Fernando Méndez-Leite, re-elected president of the Film Academy

Fernando Méndez-Leite has been re-elected president of the Film Academy, where the candidacy led by the director and screenwriter has obtained 858 votes, the highest support recorded so far in the history of the institution. He will be accompanied in his second term by the producer Félix Tusell as first vice president and the actress Ángela Cervantes as second vice president.

The vote took place this Saturday at the Ordinary General Assembly held at the Teatro La Latina in Madrid, with a polling station chaired by notary Eva Fernández Medina, where Méndez-Leite stated that she stood for re-election “to give continuity to a program and work to modernize the Academy, which is currently a living institution in continuous renewal, which already has 3,000 members and develops informative, cultural and training activities.”

The filmmaker has also highlighted the collaboration with other institutions of Spanish and international cinematography, as well as the commitment to “equality, diversity and decentralization” and has thanked the work of the outgoing members of the Board of Directors, in particular the vice presidents Rafael Portela, “who leaves the Board of Directors after eight years of enthusiastic and effective dedication”, and Susi Sánchez. “I owe the success of the management to both of them,” he said. Among the challenges of the new stage, he highlighted “due to its complexity, the development of the Spanish Cinema Museum project.”

For his part, the new first vice president has stated “that the Academy enjoys unbeatable health. It is the best reflection of the talent and diversity of its members and the great moment that Spanish cinema is experiencing, both inside and outside our country,” said the producer, who has assured that he will take on the position “with great enthusiasm.”

Likewise, Cervantes has indicated that he assumes the position “with respect and desire to contribute the most” and has indicated among his priorities to promote the Academy’s activity outside of Madrid. “I am excited to be able to generate more movement and activities from the headquarters in Barcelona and other cities to help decentralize the Academy so that other members can participate more,” said the actress.

The Assembly, in which members from Barcelona, ​​Málaga, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Valencia, Valladolid and Vitoria have been able to participate by videoconference, has also served to elect the new members of the Specialty Commissions. The member with the most votes from each specialty becomes a member of the Board of Directors with a mandate until 2030, thus renewing half of the components of a body made up of two members for each of the fifteen specialties, a president and two vice presidents, as reported by the Academy in a statement.