Guanajuato, Gto., October 2, 2016.- Emotion and festivity were lived at Teatro Juárez at the city of Guanajuato with the inauguration of the 44th Edition of the Festival Internacional Cervantino (FIC), where already more than 3,500 artists start to arrive, coming from the five continents who will participate in the holiday of the spirit.

Local and international artists, diplomats, students and tourists, all are part of this holiday that will offer 800 activities to celebrate the 400 death anniversary of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, from the hand of Spain and Jalisco as honor guest country and state.

In the same tone, the General Rector of the University of Guanajuato (UG), Dr. Luis Felipe Guerrero Agripino, expressed to be proud that the institution is part of a holiday that engulfs the festivity of the Spanish-American literature and receive the country that brought him to life.

"Why do we assume craziness and idealism?", wondered the Rector before hundreds of attendants, "because we learned from Cervantes to build through craziness an ethic conception of the world. We assume the idealism not as a refuge but as a powerful weapon to interpret the reality and build it," he answered.

The Secretary of Culture, Rafael Tovar y de Teresa, commented that this party dedicated to Miguel de Cervantes has no precedents in the world. "Is the sum of all transversal efforts because it has gathered 25 cultural institutions that with the same budget have been able to participate in this commemoration," he commented.

It is about a party that undoubtedly unifies, commented the Festival's director, writer Jorge Volpi, who assured that before the reality lived today in Mexico and the world it is precise to remember Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra because his work talks to us about not only the imperfections and greatness of the human soul, but the universal joys and values.

On behalf of the guest country, your Excellence Mr. José María Lasalle Ruiz, Secretary of State of Culture of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports in Spain, expressed his gratitude for attending the party that relies on the legacy of the Cervantine essence.

In the same inauguration, the career of the writer Margo Glantz was recognized, who received the Cervantine Medal for "her contributions to the study and diffusion of the work of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra."

Equally, the tenor Francisco Araiza was awarded with the FIC Medal, for being a pioneers in Mexico in "developing a successful career in the greatest opera theaters in the world."

Guanajuato's governor, Miguel Márquez Márquez and Jalisco's, Aristóteles Sandoval, welcomed all the quijotes that with theater, cinema, dance and music will bring color to the city throughout 22 days.

The festival will not only arrive to the city, but will be present in nearby cities and communities, where you will be able to enjoy culture and flavors of Gastronomic FIC.

The University of Guanajuato will be part of this party with the support of more than 500 artists, fourteen university enclosures and participation in 92 events, becoming in one of the most important hosts.

The International Cervantine Colloquium began with the conferences "A character called Cervantes" in charge of Carmen Boullosa, "Images, utopias and persuasion in Cervantes: The deceit of the eyes," with Javier Blasco, and "The Persiles. Reception, paths and today" with Nieves Rodríguez.

By the night there will be the inaugural concert with the Philharmonic of Jalisco and Mariachi Nuevo de Tepatitlán, in the Forecourt of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas.

Por la noche se llevará a cano el concierto inaugural con la Filarmónica de Jalisco y el Mariachi Nuevo de Tepatitlán, en la Explanada de la Alhóndiga de Granaditas.