IBIZA WILL BE THE CAPITAL OF THE FILM INDUSTRY FROM 29 MAY TO 7 JUNE 2007

- Film producers unite on the balearic island of Ibiza to form an exciting new meeting point for actors, directors, distributors and executives of the film industry.
-Stars of the big screen support new scientific projects destined to preserve the ecologic balance of this natural paradise and the recuperation of marine species in danger of extinction.


4 Sept.- The few fishermen left who still fish the seas around Ibiza keep hoping that one day as they pass by Cala Gracio they will once again see the goleta “Zaca” anchored in the bay with Errol Flynn wishing them good morning as he raises his bottle of vodka to heaven..

Ten kilometres from there and a decade later in the 60’s Santa Eulalia was impressed by the elegant manners of their new neighbour Sir Laurence Olivier. Others, less elegant, had long hair and made necklaces whilst living among the pine trees, some of these were Berkeley students hiding out from the Vietnam war. In those same pine woods but further south in Es Cubells, Ursula Andres built her new home.

Turning back the clock on Ibiza we see Orson Welles walking around in San Antonio, Roger Moore signing postcards with his face on them and toasting with whisky the island of Conejera in whose caves, they say, Hannibal was born. Not far from there Mike Oldfield dedicated his prayers to the melted wax cathedral known as Es Vedra and these returned with an enchanted sound called Tubular Bells. Meanwhile, a little further on Roman Polanski sat in his garden and in an afternoon wrote the sceenplay for “The ninth gate”.

Ibiza has been and still is a refuge for actors and a fountain of inspiration for creative minds, especially those of the cinema.

For the first time in its history, the island will open its doors for the ten days of the festival to actors, directors, screen writers, distributors, financiers and producers and offer them original and exiting venues where they can participate in forums where new cinematographic proposals can be discussed in the relaxed atmosphere of this island paradise with the freedom which has always defined both the residents and the visitors.

Two years hard work by Gail Fear and the Benlloch brothers, Xavier, Jordi and Daniel culminate in the birth of the 1st Ibiza International Film Festival.

The festival will follow the directrices of the FIAPF (Federation Internationale des Associations de Producteurs de Films), thus guaranteeing the quality and international recognition of the event.

Where and when

The Ibiza International Film Festival (IFF) will take place after Cannes and coincides with the start of the tourist season, which means that all services will be up and running, hotels, transport, restaurants, bars and discos, but without the massification of tourists found in the high season.

The festival will have events all over the island in Ibiza town, Santa Eulalia, San Antonio, San Juan, and also in Formentera..

The glamorous atmosphere, the gastronomy and the tourist attractions of the island make the festival the ideal place for guests and visitors.

The IFF has the capacity to hold up to 500 screenings and counts on over 3500 seats in the various screening rooms available. These numbers mean that the IFF is able to offer from the begining identical capacity to that of other top quality festivals. The mild climate will also allow the screening of open air projections.


Structure

The IFF will have sections dedicated to film, television and music.

The film section is divided into six parts, one for each continent (Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and Canada, South America and Australasia) with a seventh section dedicated to minority languages such as Welsh, Catalan etc., to be known as “The lost continent”. This structure guarantees participation of all productions in equal condition.
The “Lost Continent” section hopes to contribute to cultural and linguistic patrimony in accord with the lines set up by UNESCO.
In the first edition of the IFF four films will paticipate from each continent with the winners competing among themselves for the best of the world film.

In the two remaining sections one will be dedicated to music, including soundtracks, music videos and musicals, and the other to the world of television where TV pilots will compete, along with animation series, documentaries, commercials and comedy series.

Short films made in Ibiza will participate in a non competitive event in which “Freelancers” and “Students” will be able to show their films.

A special award will be given to films on human rights, especially those dedicated to freedom of speech. Films must have been made in the 24 months prior to the festival.


Argentina

Each year the IFF will invite another country to exhibit its work. The INCAA (National Institute of Film and Audiovisual Arts) has confirmed its presence at the IFF during 29 May to 7 June 2007.

Xavier Benlloch, director of the IFF was quoted as “being delighted to be able to count on one of the best latinamerican filmoteques for the first edition of the IFF”.


Digital IFF

One of the events that will set the Ibiza Film Festival apart from so many others is the Digital IFF, an exhibition/trade Fair that will run concurrently with the IFF for five days -Filmmakers are continually investigating how these new methods will assist them in the production process, while exhibitors, distributors and broadcasters are all harnessing new digital technologies to fundamentally change their working models. And, of course, consumers are being inundated with the end results of these advances: from improved digital projection systems in cinemas and high definition home cinema systems, to internet-based delivery and the introduction of handheld devices on which they can store and view films whilst commuting. There will be a significant drive to make the Digital IFF appeal to younger members of the community offering entry points and skills workshops that will bring the magic of filmmaking within reach of everyone.
During the twelve months between festival and festival there will be a permanent web festival for mini and micro movies created for internet and new digital media.

