The Atlántida Film Fest was launched in 2010 as an online event on the Filmin platform. Years later, it found a home in Mallorca – specifically, during the island’s summer. It expanded to include concerts and talks alongside the films, becoming a diverse celebration of cinema. After sustained growth, one of this year’s highlights will be the presence of actor Javier Bardem and the cast and crew of Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s El ser querido.
It was the festival’s artistic director, Jaume Ripoll, who came up with the idea of creating a space that serves as a bridge between the online and physical worlds. As a result, more than 160 films will be screened at this year’s festival, which, as always, will offer an off-island format available through the platform.
When the festival established its physical headquarters in Mallorca, the Mestres del Cinema initiative was added. These awards have been presented to European cinema legends like Isabelle Huppert and Judi Dench, as well as major Hollywood actors like Michael Douglas. In addition, the awards do not forget screenwriters or film composers. Thus, at last year’s ceremony, Alberto Iglesias, the composer of the soundtracks for such legendary films as Talk to Her and Lucía y el sexo, took home the statuette, which was presented to him by Queen Letizia. The next edition will also feature an exceptional award-winning composer: Oscar Desplat.
Another of the focal points of Atlantis is music. This idea of putting music at the center is one of the cornerstones of a festival that hosts offerings for all tastes, creating programs where entertainment and cinema intertwine. This coming Sunday, the 26th, Laaza will perform at the opening gala, while the closing ceremony will feature the melodious voice of Leonor Watling, along with Sorogoyen’s aforementioned film.
The growth of the festival
The festival has enjoyed steady growth over the years. What began with just a couple of venues has expanded to cover almost every corner of the city. It now enjoys the support of cinemas and iconic venues like the Rivoli and Cineciudad, allowing it to host retrospectives dedicated to specific filmmakers, such as those devoted to Fassbinder or Chantal Akerman.
The festival also features Mallorcan productions. This year, two stand out: Forastera, by Lucía Aleñar, and La Carn, by Joan Porcell. Both films have recently been successful in Toronto and Málaga, respectively, where Garau, the lead actor and co-writer along with the director, won the award for best performance. Specifically, the film won two Biznagas: Best Actor for Garau and Best Film. Marga Melià, from Mallorca, will also present her documentary “Suportant el paradís” in the nonfiction section.
All of this makes this year’s edition of the festival one of the most anticipated events of the Mallorcan summer, bringing together art, cinema, and music – without forgetting that summer leisure time can be an opportunity to enjoy films that aspire to do more than simply entertain.
