The European Mining Routes of Saint Barbara Federation (MINES.B) proudly celebrates the international success of the promotional film Caminos Mineros, a cultural and tourism project from the Andorra–Sierra de Arcos region (Teruel, Aragón, Spain).
Directed by filmmaker Iryna Melnyk and produced by Aradex, the film won First Prize in the Commercial/Advertisement category at the prestigious Beyond Border International Film Festival 2026 in Kolkata, India, standing out among 325 international entries. The film has also been selected as a finalist at the International Tourism Film Africa 2026 in Johannesburg and as a semifinalist at the Planet Cinema New York City Film Festival 2026 in the United States.
Caminos Mineros tells the story of a territory whose identity was deeply shaped by coal mining, an industry that sustained nearly 90% of the local economy for almost a century. Through powerful imagery and emotional storytelling, the film highlights the region’s transformation process, turning its mining heritage into a sustainable tourism resource focused on nature, culture, sport, and historical memory.
The “Caminos Mineros” project includes more than 40 kilometres of routes connecting the main mining landmarks and landscapes of the comarca. The initiative was developed thanks to funding from the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan through the Institute for Just Transition.
The film premiered last October at the Mining Museum of Andorra–Sierra de Arcos during the international conference organised with the participation of partners from the European Federation MINES.B.
For the MINES.B Federation, this recognition is an important example of how European mining routes can become tools for preserving industrial heritage, strengthening collective memory, and promoting sustainable territorial development.
Special recognition goes to director Iryna Melnyk, already awarded with numerous international prizes, whose artistic sensitivity and deep respect for mining identity allowed her to capture the true essence of Andorra–Sierra de Arcos and bring its story to international audiences.
The film is publicly available online:
https://youtu.be/nnHJTM0oxkk
