Cinematography Focus
October 28–30, 2026
Step behind the camera and into the creative heart of filmmaking with our dedicated Cinematography Focus, a Festival section celebrating the art, vision, and craft of cinematography.
Open to everyone from professional directors of photography to directors, producers, actors, students, and passionate film lovers, this three-day programme invites participants to explore how images shape stories, emotion, and cinematic worlds.
Led by our Cinematography Icon Awardee, Matthew Libatique, ASC, the Cinematography Focus brings together leading international voices for inspiring conversations, practical learning, and fresh perspectives on the evolving language of the moving image.
The program will feature panels and talks presented in collaboration with British Cinematographer and Camera & Light Magazine, including a hands-on lighting workshop, an exclusive Icon Talk with Matthew Libatique, ASC, and a timely panel discussion on “The Female Gaze” in Cinematography, with much more to be announced.
Now in its fifth consecutive year, the Cinematography Focus has become a defining part of Evolution Mallorca's industry program and a meeting point for exceptional visual storytellers.
Previous editions have welcomed and honoured some of the world’s most influential cinematographers, including Ed Lachman, ASC; Erik Messerschmidt, ASC; Anthony Dod Mantle, BSC; Phedon Papamichael, ASC, GSC; Oona Menges, BSC; and Jamie Ramsay, SASC, with many more acclaimed artists joining the conversation over the years.
​
The full line-up of activities will be revealed on October 14.
Get your Cinematography Focus Festival Pass
Wednesday 28/10/26
18:00 h, Palau de Congressos
OPENING GALA
18:00 - 19:00 h Cóctel
19:00 - 20:00 h Gala & Presentation, Matthew Libatique, ASC Icon Award
20:00 - 22:00 h Opening Movie “Club Kid”
Thursday 29/10/26
Thursday 29/10/26, 10:00 - 11:00 h, Rivoli
FILMMAKER WELCOME
A relaxed morning gathering for filmmakers with projects selected in the festival program and Script Lab, alongside panelists and special guests. An opportunity to connect, meet fellow participants, and begin the festival with coffee and conversation.
11:00 - 12:30 h, Rivoli Sala 1 (in Spanish, translated by wordly)
CAMERA & LIGHT PANEL:
BEYOND THE ELEMENTS: DOPS, TEAMS AND TRUST IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENTS
A CAMERA & LIGHT MAG panel moderated by Carmen V. Albert, with Dani Saló AEC, Eric Börjeson López and Pep Bonet AEC, exploring how filming in challenging locations and adverse weather conditions shapes preparation, equipment choices, and collaboration between the director of photography and their key creative and technical partners.
29/10/26, 12:30 - 13:00 h, Rivoli Lounge
COFFEE BREAK
13:00 - 14:30 h, Rivoli Sala 1 (in english, translated by wordly)
THE FEMALE GAZE IN THE ERA OF AI AND SELF-COMMODIFICATION
The Female Gaze has changed how stories are told and who tells them. But AI-generated stories threaten to drag us back toward the clichés it has challenged. Meanwhile, social media has become the most powerful storytelling platform of our time, one where storytellers become the product themselves. Emmy-nominated cinematographer Valentina Caniglia, ASC, CCS, joins cinematographer and technologist Nic Sadler to explore the shifting relationship between image-making, identity, and authorship. Special guest to be announced.
15:30 - 17:00 h, Evolution Stage @ CEF Filmschool (in english)
INTRODUCTION TO VIRTUAL CINEMATOGRAPHY: BEYOND THE GREEN SCREEN
Led by VFX artist and CEF teacher Josep Antoni, this workshop introduces green screen, grey-screen workflows, LED backgrounds and AI—and what they mean for cinematography today. LED-background workflows will be included if available.
​
BLACK SWAN: SCREENING AND Q&A WITH CINEMATOGRAPHER MATTHEW LIBATIQUE, ASC
A screening of Darren Aronofsky’s psychological thriller Black Swan (2010), followed by a Q&A with cinematographer Matthew Libatique, ASC, who earned an Oscar nomination for the film. He’ll talk about his long collaboration with Aronofsky and how the film’s intimate, handheld camerawork pulls the audience into Nina’s unravelling mind.
Friday 30/10/26
​
10:00 - 11:30 h, Rivoli Sala 1 (in english, translated by wordly)
BRITISH CINEMATOGRAPHER PANEL
TRUSTING THE CAMERA: THE ACTOR- CINEMATOGRAPHER RELATIONSHIP ON SET
A British Cinematographer panel, moderated by digital journalist George White, exploring how actors and cinematographers build trust through lighting, framing, lenses and camera movement - and how these choices shape performance and story.
Panelists:
-
George White (Moderator - Digital Journalist at British Cinematographer Magazine)
-
Maria Dragus (Actress - The White Ribbon, Mademoiselle Paradis, Mary Queen of Scots )
-
Matthew Libatique, ASC (Cinematographer - Black Swan, A Star is Born, Pi)
11:30 - 12:00 h, Rivoli Lounge
COFFEE BREAK sponsored by Mirall
12:00 - 13:30 h, Rivoli Sala 1 (in english, translated by wordly)
CINEMATOGRAPHY ICON TALK WITH MATTHEW LIBATIQUE, ASC, LPS
An in-depth conversation exploring his early career, creative challenges, and collaborations with renowned directors. Moderated by Stephen Pizzello (Editor In Chief American Cinematographer) and Sandra Lipski (Director and Founder of Evolution Mallorca Film Festival).
14:30 - 16:00 h, Evolution Stage @ CEF Filmschool (in english)
LIGHTING WORKSHOP: THE EMOTIONAL LANGUAGE OF LIGHT
Creating visual emotions through your lighting style. Cinematographer Valentina Caniglia, ASC CCS, and Rainer Lipski (Director of Cinematography Focus) explore how lighting creates emotion, defines character and shapes a film’s visual language. Through a live demonstration on a simple set, they will show how changes in quality, colour, direction and contrast can transform the emotional meaning of an image. Gaffer: Mike Gerzewitz
16:15 - 17:30 h, Evolution Stage @ CEF Filmschool (in english)
PREP SMARTER, BE MORE CREATIVE
USING THE ARTEMIS PLATFORM TO SHARPEN YOUR VISION AND COLLABORATE MORE EFFECTIVELY
Come learn techniques that will help you reach your full potential as a Cinematographer or Director. Communicate your vision more universally by speaking in images and reduce the time spent in email chains by using the latest technology. Presented by Nic Sadler.
