What’s being screened
Sangre y arena (1916) is a Franco-Spanish silent film based on the novel of the same name by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, adapted by the writer himself alongside director Max André. Released during World War I, the film blends bullfighting melodrama with adventure cinema and stands out as one of the first Spanish productions to use hand-coloured tints for key scenes. With a runtime of 59 minutes, it will be projected in 35 mm format, preserving its original silent-film condition with Spanish intertitles.
Valencia Film Archive presents this restored print as part of the Jornadas del Patrimonio Audiovisual 2026, with an introduction by Nuria Castellote, Head of Programming at La Filmoteca. According to the Valencian Institute of Culture (IVC), the screening aims to recover the historical value of a work that marked Valencian and European silent cinema.
Who made it possible
Directed by Max André, a French filmmaker specialising in literary adaptations, Sangre y arena was made possible through the direct collaboration of Vicente Blasco Ibáñez as screenwriter and producer. The Valencian writer, already renowned for works like The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, championed this film adaptation to bring his novel to an international audience. The movie was shot between France and Spain, featuring locations in Valencia that reflect the era, such as the bullring and port districts.
The print being screened at Edificio Rialto comes from the film archive of Valencia Film Archive, where it is preserved as part of Blasco Ibáñez’s legacy. This heritage includes not only the film but also graphic and bibliographic documents related to its production and reception in 1916.
Timing and access
The screening will take place on 28 October 2026 at 20:00 in the main hall of Edificio Rialto. Entry will not be permitted once the session has started.
Check how to get there on the Edificio Rialto venue page.
