Ibicine festival honors light and laughter at its fourth edition
The Ibiza film scene enjoyed a vibrant premiere as comedian Eva Soriano stepped into the spotlight to present the Astarte Awards for the Official Short Film Division during the fourth Ibicine festival edition. The ceremony took place in the Can Ventosa auditorium, celebrating a year of inventive short films, and featured an Astarte of Honor awarded to Helher Escribano in recognition of a long, meaningful festival career tied to the Ibizan spirit.
In a post-show press conference at Can Ventosa, Soriano spoke with enthusiasm about the honor while playfully hinting at whether her return to the stage would be expected after a backstage moment. Festival director Cayetana Guillén Cuervo stressed that Soriano already enjoys a loyal island audience, noting frequent red-carpet attendance by festivalgoers. She reminded the audience that the honor signified a lifetime of contribution to Ibicine, not a single moment of fame.
Comedy, a vital strand of the festival?
The winner underscored the importance of recognizing the people who shape Ibicine’s humor. Comedy is often treated as secondary, with dramas frequently stealing the spotlight. Soriano joked about the difficulty of making people laugh, acknowledging that humor is deeply subjective and reaching a broad audience with comedy presents unique challenges. Her remarks hinted at a broader goal: to raise the profile of comedy within festival programming and give it the visibility it deserves.
Escribano, who attended the panel, observed that the pandemic oddly revived interest in comedy as audiences sought lighter fare amid intense drama. He pointed to the festival’s sixth edition as evidence of a renewed appetite for humor, noting that a top fiction short and the best actor award winner’s film both lean into comedic moments. The host expressed gratitude for the recognition and lightheartedly mused about how the awards might travel beyond Ibiza, joking about delivering the prize to Madrid while keeping the mood festive.
Escribano reflected on a lifelong link to Ibicine, sharing plans to keep returning as long as the festival invites him. He described arriving in Madrid later and cherishing memories of the four days spent in Eivissa, conveying a strong sense of belonging to the festival community and openness to future involvement.
Best Short Editing
Journalists spoke with Tamara Berbés, star of Tula by Beatriz de Silva, recognizing her as the winner of the Astarte Award for Best Short Fiction. She recalled the surprise of receiving the award and described how the film centers on a sensitive relationship set against a school backdrop. While the story treads tender ground, humor remains a tool to address meaningful themes, inviting audiences who might not typically watch a TV series to engage with its message. Berbés suggested using humor as a vehicle for broader social conversations online and in public discourse.
Sex education
Berbés commented on Beatriz de Silva’s screenplay, noting its concise structure: two actors, one gap, and twelve minutes that convey a precise idea without filler. The discussion highlighted how early choices in storytelling can steer audiences toward a deeper understanding of sexual education and related challenges. The emphasis was on clarity and purpose, avoiding unnecessary detours and keeping the focus on the core issue.
Short, an art in itself
In conversations with the media, Berbés argued that short films deserve greater recognition within cinema. She described the format as intimate and powerful, capable of telling complete stories in a compact timeframe. She pointed to twelve to twenty-minute pieces as strong options for festivals that can facilitate greater exposure and economic viability. Berbés celebrated the festival’s success in attracting a broad audience and spotlighting shorts across Ibiza and beyond.
She highlighted how the festival’s platform could serve as a bridge to mainstream distribution. The discussion touched on initiatives like Cayetana Guillén Cuervo’s Española version, suggesting more outlets are purchasing short films and more cycles are shown in major theaters. This year’s Astarte Honorary Award symbolized a commitment to broadening Spanish cinema’s reach through short-form storytelling and wider media pipelines.
Berbés spoke of the craft involved in telling a compelling story in twelve to fifteen minutes, noting that mastering such a compact form is a real achievement and a mark of artistry.
Best Short Documentary
Earlier, a public podcast from Nassau, produced by IB3 Ràdio, featured Escribano, Soriano, Berbés and Alberto Utrera, director of Sembrando el futuro, discussing the Astarte Award for Best Short Documentary. The documentary explores biodiversity loss in crops through a global journey led by the Roca brothers from Can Roca. Utrera highlighted the pivotal role chefs play in promoting local and seasonal produce, underscoring how culinary practice can raise awareness and reduce environmental impact. The speakers emphasized the festival’s role in elevating diverse narrative forms and encouraging responsible storytelling within the screen arts.
The director thanked the Ibicine team for the award and stressed the importance of festivals that bring visibility to varied genres and voices. They underscored the value of platforms that support independent projects and celebrate the power of short documentaries to convey urgent messages—often more succinctly and accessibly than longer formats.
Astarte Awards
After the Ibicine ceremony, Soriano and Berbés urged greater attention to comedy, arguing against dismissive labels and advocating for its vital role in cultural conversation.