s, and the quality and depth of the shorts we saw tonight give a human face to the many individual, family, and social tragedies of this disease."

Acknowledgements to the sponsors

The festival organizers and the CIEN manager thanked the event’s sponsors, especially Siemens Healthineers, the Reina Sofia Foundation, and the Almería International Film Festival, for their support in organizing and executing this gala, as well as Fontventa for their backing. Thanks to their commitment and support, the Memorables Film Festival has become a key platform for educating about Alzheimer’s and raising awareness about the impact of this neurodegenerative disease.