FILMMAKING FORCE
Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival goes from strength to strength as its ever-developing Cinematography Focus enhances the event experience for attendees and celebrates the craft.
The spotlight shone on the art of cinematography at Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival (EMIFF) as the aptly named event continues to evolve.
Festival founder, Sandra Lipski, believes the Cinematography Focus strand has become a vital aspect of the event because “it not enriches the festival experience and fosters a deeper connection within the film community”.
Since its introduction in 2022, the Cinematography Focus has attracted a diverse audience and expanded the festival community. “Over the past three years, we’ve drawn in some of the most prestigious industry brands such as ARRI, Leitz, ShotDeck, Palma Pictures and international media partners from the US, Spain, and the UK,” continues Lipski.
“Our strategic partnerships with organisations like AEC and IMAGO have reinforced our dedication to making this segment of the festival a premier international gathering for cinematography enthusiasts.”
Lipski and the team take pride in festival initiatives like the Cinematography Icon Award which has honoured luminaries such as Ed Lachman ASC and Erik Messerschmidt ASC. “Additionally, the educational panels hosted by British Cinematographer and Camera & Light magazine, along with inspiring masterclasses, play a crucial role in nurturing the next generation of cinematographers,” adds Lipski.
Anthony Dod Mantle ASC BSC DFF received the latest Cinematography Icon Award at a glittering opening ceremony at the end of October 2024, presented by Swedish director Ruben Östlund, whose Palme d’Or-winning film Triangle of Sadness opened and won the Best International Feature Film Award at 2022’s EMIFF.
In his acceptance speech, Dod Mantle highlighted that “film brings everybody together all around the world” and urged audiences to “keep going to the cinema because that’s where film belongs”.
The Evolution Icon Award went to actress Annette Benning, who sadly was unable to attend the ceremony due to personal reasons. Other female forces celebrated by the festival included Austrian auteur and screenwriter Jessica Hausner (Evolution Vision Award) and German actress Emilia Schüle (Evolution New Talent Award). The opening ceremony drew to a close with a screening of black-and-white film La Cocina set in a bustling Times Square kitchen (Dir. Alonso Ruizpalacios, Cin. Juan Pablo Ramírez AMC).
Magical Mallorca
Held in Mallorca’s picturesque capital, Palma, and supported by the Fundación Mallorca Turismo, the festival – which launched 12 years ago – celebrates Spanish and international filmmaking talent with a standout programme of screenings, panels, masterclasses, Q&As, and networking opportunities. Lipski highlights ideal weather conditions and more than 300 sunny days a year among the reasons to choose Mallorca as a filming location. Mallorca also boasts convenient flight connections to major European cities daily, along with a weekly direct flight to New York City. This extensive travel network facilitates easy and swift access for film crews.
Its stunning landscapes deliver a variety of backdrops, from medieval castles and modern city architecture to pristine sandy beaches and majestic mountain ranges. “Most locations are within a two-hour drive of each other, enabling seamless and efficient location changes during production,” says Lipski. “The island is also home to over 50 production companies and 12 service providers, equipped to handle any film, television, commercial, or content shoot. Mallorca’s multilingual crews possess excellent technical skills, ensuring that every project is executed with professionalism and expertise.”
Cinematography at the centre
Setting an example to other events by dedicating a strand of the festival to the cinematographic craft, EMIFF’s latest Cinematography Focus included a panel on colour with Dod Mantle and Diana Olifirova, hosted by British Cinematographer.
Sharing her creative approach to using colour in series such as We Are Lady Parts, Olifirova said: “I can do naturalistic things as well but sometimes it’s nice when you have exciting transitions and something you want to say with colour as then you go can further and play.”
Dod Mantle agreed: “You go to the cinema to be reminded of the world but also to forget about your own world and be taken somewhere else.”
Following the discussion, Dod Mantle treated the audience to a masterclass session on his career and work, hosted by Rainer Lipski, cinematographer, co-founder and strategic director of Cinematography Focus. The following day, Dod Mantle’s Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire was screened followed by a Q&A. Outside of the Cinematography Focus, highlights included a Girls on Film panel, filmmakers networking sessions, and a screening of documentary-fiction hybrid film 2073 followed by a Q&A with director Asif Kapadia.
Once again the cinematic celebration culminated in an awards ceremony which, like the opening night gala, took place in the heart of Palma at the stunning historic Teatre Principal. The big winner on the night was Los Frikis (Dir. Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz, Cin. Santiago Gonzalez) which scooped the International Feature Film Award. In the International Feature Film Cinematography category Juan Pablo Ramírez AMC won for La Cocina. In the Debut Feature Film category, Jupiter (Dir. Benjamin Pfohl) scooped the prize for Best Film, with Widow Clicquot winning both Best Director (Thomas Napper) and Best Cinematography (Caroline Champetier AFC). Other winners included Carlos Cuervo (Best Cinematography Award in the International Short Live Action category for Chiquita Piconera) and Edu Biurrun (Best Cinematography in the Made in Baleares Short Film category for Nudos).
Festival future
As the hardworking EMIFF team begin planning next year’s festival, British Cinematographer looks forward to partnering with the event again for what promises to be another standout line-up of screenings, sessions, and plenty of cinematography-focused offerings. “The festival has experienced significant growth over the past three years, evident in its increasingly diverse audience and the addition of high-profile guests, including Mads Mikkelsen and two-time Cannes-winning director Ruben Östlund, who have joined the festival board. Submissions have steadily increased, and in the past five years, selected films have garnered Academy Award nominations and wins,” says Lipski.
Looking ahead, the primary goal is to maintain the event’s high standards while fostering an environment where filmmakers feel both at home and part of something exceptional. Lipski and the team “aim to provide a platform for emerging filmmakers and facilitate access to inspiring industry trailblazers”.
To further develop the Cinematography Focus the festival wants to create a dedicated showroom where brands can showcase their latest innovative cinematography equipment. Lipski adds: “Our vision is to establish an inclusive and diverse international cinematography hub right here in the stunning setting of Mallorca, where professionals and enthusiasts alike can come together to celebrate and advance the art of cinematography.”
