Antonio Banderas attends performing arts school in Malaga

The actor was back in Malaga to support local talent at the Performing Arts School but ruled out rethinking his decision to withdraw from the project

Antonio Banderas returned to Malaga for the first time since he withdrew his involvement from the project to convert the old Astoria and Victoria cinemas in the city’s Plaza de la Merced into a major cultural centre.

The actor and director was back home on Tuesday evening to collect an award from Malaga’s Performing Arts School (ESAEM), as well as to show his support for theatre in Malaga and the young talent on show in the local area.

Before the gala, the 56-year-old confirmed his stance on the Astoria project and ruled out getting involved in future public sector projects, although he stated his commitment to give Malaga a cultural legacy from the private sector. That way, he said, would be “much less toxic” as he didn’t wish to “get tangled up in such things”.

“We are going to stop, think, and then start again from a completely different angle,” he said.

These declarations came moments before he received the distinction from the ESAEM, located close in the Tabacalera area of the city.

Banderas spoke of his admiration of the school: “Energy is the key word. Young energy, which this city is missing. Not everything can be museums.”

He hoped that his attendance could “promote a magnificent idea which has given a neighbourhood and the city a chance to shine.”