The Spanish island of Ibiza played host last week to its first international film festival with nightly disco parties and appearances by its all-star patrons: John Hurt, Terry Gilliam and Alan Parker.
Last night, the Spanish production La Caja, directed by Juan Carlos Falcon, took the award for Best Film and co-stars Angela Molina y Elvira Miguez shared the prize for Best Actress. A US production, Choking Man by Steve Barrow, won five Golden Falcons, including best director.
La Caja tells the story of an unpopular sailor's wake in a Canary Island village and Choking Man is about an Ecuadorian dishwasher in New York.
Eighteen films from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa competed at the new festival, whose slogan is 'celebrating the independent spirit.' The aim of the festival is to promote young independent filmmakers and raise the island's profile as a creative capital - beyond its reputation as a destination for holiday-making industry executives.
This inaugural edition was spearheaded by local authorities and film industry professionals, such as festival director Xavier Benlloch, who runs an animation company, Naturetoons, on the island.
Sponsors included car manufacturer Seat and local investors such as the Pacha chain of discos, hotels and restaurants.
The festival jury included Mexican actor Bemian Bichir, UK pop musician Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet, UK producer Timothy Burrill, Hollywood producer Jonathan Debin, and director of photography Ronnie Taylor.
During the event, which ran from May 29 to June 7, Monty Python animator and director Gilliam offered a master film class, and a panel of Spanish directors including Antonio Hernandez and David and Tristan Ulloa discussed the film making process in Spain.
Last night, the Spanish production La Caja, directed by Juan Carlos Falcon, took the award for Best Film and co-stars Angela Molina y Elvira Miguez shared the prize for Best Actress. A US production, Choking Man by Steve Barrow, won five Golden Falcons, including best director.
La Caja tells the story of an unpopular sailor's wake in a Canary Island village and Choking Man is about an Ecuadorian dishwasher in New York.
Eighteen films from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Africa competed at the new festival, whose slogan is 'celebrating the independent spirit.' The aim of the festival is to promote young independent filmmakers and raise the island's profile as a creative capital - beyond its reputation as a destination for holiday-making industry executives.
This inaugural edition was spearheaded by local authorities and film industry professionals, such as festival director Xavier Benlloch, who runs an animation company, Naturetoons, on the island.
Sponsors included car manufacturer Seat and local investors such as the Pacha chain of discos, hotels and restaurants.
The festival jury included Mexican actor Bemian Bichir, UK pop musician Steve Norman of Spandau Ballet, UK producer Timothy Burrill, Hollywood producer Jonathan Debin, and director of photography Ronnie Taylor.
During the event, which ran from May 29 to June 7, Monty Python animator and director Gilliam offered a master film class, and a panel of Spanish directors including Antonio Hernandez and David and Tristan Ulloa discussed the film making process in Spain.
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