The Valencia Mediterranean Film Festival ( 23 October to 2 November) celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with a double event that honours four decades of cinematic and artistic heritage. The commemoration includes the exhibition “The Posters of the Valencia Film Festival (1980–2025)” and a 40th Anniversary Film Cycle that revisits the festival’s most iconic award-winning works.

Poster Exhibition: Four Decades of Graphic Art

Opened at the Tossal Gallery in Plaza Tossal in the historic centre (October 7 to November 2, 2025), the exhibition offers a comprehensive retrospective of 45 years of visual design, showcasing the festival’s official posters from 1980 to 2025.

Councillor José Luis Moreno, emphasized that this is the first time all the festival posters have been brought together, celebrating the creativity of renowned Valencian artists and designers.

Festival director Sara Mansanet highlighted that “the film poster is a piece of art in itself and a reflection of its time.” Meanwhile, Luis Gosálbez, deputy director of the Institut Valencià de Cultura (IVC), acknowledged the collaboration between the IVC and the Filmoteca Valenciana, which made it possible to recover and preserve this valuable documentary heritage.

Artistic Value and Cultural Memory

Curated by Marisa Giménez Soler, the exhibition celebrates the poster “as art, symbol, and shared memory of four decades of Mediterranean cinema in the city.”

The collection reflects both the aesthetic evolution of the festival and its dialogue with Valencia’s cultural identity, merging tradition with modernity. Visitors can explore this visual journey at the Tossal Gallery from October 7 to November 2, 2025.

Participating Artists and Designers

Throughout its 40-year history, the festival has featured works by some of the most influential figures in Valencian visual arts and design, including:

Artur Heras, Manuel Boix, Jordi Ballester, Manolo Valdés, José Morea, Carlos Berlanga, Francis Montesinos, Ana Juan, Daniel Torres, Paco Roca, Vicente Ferrer, Javier Mariscal, Ibán Ramón, and Dídac Ballester, among others.

Their creations showcase a diverse range of styles, charting the evolution of the festival’s visual identity from analog illustration to digital design.

40th Anniversary Cycle: Tribute to the Golden Palms

Parallel to the exhibition, the 40th Anniversary Film Cycle—hosted at the ABC Park Cinemas—pays tribute to the Golden Palm winners, the festival’s highest distinction.

The programme features twenty emblematic films that have shaped Mediterranean cinema from 1980 to 2023, representing countries such as Spain, France, Italy, Syria, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, and Iran.

Mansanet noted that many of these films “are difficult to see today,” offering audiences “a unique opportunity to rediscover the festival’s cinematic legacy.”

Commemorative Spirit

With this dual celebration, La Mostra de València reaffirms its role as a cultural and cinematographic beacon of the Mediterranean, honouring its history, visual identity, and commitment to artistic creation.

Report by ‘24/7 Valencia’ team

Article copyright ‘24/7 Valencia’

LA MOSTRA FILM FESTIVAL from 23 October to 2 November 2025

 For more information, visit lamostradevalencia.com