Averroes and Maimonides, Light of al-Andalus
Strong attendance at the Living Library of al-Andalus for the screening of “Averroes and Maimonides, Light of al-Andalus”
On 12 March, the Living Library of al-Andalus hosted the screening of the film Averroes y Maimónides, luz de al-Ándalus (“Averroes and Maimonides, Light of al-Andalus”), a cultural initiative held as part of the commemoration of the 900th anniversary of the birth of Averroes, one of the most influential intellectual figures of medieval thought and one of the great names of Andalusian Córdoba.
The screening attracted strong interest among the people of Córdoba. The exceptionally large attendance even made it necessary to organise a second screening of the film, which ultimately led to the cancellation of the discussion originally scheduled after the first showing.
The film presents a symbolic dialogue between Averroes and Maimonides, two major thinkers associated with Córdoba. Although this encounter is part of a narrative interpretation, the film seeks to reflect both the intellectual richness of al-Andalus and the tensions of a historical period shaped by profound political and religious transformations.
The screening was attended by the film’s director, Miguel Ángel Entrenas, and the historian Manuel García Parody, who had prepared a presentation to contextualise the historical period addressed in the film, particularly the arrival of Almohad rule in al-Andalus and the cultural and religious transformations that marked that era.
The organisers expressed their particular gratitude to Manuel García Parody, a member of the Board of the Fundación Paradigma Córdoba para la Convivencia, as well as to the distinguished Arabist María Jesús Viguera Molins, also a member of the Foundation’s Board, for the interest she has shown in the initiative.
Federico Roca, president of the Ateneo de Córdoba, also attended the event, which highlighted the growing interest in recovering and sharing the intellectual heritage of medieval Córdoba.
The film also has a significant educational and collective dimension. It was produced by vocational training students from IES El Tablero, IES Ángel de Saavedra and the ESAD of Córdoba, illustrating the creative potential of Córdoba’s educational institutions when they collaborate on cultural projects connected to the city’s history.
As part of the 900th anniversary of the birth of Averroes, the screening once again highlighted the enduring relevance of his legacy: the central role of reason, dialogue between cultures, and the defence of knowledge as a foundation for convivence.
