Fourth annual Orquídea Film Festival opens tomorrow; Week-long festival features Oscar-winning guests and lots of movies

Spanish movie director David Trueba.

Cuenca’s fourth annual Festival de Cine La Orquídea kicks off tomorrow morning at 11 with opening ceremonies at the Mall del Rio convention center. Guest of honor is award-winning Spanish director David Trueba and the Spanish actresses Carmen Maura, Victoria Abril and Ariadna Gil.

A highlight of the festival will be the Ecuador premiere of Trueba’s film Vivir es Fácil con los Ojos Cerrados (Living is Easy With Your Eyes Closed) which will screen simultaneously, beginning tomorrow, at four theaters: Casa de la Cultura on Calle Luis Cordero, Millenium Plaza Multiplex, theaters A and B, and the Teatro Carlos Cueva Tamariz on the campus of the University of Cuenca.

Trueba, a novelist and actor as well as a director, has directed a number of Spanish- and English-language films, including The Good Life and Obra Maestra. He is married to Gil.

The festival, which emphasizes international independent films, features 71 films from 20 countries. Many of the films will screen for the first time at the festival. In addition to movies, the event will include lectures and workshops presented by directors and actors, and a special career tribute to actress Carmen Maura, best known for her role in Almodóvar Girl. The festival includes more than a dozen Ecuadorian short subject films.

In addition to Cuenca, some festival movies will be shown in Turi,  Ricaurte, Paute and Sígsig.

For the festival schedule and other details, see http://festivalcineorquidea.com/festival2014.