The event, which takes place in the largest of Spain's Balearic Islands between Oct. 28 and Nov. 4, will also honor veteran German actress Iris Berben Oscar-winning Swiss-Austrian director Edward Berger (“Conclave,” “All Quiet on the Western Front”) and American cinematographer Matthew Libatique (“Requiem for a Dream,” “Black Swan”), a triple Oscar nominee, will receive the top honors at the upcoming Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival. Berger will receive the Evolution Vision Award, which recognizes narrative excellence reflecting the mission of building bridges between cultures and people. Libatique will receive the Cinematography Icon Award, recognizing artistic and technical excellence in the art of cinematography, while Berben will be honored with the Evolution Icon Award in homage to a performer whose extensive and brilliant career has achieved international acclaim.
In celebration of Berger, the festival will host a special screening of Cannes Best Director winner “Fatherland,” directed by Paweł Pawlikowski and produced by the “Conclave” director. The screening will be followed by a conversation between Berger and producer Jeanne Tremsal. Earlier this week, it was announced Berger would be reteaming with “The Riders” star Brad Pitt for a long-anticipated “World War Z” sequel.
Berben will receive the inaugural Evolution Icon Award during the festival’s opening gala on Oct. 28. The festival has praised Berben’s work beyond the screen, especially her tenure as the President of the German Film Academy between 2010 and 2019, where she “helped strengthen the public profile and cultural significance of German cinema.” As for Libatique, Darren Aronofsky’s frequent collaborator will give an Icon Talk followed by a roundtable discussion on cinematography. Libatique is the fifth recipient of the award dedicated to the craft, with the festival also hosting a Cinematography Focus forum between Oct. 28-30.
The forum “reinforces one of Evolution’s key professional platforms, dedicated specifically to the craft, technique, and creation of the cinematic image.” Spanish actor and producer Marc Clotet will preside over this year’s jury. The actor’s return to Mallorca has a special significance, given that he was featured in Benito Zambrano’s “The Sleeping Voice,” the opening film of the festival’s inaugural edition in 2012. In 2021, Clotet founded the production company Funicular Films alongside Aina Clotet, Marta Baldó, and Jan Andreu.
Through this company, he has spearheaded projects such as the successful series “This Is Not Sweden” and the Cannes Critics’ Week-winning film “Viva,” which played at the major French festival earlier this year. The festival also revealed more details of its Made in Baleares section, dedicated to bridging together films from the Balearic Islands. This year, the section will feature 32 projects, including 17 short films, seven feature films, five documentary short films and three student short films.
The selection reflects the diversity, professional growth, and rising ambition of the Balearic audiovisual sector. It also reinforces Evolution’s commitment to a program that blends local talent with new voices and established figures from international cinema. The festival’s 15th edition will also see the event expand into the municipality of Calvià, which is celebrating its Year of Cinema in 2026.
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