The writer and filmmaker Valentín Carrera was mantenedor (chairman) of Bembibre’s National Festival for the Exaltation of Botillo on its XXXVIII edition. Carrera is from el Bierzo and he is Closely linked with the cultural field of Bembibre in its Tardes de Cine and as presenter of “Viaje interior por la Provincia del Bierzo”, which filming began in an air balloon in the now missing Campo de los Juncos.

Journalist and doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Salamanca, he has been a professor of Journalism at the Universities of Santiago and Porto. Since 1988 he has directed the IBISAtv production company, specialized in television series, animation and documentaries.

He received the Galicia Award of Communication, the Francisco de Cossío Prize of Journalism and the Blanco Amor Books Prize, among others.

He is the author of books of different styles and themes (travel, creation, research and essays), for example the novel “Riosil”. He also has been director and audio-visual producer of a wide filmography.