Faithful to her summer appointment in Palma, Queen Letizia closed the Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest this Sunday. The wife of Felipe VI was in charge of presenting the Master of Cinema award to the French composer Alexandre Desplat, a two-time Oscar winner who has received 12 nominations for this award. At the 16th edition of this closing ceremony, which the Queen usually attends every summer during her stay in the Balearic capital, she witnessed the premiere of El ser querido alongside its director, Rodrigo Sorogoyen, and its star, Javier Bardem. The event was also attended by cast members Victoria Luengo, Raúl Arévalo, Melina Mathews, screenwriter Isabel Peña, and producers Eduardo Villanueva and Nacho Lavilla.
The Queen was received upon her arrival at the festival held at La Misericordia in Palma by the President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, and the Balearic President, Marga Prohens. She was also accompanied by the city’s mayor, Jaime Martínez, and the president of the Consell, Llorenç Galmés. The gala began with a musical performance by the Mallorcan artist Júlia Colom, followed by the presentation of the night’s awards. Actors Miguel Bernardeau and Gael García Bernal also attended the event.
After receiving the award from Queen Letizia, Desplat spoke about his close relationship with Mallorca. Since he first visited in 1990, the island, he said, has been the source of inspiration for many of his compositions, such as the Oscar-winning soundtracks of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and The Shape of Water (2017). “No one ever truly becomes a master,” said Desplat, joking that he will keep the award hidden so that “no one thinks” he is a master.
In addition to the Master of Cinema award to the French composer, the audience award was given to El ciclo del amor; the Balearic talent award for best short film to La Barraca; and the best feature film award of Talent Balear to La carn. Mala bèstia was honored with the Agustí Villaronga lady award, and the best film award in the official section went to Lionel. The Trends section award for best film was won by Blue Film.
The event ended with the screening of the film starring Javier Bardem, who attended the event with his siblings Carlos and Mónica. “Enjoy the film, which we made with a lot of love, with very good people in front of and behind the camera. I hope that spirit is contagious,” said Bardem, convinced that the film, which premiered at the Cannes Festival last May, will “move and shock” the audience. Director Sorogoyen took the opportunity to explain that the film, which talks about “fatherhoods, affections, and redemptions,” was made with a lot of love and craft and will premiere in Spanish cinemas on August 26. Victoria Luengo, who plays Bardem’s daughter, highlighted her happiness to be able to premiere this project in her native Mallorca.
View this post on Instagram
The Atlàntida Mallorca Film Fest, held over 10 days and attended by 53,500 people, is not Queen Letizia’s only appointment in Palma. Together with King Felipe VI, on Tuesday, August 4, they will host the traditional summer reception at the Marivent Palace for dozens of representatives from society, culture, and politics. The event, held every summer, constitutes a meeting between the Head of State and Balearic society. Last year, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía made their debut at the event, and for the occasion, they learned their names in Spanish Sign Language (LSE) with the president of the Mallorca Deaf Association, Annie Ruiz. This year, the Kings’ daughters are also expected to attend the event.
As part of the institutional agenda of the Kings during their stay on the island, the Monarch will present the awards to the champions of the 44th King’s Sailing Cup next Saturday at the Royal Palace of La Almudaina. One day after attending the inauguration in Cali of the elected president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella.
Read more The sargassum map in Mexico: Caribbean beaches have received 27 times more tons than usual
