The 60th anniversary of 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' brings together representatives of the Sad Hill project, relatives of Carlo Simi, film personalities and international collaborators of the European western in Tabernas.
TuVozenPinares
Burgos has once again been present in the official program of the Almería Western Film Festival 2026 (AWFF). For the second time, after its participation in 2018 with the presentation of the documentary Unearthing Sad Hill, the Carlo Simi Cultural Association has taken to Tabernas the project to recover the mythical cemetery of 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', as part of the activities commemorating the 60th anniversary of Sergio Leone's film, Partially filmed in the province of Burgos and in the landscapes of Almeria.
This new invitation is a recognition of the work of recovery, conservation and dissemination of the cinematographic heritage carried out around Sad Hill. It also represents an opportunity to share experiences, establish new collaborations and strengthen the links between the territories that are part of the history of the European western. [Round table with numerous voices linked to westerns.]
Throughout the days, the Burgos representation held meetings with film professionals, historians, researchers and personalities linked to both 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' and the legacy of Carlo Simi, designer, architect and artistic director essential in the creation of some of the most emblematic scenarios of Sergio Leone's cinema.
Among these meetings, the one held with Rada Rassimov, an actress who participated in the cast of the film and who shared memories and anecdotes of a production that, six decades later, continues to arouse the interest and admiration of several generations, stood out.
[McBain Ranch]
AN EXCITING ENCOUNTER WITH ELI WALLACH'S DAUGHTER
One of the most emotional moments of the festival was the meeting with Roberta Wallach, daughter of the unforgettable actor Eli Wallach, who gave life to Tuco, one of the most emblematic characters of the mythical film. In addition to attending the tribute dedicated to her father, Roberta Wallach was able to learn, from Joseba del Valle, president of the Carlo Simi Cultural Association and promoter of the recovery project, the work carried out in the Sad Hill cemetery.
Through images of the enclave and its current state, he discovered the evolution of an intervention that has made it possible to recover for the collective memory one of the most recognizable scenarios of the film. He was also able to see the symbolic cross that the Burgos collective has dedicated to the memory of the actor. The match was marked by deep emotion.
Moved by the result of the recovery and to know first-hand the effort made in Burgos to preserve this film set, Roberta was moved to tears before Joseba del Valle. During the conversation, he shared numerous anecdotes about his father and memories linked to the filming, thus bringing his family closer to a place that is part of his artistic legacy. The intensity and closeness of that moment led the president of the Burgos collective to personally invite her to visit Sad Hill and learn about the project on the ground. An invitation that Roberta welcomed with special affection and that opens the door to a future meeting in Burgos, reinforcing the link between the memory of the film's protagonists and the enclave that, six decades later, continues to keep its history alive.
[MiniHollywood Round Table]
A ROUND TABLE THAT MARKED THE FESTIVAL
On Friday, October 9, Mini Hollywood hosted one of the central events of this edition: a round table that brought together prominent voices linked to westerns and the history of cinema. Christopher Frayling, Sergio Leone's biographer; Roberta Wallach, daughter of Eli Wallach; Carlos Aguilar; Anita Haas; José E. Martínez Moya, and Joseba del Valle, president of the Carlo Simi Cultural Association. The meeting was moderated by journalist Evaristo Martínez.
The quality of the interventions, the exchange of knowledge and the climate of collaboration generated during the session were especially valued by the director of the festival, Juan Francisco Viruega, who placed the round table among the most outstanding of the sixteen editions of the event.
The conversation allowed different perspectives on the film, the importance of its locations, the legacy of those who made these productions possible and the role that heritage recovery projects play today in the conservation of its memory.
[Joseba with the mayor of Tabernas]
FROM TABERNAS TO BURGOS, A LEGACY THAT CONTINUES TO BUILD BRIDGES
On Saturday, October 10, the visit to Rancho Leone with Giuditta and Lorenzo, daughter and grandson of the architect and set designer Carlo Simi, creator of this emblematic space, and Joseba del Valle, president of the Carlo Simi Cultural Association, added a new chapter to this experience. Conceived for the filming of Until His Time Came, another of Sergio Leone's great productions, this setting allowed the Burgos representative to share the tour with the family of its creator and reunite with one of the essential places in the history of the European western.
The visit took on a special meaning when recalling the previous presence of Burgos in the official program of the festival, in 2018, when its representatives shared a meeting with Claudia Cardinale, protagonist of 'Until her time came', in an event that also had the participation of members of the Simi family and the president of the association. These meetings were joined by conversations with collaborators and admirers of westerns from Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kazakhstan and other countries.
This international dimension shows that the footprint of 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' is still alive and that the recovery of its stages can become a meeting point between communities, generations and cultures.
On Sunday, October 11, the visit to Fort Bravo put the finishing touch to the days. The high influx of audiences once again evidenced the ability of the western to attract viewers of different generations and the cultural and tourist potential of a film genre that continues to arouse enormous interest.
[Fort Bravo]
SAD HILL AND THE FUTURE CARLO SIMI MUSEUM: TWO PROJECTS UNITED BY THE MEMORY OF CINEMA
Participation in the AWFF 2026 once again shows that the work carried out in Burgos goes far beyond the recovery of a film set. Sad Hill has become a space for collective memory, citizen participation and heritage enhancement, capable of connecting the history of cinema with the territory and with the people who keep its legacy alive.
On this path, the Carlo Simi Cultural Association reaffirms its commitment to the conservation and dissemination of Carlo Simi's work, the memory of 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly' and the collaboration with initiatives that contribute to preserving this shared cinematographic heritage.
The work promoted over the years by the Burgos collective has made it possible to move towards a new milestone for the Arlanza region: the Carlo Simi Museum. The museum project has been completed and the materials that make up Carlo Simi's legacy have been in Burgos for months, laying the foundations for Burgos to host a unique space dedicated to the Italian creator and his extraordinary contribution to the history of cinema.
[Joseba with Roberta Wallach]
The future launch of this space would be a new step in the conservation and dissemination of an artistic legacy of international projection, while strengthening the cultural and tourist potential of the Arlanza region and its link with one of the most recognisable stages in the history of European cinema. Burgos and Tabernas, united by the history of the western
The presence of the Carlo Simi Cultural Association in Tabernas contributes to strengthening the ties between the two great Spanish territories linked to the work of Sergio Leone. At the same time, it allows the work carried out in Burgos and the cultural and heritage possibilities offered by the Arlanza region to be projected internationally. Sixty years after its premiere, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly continues to generate encounters, emotions and new opportunities for collaboration.
Burgos continues to be part of this shared history, building bridges with Tabernas and with an international community that keeps alive the passion for the western, its settings and the people who made its legend possible.
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