The cry for Gaza marks the beginning of Atlantis

PalmWith hundreds of people singing "Tourists go home"with Maria Jaume i Fades, with the screening of the official announcement of Palma's candidacy for the European Capital of Culture and with a couple of mentions of the genocide in Gaza. With this cocktail, the tenth edition of the Atlántida Mallorca Film Fest officially began in the city - the fortnight since it started in the digital patio", in a gala Rodrigo Sorogoyen collected the Masters of Cine award from the hands of actor Luis Zahera

The director of films such as The Beasts and series like New Years and Riot police He emphasized that he doesn't feel like a "master of anything" and wanted to dedicate the award "to Atlantis and all the festivals that make it possible for people to see the films we make." However, the bulk of his speech was devoted to condemning the genocide in Gaza, although he confessed that he hesitated for a long time about whether to say anything. "We've reached the point where it can make you speak the absolute truth, which is that they're killing innocent people," he declared shortly after acknowledging that he lives "in a kind of schizophrenia." "I spent the day in a wonderful hotel and I couldn't feel more privileged, grateful, and happy, but suddenly I realize that there's a genocide happening miles away, and I think we have to do something about it," the visibly moved filmmaker shared shortly before receiving one of the evening's standing ovations. "And I want to take this opportunity to call on everyone to demonstrate," he continued, "each of us from wherever we can and however we can, but it's time to react."

He also referred to the festival director, Jaume Ripoll, in his speech, which he took the opportunity to dedicate this year's edition to the memory of Fatima Hassouna, a Palestinian photojournalist who was killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza last April, shortly after finishing the montage. Put your soul on your hand and walk, which can be seen on July 31st in the same Patio de la Misericordia. "And Fatima said that when she died, she didn't want her photos to end up buried with her, so next Thursday we must show that her photos are still there and that festivals also serve to highlight the humanitarian crises that surround us," proclaimed Ripoll, who once again launched the maxim that runs through the festival. "Culture should be uncomfortable and disturbing, but it can also be entertaining," stated the editorial director of Filmin, who is now officially the second ambassador for Palma's bid to be European Capital of Culture, following Rels B. This was announced by the Councilor for Culture of Corte, Javier Bonet, in his speech, and by the Councilor for Culture and Heritage of the Mallorca Council, and by Jaume Bauzà, Councilor for Tourism, Culture and Sports. The company that is making Palma the European Capital of Culture, incidentally, was very present at the gala, as it was the venue chosen to screen the final version of the official announcement that will be presented to the jury, who must make the initial selection among the candidates from Spain. It's a video just over a minute long. very similar to the materials shared so far which ends with the slogan 'Think culture. Think Palma.'

In any case, one of the highlights of the night was when the group Fades came on stage to perform My dear, go home with Maria Jaume, protagonist of the inaugural concert, and the hundreds of people who filled the patio of the Misericordia have sung with them the tune that says "Tourists go home", turning the gala into a party full of vindication. Jaume has gone for work -"if I'm not a charro it's not because I'm bordo, it's because we have little time", he clarified- and has given a whole recital that has included songs from his different works, fromAutonomy for beginners until Xin xin and bye bye passing by Pure geography. After eleven at night the screening of the inaugural film began, Hello tristese, a remake of the classic directed by Otto Preminger in 1958, this time with Durga Chew-Bose in the lead role.

In parallel to all this,Local producers, filmmakers and screenwriters have reunited They took the opportunity to share ideas, secrets, and recommendations for the program "of the best festival in the Balearic Islands," as one of them defined it, although he immediately corrected himself to call it "one of the best." "Atlantis doesn't have to prove anything now, because it's more than established," summed up Pedro Vidal, regional secretary of culture for the Balearic Government. "Today the queen isn't here, but it's full of queens, that's all," proposed theater director and creator Joan Fullana as the headline for this article. And he was right.