This year Barcelona will host the 1st Barcelona International FICTS  Festival. Pere Alcober, President of the Barcelona Olympic Foundation and Governor of Sports Barcelona City Council tells us about this sports film festival.

Mr. Alcober, could you please tell us briefly about the World FICTS Challenge 2010?

FICTS is an international sports film festival that has been running for 27 years. The organisation is based in Milan and it is directed by Professor Ascani, who has worked for over 30 years promoting sporting values and sport for all.

What countries and cities comprise the circuit?

In this 28th event there are 14 locations including Beijing, China; Moscow and Lipetsk, Russia; Tehran, Iran; Belgrade, Serbia; Kampala, Uganda; Bombay, India; and of course Barcelona. There is a wide involvement representing 5 continents and 102 countries, all of them members of the International Olympic Committee.

Why Barcelona? That is, what are the main reasons for Barcelona being chosen as one of the cities to host the 1st International FICTS FESTIVAL (BCN Sport Films), one of 14 festivals that make up the World FICTS Challenge 2010?

Barcelona is a cosmo-politan city that is committed to sport, it is the ideal environment for a sports film festival.

When and where will this cultural and sports event take place? What exactly will it consist of and where did the idea of bringing it to Barcelona come from?

The idea of bringing the FICTS to Barcelona is an initiative of the Barcelona Olympic Foundation, with the support and collaboration of the Barcelona City Council. The 1st International BCN Sports Films Festival will take place from the 10th to the 12th of June in three different locations; the CEC – Centre Excursionista de Catalunya, the Maison de Bonnemaison and of course the Barcelona Olympic and Sports Museum – headquarters of the Barcelona Olympic Foundation. During these three days, the works that pass the first selection round will be continuously screened. It is important to note that access to watch the films will be free. On the 12th of June the Barcelona City Council will award the prizes to the films selected by the panel of judges – to be composed of members of the Catalan Academy of Cinema, television figures and prominent sports personalities such as managers and athletes. The selected works will be screened in the final in Milan from October the 28th to November the 2nd.

What are the main goals you hope to achieve by hosting this festival?

The festival’s main objective is to promote the Olympic ideals, ethics and cultural role of sport through mass media like television and cinema, and to continue the international expansion of the city. Another of our objectives is to create a better understanding of the sports world and its moral values. Barcelona is a city committed to sport, but sport also includes values that we have to promote beyond the usual areas.

Do you expect to host further FICTS festivals in the coming years?

The initial agreement is for three years. We support different events, committed events. But everything depends on the social acceptance and participation. We believe that the city will welcome this festival as it usually does with all that is new and innovative.