Attached VIP’s

The organization has already attached a series of actors and other members of the industry both as jury members and presenters for the several events and awards ceremonies.

David Suchet: Famous for his marvellous interpretation of Hercules Poirot in the TV series of the same name. The actor recieved the MBE in 2002 from Her Majesty the Queen. Suchet quoted, “it is an excellent idea to promote a festival is such a lovely place”.

Ronnie Taylor: Veteran DOP who shared the Oscar for best cinematography for Gandhi with Richard Attenborough (1982) he also worked on films such as The Island of Dr. Moreau (1977), ‘The Experts’ (1989), ‘Tommy’ with Ken Russell (1975), and as camera operator in the first ‘Star Wars’ with George Lucas (1977), and ‘The Big Sleep’ (1978). He has also worked with talents such as Stanley Kubrick, Dario Argento, and Karel Reisz.

Demián Bichir: Mexican actor who has worked along with Selma Hayek in “Time of the Butterflies”, Penelope Cruz in “Sin noticias de Dios’ and Victoria Abril in “Hipnos”.. He has also participated in various festivals as a jury member.

Jonathan Debin: Producer, just finished shooting “Silk” an adapatation of the novel by Alessandro Baricco, directed by Francois Girand (Red Violin) and starring Keira Knightly and Alfred Molina, currently shooting in Morocco Debin also produced “Sunshine” with Ralph Fiennes, “51st State” with Samuel Jackson and “Max” with John Cusak.

David Winters: The only actor to go from Broadway to Hollywood with West Side Story, he was also choreographer to Elvis and producer of numerous films, his latest being “The King Maker” with John Rhys-Davis and Gary Stretch, at present he is preparing his next film “Nicholas Jingles.”

Michael Hoenig: Composer and music producer. Scriptwriter, composer and director of the groundbreaking Koyaanisqatsi which won numerous awards, other works include 9 and a half weeks and Departure from the Northern Wasteland.

Steve Norman: The good looking one from the 80’s group Spandau Ballet, presently he lives in London where he is producing and composing music and also has the group Clooudfish.

Anwen Rees Hurt: British TV producer, at present she is preparing, together with John Hurt, the film “Regret not speaking” by Richard Kwietniowski.

Carmen Vidal: silver medal winner in the “Student Academy Awards Competition”, juvenile Oscars 2006.

Ecologic projects

Ibiza and Formentera form one of the last natural paradises on the planet. The sea surrounding the islands is rich in marine fauna and posidonia seaweed which constitutes the biggest living organism in the world being several square kilometers in size.
The future of these islands, similar to many others in the mediterranean, where the combination of progress and conservation is in constant balance, is everyones business.
The IFF wishes to take advantage of the presence of internationally renowned actors to promote awareness and back campaigns for the correct conservation of the environment,

The recovery of marine species that are close to extinction with the direct participation of these famous stars is one of the most spectacular scientific projects and about which further information will be given in the near future.

Who are we

Xavier Benlloch, director of IFF. Xavi is a creative artist and has been working in film for over 15 years. During his years in the States he worked with Disney, Warner Bros and King Features amongst others. At present he has a sucessful animation company and is developing several feature lenght scripts with his brothers.

Gail Fear, co-director of IFF. Started working in films in 1968 with the likes of Orson Welles and Sergio Leone. At present she owns and runs a production services company and is working on several film scripts and two TV series.

Jorge Benlloch, director USA IFF. Jordi runs the USA office of the IFF. Before going to the States he was marketing director of Kelme and Tabacos de Filipinas. Another talented artist he has worked on films such as Minority Report, Hell Raiser and The Jungle Book.

Daniel Benlloch, Marketing director IFF. Daniel is also from the world of marketing and another talented artist, whilst in the states he worked in special effects, and design and construction of sets of both features and commercials.

Jason Bridge, technical director of IFF. With 14 years experience in event production, he has organized events such as the BAFTA’s as well as premiers of films such as Star Wars, Spiderman, and Terminator

Nigel Griffiths International press officer of IFF. Had long career as asst. editor of the prestigious london newspaper the “Evening Standard” . The Evening Standard British Film Awards is highly considered in Europe and Nigel played an important part in its organization. He is now based in Ibiza.