Steering Committee | Evolution Film

Festival Steering Committee

The steering committee is a unique group of distinguished people coming from many different backgrounds and nationalities, united by one common thread; Their Love for Mallorca and Cinema. The committee steers the festival in the right direction and encourages new ideas and collaborations with other events or brands.

If you think your input can be beneficial to Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival and you are interested in joining our impressive lineup of committee members, please email us: sandra@evolutionfilmfestival.com

Mads Mikkelsen

Mads Mikkelsen is a Danish actor. He achieved worldwide recognition for playing the main antagonist Le Chiffre in the twenty-first James Bond film, Casino Royale in 2006. In 2012 at the Cannes Film Festival, he won Best Actor for his performance as Lucas in the Danish film The Hunt. He played Dr. Hannibal Lecter in the television series Hannibal (2013- 2015),

Kaecilius in Marvel's Doctor Strange (2016), Galen Erso in Lucasfilm's Rogue One (2016), Cliff Unger in Hideo Kojima's video game Death Stranding (2019), his BAFTA-nominated role as Martin in Another Round (2020), Gellert Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022) and Dr Jürgen Voller in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). Mads truly loves to spend time in Mallorca with his family and friends.

Sheela Levy

Chair of Steering Committee

'Global nomad' accurately describes Sheela Levy, who was born in India, grew up in Kenya, went to school and University in England, and has moved home more than 25 times before settling down in Mallorca. She established and managed The Body Shop Switzerland for 30 years before selling to Coop Switzerland in 2010. Now she has her own Design and Property Company called CocoSage and owns the luxury restaurant FERA in Palma de Mallorca.

Photo credit Pernilla Danielsson

Drew Aaron

Drew Aaron is the Chairman of Lionsgate Capital, with a diverse background in entrepreneurship and business ventures. He sold his first Internet startup to EBAY in the late 90s before completing his university education. Drew's involvement in both profit and non-profit organizations is extensive. In 2016, he relocated his family to Mallorca for a lifestyle change, co-founding Lionsgate Capital in 2017. Additionally, Drew launched Gallery RED, a series of contemporary art spaces in Palma de Mallorca, showcasing renowned artists like Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. In 2022, he joined the board of Directors of the Mallorca Preservation Foundation, actively supporting environmental protection efforts on the island. Drew divides his time between Spain and the US, residing with his wife and three children in the tranquil Tramuntana mountains.

Barbara Bergman

Born in Brazil to Swedish parents, Barbara spent her childhood in Brazil, Mexico, USA and Sweden. She started her career in advertising working as a graphic designer in epic agencies like Paradiset ddb. She is the co-founder of Rialto Living, a lifestyle emporium in Palma de Mallorca. Every year, Rialto Living hosts several breakfasts with actors and film producers from the Mallorca International Film Festival to help promote Mallorca as a film production destination and cultural centre.

Photo credit Pär Olsson

Ruben Östlund

Ruben Östlund is the writer/director of the feature film Triangle of Sadness, a satirical film about the wealthy elite, winning him his second Palme d'Or in 2022. In 2002, he co-founded one of the most innovative and cutting-edge production companies in Sweden, Plattform Produktion. In 2017, his film The Square competed at the Cannes Film Festival, where it ultimately won the Palme d'Or. In 2020, he also received the Swedish King's medal in gold for significant efforts in Swedish film. Ruben is currently working on his new film The Entertainment System is down anticipated to be released in 2024.

He lives between Campos, Mallorca and Gothenburg, Sweden.

Photo credit Sina Östlund

Ivan Levy

Ivan is a seasoned and socially responsible businessman; a creator, not a dreamer. He is known for having successfully established and developed The Body Shop in Switzerland, prior to its sale in 2010. Ivan also held and directed various retail operations, consulting, and management programs with AS Watson in Hong Kong, and Close Brothers Venture Capital Trust, California. Closets, Market Invoice, and The Q Garden Company in London.

He was director and advisor to Earthchild Clothing Company in South Africa, which he successfully sold to Truworth, SA. He currently resides in Mallorca running several successful businesses on the island.

Alanna Sampietro

Alanna Sampietro is a trilingual entrepreneur specializing in international real estate and art consulting based in Mallorca. Born in New York City, she attended the Institute of Fashion Technology studying advertising and marketing, before moving to Paris, Stockholm, and London to work as a model and actress. Alanna seeks to attract her highly creative professional network of colleagues around the world to help promote Mallorca as a film production destination and cultural center of the festival.

Gerhard Braun

Gerhardt Braun is the founder of the Gerhardt Braun Gallery(s) in Palma de Mallorca.

Maria Isabel Bordoy

Born in Mallorca, Maria has a Bachelor of Political Science from the ULB and a master's degree with distinction in immigration, international relations, and intercultural Social mediation from UAM. She is the founder and co-director of ABA Art Lab since 2004; A Glorious contemporary art gallery, which supports art publishers, producers, and curators rooted in Palma de Mallorca.