Exploring Formentera through “Lucía y el sexo”: the Spain Film Commission pilot programme debuts in Donostia

During the prestigious San Sebastián Film Festival, and as a result of the collaboration between the Illes Balears and the Spain Film Commission, the island of Formentera became one of the highlights of the festival on Tuesday. Guided by the film Lucía y el sexo, the island was one of four territories featured in the inaugural presentation of the Experiences Programme. This initiative, promoted within the framework of the Spain Screen Grand Tour, aims to enhance the country’s audiovisual heritage as an alternative path for responsible and innovative tourism, placing cinematic legacy at the heart of the proposal.

From the Kursaal Press Club, it was Julio Medem, director of the film, who emphasised Formentera’s virtues during the presentation, highlighting the emerging symbiosis between the film’s locations, its protagonists, and the cinematic experience for visitors. Institutional representatives of the Balearic Islands were also present, including the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports, Jaume Bauzà, and the director of the Illes Balears Film Commission, Diana de la Cuadra. Both highlighted “the opportunities this programme offers to discover the island of Formentera in a very special way.”

It is worth noting that this presentation also marked the culmination of work carried out in Formentera during the initial meeting on 11 September. The gathering included not only various private entities but also public institutions such as the Consell de Formentera and the Ibiza Film Commission. This work is part of the Experiencies Programme, financed by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism – State Secretariat for Tourism (SETUR), through Next Generation EU funds.

Furthermore, the presence of Balearic audiovisual productions was also significant at the 73rd edition of the San Sebastián Film Festival. This presence was visible in several ways. First, through the participation of two regional professionals among the films selected for this year’s edition: Charli Bujosa, as executive co-producer of one of the Official Section films, "Flores para Antonio"; and Rafa Cortés, featured in the Made in Spain section as director of "Amanece en Samaná". In addition, Balearic producer Solworks participated in the series "La Ruta. Volumen 2: Ibiza", presented to the press during the same event.

Second, through the extensive Balearic delegation that travelled to the Basque Country to develop their audiovisual projects within the festival’s industrial framework. In this case, the delegation was accompanied institutionally by the Illes Balears Film Commission and the three island film commissions, which once again collaborated to enhance the potential reach of the regional audiovisual sector.