ESPOL’s Faculty of Art, Design, and Audiovisual Communication (FADCOM) participated for the first time as a host venue for the Guayaquil International Film Festival (Festicine Guayaquil), as part of its 12th edition, organized by the FestiCineGye Foundation. Over the course of two days, the university community had the opportunity to explore a variety of cinematic works and participate in discussions about audiovisual creation.
The activities took place on Wednesday, August 19, and Thursday, August 20, 2026, at the FADCOM facilities, as part of the festival’s official program. This participation helped strengthen the ties between academia, the film industry, and cultural venues that promote the circulation of cinema in Guayaquil. The first day was dedicated to a screening of *Becoming Vera*, a film directed by filmmaker Sixto Vizuete. Following the screening, a film forum moderated by Dr. Marcelo Báez, a professor at FADCOM, took place, during which attendees were able to share their thoughts on the film and discuss various themes addressed in the work.
The event was also attended by representatives of the FestiCineGye Foundation, including Carmen Freire, vice president of the FestiCineGye Foundation, as well as Nelson Olaya, Celine Olaya, and Mirella Freire. Martín Proaño, a guest director from Panama and festival participant, also took part, fostering connections among creators, cultural managers, students, and the public.
On the second day, the “Cortos de la ESPOL” showcase was presented, a category featuring audiovisual productions created within the university. The selection included short films made at the Motion Lab, an academic space dedicated to experimentation and stop-motion production. The Motion Lab, considered the first academic stop-motion laboratory in Ecuador, has established itself as a space for audiovisual exploration and creation within the university. Its development was driven by the work of technical instructor Víctor Estrada, whose contributions and vision are an integral part of the history of this laboratory and the educational programs that have been developed there.
The selected short films were evaluated by Dr. Marcelo Báez, and the winner of the “ESPOL Shorts” category will be announced during the Festicine Guayaquil awards ceremony, which will take place on Saturday, August 22, at 6:00 p.m., at Manzana 14.
FADCOM’s participation as the festival’s host represents an opportunity to bring film production closer to the university community and create spaces for students, faculty, filmmakers, and cultural managers to come together. It also helps raise the profile of audiovisual creation projects developed within academia and connect them with film exhibition circuits and recognition.
© Photography: Ricardo Torres / Text: José Luis Castro
