Since the 1950s, Mallorca has been a magnet for Hollywood icons, drawn to the island’s breathtaking beauty, tranquillity, and authentic Mediterranean charm. From legends like Ava Gardner, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, and Errol Flynn to modern-day stars including Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Tom Cruise, Michael Douglas, and Catherine Zeta-Jones, many have fallen in love with this picturesque Mediterranean paradise.
Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival
This month, Mallorca will once again take centre stage as the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival (EMIFF) returns for its 13th edition. Running from October 30th to November 5th, the festival continues its rise as one of Europe’s fastest growing festivals for independent filmmakers. With a carefully curated lineup of over 140 films, including feature films, documentaries, short films, and animations, EMIFF promises to deliver another unforgettable celebration of cinema. Apart from screenings the festival offers a programme of film talks, masterclasses, workshops and cinematography focus. New features this year will include Conscious Cinema (presenting the first environmental film series), Cinema and Sport (collaborating with Real Mallorca Football Club) and the Evolution Script Lab for screenwriters.
International film stars
Over the years, the EMIFF has attracted a constellation of Hollywood stars, including Daniel Brühl, Melissa Leo, Danny DeVito, and Ana de Armas. Last year’s standout film, The Promised Land, starring Mads Mikkelsen, took home awards for Best Cinematography, Best Actor, and Best International Film. This year, the prestigious Icon Award will be presented to Annette Bening during the festival’s grand opening ceremony. Anthony Dodd Mantle will receive the cinematography award and the German actress, Emilia Schüle, will receive the new talent award.
Sandra Lipski, the festival’s founder and director, shares her vision for EMIFF: “Our mission is to bridge cultures through international film, creating a thriving community where independent filmmakers can connect, inspire one another, and showcase their work in this stunning Mediterranean setting.”
Atlántida Film Fest
The island’s other film festival is the Atlàntida Film Fest, which celebrated its 14th edition in July of this year, was established as the first online film festival in Spain with the mission of creating public awareness of the best international films not screened in cinemas. Its objectives are visibility, using the Internet window, and to highlight Mallorca as an international film venue. It is regarded as the most successful hybrid festival in the world in terms of number of spectators and this year’s programme included talks by Michael Douglas and Liv Ulman who join a list of important international figures who have attended past festivals including Judi Dench, Ken Loach, Vanessa Redgrave, Stephen Frears, Roland Joffé, Barbara Broccoli, Boris Pahor and Barbet Schroeder.
Mallorca: A Rising Star for Film and Television Productions
The island’s unique blend of natural beauty and cultural diversity continues to attract global film and TV productions.
Comments Pedro Barbadillo, President of the Mallorca Film Commission: “We attribute the success of Mallorca as an international film set to several factors: the variety of locations – sea, mountains, countryside, city – with very little distance between them. The locations are also very versatile, they could be found anywhere in the world, such as Italy, the French Riviera, the Caribbean or Turkey. Secondly, Mallorca offers international production companies an established business base and professional expertise from camera and sound rental to drone cameras. The island is blessed with great weather, special light and many hours of sunshine, especially in the peak filming seasons of spring and autumn. Finally, Mallorca’s connectivity is a key factor – providing easy access to key European cities in approximately 2 hours’ flying time”.
International Blockbusters
Blockbusters such as Cloud Atlas, starring Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, and award-winning BBC TV series The Night Manager (featuring Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, Tom Hiddleston, and Tom Hollander) have showcased the island’s cinematic appeal. Ongoing productions include the BBC TV series The Mallorca Files, and for the final season of the Netflix hit The Crown. Last year, stars Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, and Zoe Saldaña, filmed the TV series Lioness on the island, while this month sees the production of the Doctor Who spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, taking place in various locations around Mallorca.