The promotional film of the island was commissioned forty years ago by Fomento de Turismo but was not used. It will be screened between March and April, coinciding with the anniversary of Villaronga’s birth.

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An unpublished film by Agustí Villaronga

The Consell de Mallorca will screen an unpublished film by Agustí Villaronga in the spring, coinciding with the anniversary of his birth. The promotional film of the island was commissioned forty years ago by Fomento de Turismo, but it was not used because the result was not liked. Furthermore, the Vice President of the Consell de Mallorca and Councillor of Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, has announced that the process of digitalising the film is underway, and on the day of the screening, some of the people who took part in the filming will talk about their experience.

The short film is called “Mallorca”, is almost 20 minutes long and is a blown-up copy in standard format for theatrical projection from the original film, which was shot in 16 mm. Roca pointed out that the film is kept in the Consell de Mallorca’s Sound and Image Archive and that it was found by the journalist Cati Moyà a few months ago.

This Monday, 22nd January, marks one year since the death of Mallorcan filmmaker Agustí Villaronga (Palma, 1953-2023) and, precisely to remember one of the most international directors the island has ever had, the Consell de Mallorca announces the screening of the film and its digitalisation in high definition, which will be carried out in a professional laboratory in Barcelona or Madrid, given that this format cannot be digitalised in Mallorca.

The film was commissioned by Fomento de Turismo, sponsored by the Consell de Mallorca, around 1985. It was in line with other commissions that had been made to film directors to give a new or unprecedented vision of the island. The film conceived by Agustí Villaronga was a montage of images with a soundtrack by composers Philip Glass and Win Mertens.

The short film begins with the silhouette of a boat crossing the sea. Meanwhile, a voiceover says that “all Mediterranean routes lead to Mallorca, where placidity welcomes travellers at the end of all odysseys”. This is followed by a play of light and shadow on the Serra de Tramuntana, Bellver Castle and the Drac caves.

The film did not convince those in charge of Fomento de Turismo de Mallorca, who decided to commission writer Valentí Puig to write a script to add a voice-over, with a more clearly touristic message. Villaronga did not agree, and this second version did not convince the tourism organisation either and ended up in a drawer. A Consell de Mallorca drawer has now been recovered.