11/03/2025 - Led by filmmaker Jiajie Yu Yan, the training programme invited participants to create films in a mindful and reflective manner during the week-long Spanish competition

Director Jiajie Yu Yan (right) at the workshop

During the ninth edition of Ibizacinefest - Ibiza International Independent Film Festival, held from 28 February to 9 March on the Spanish island of Ibiza/Eivissa, the first Slow Cinema workshop-residency took place. Participants were invited to explore how to create films in a slow, reflective and mindful manner at this innovative training led by filmmaker and teacher Jiajie Yu Yan (Xiao Xian, nominated for the 2020 Goya Awards in the category of Best Short Fiction Film). Over these days, twelve filmmakers from Spain and other countries developed their projects and received training.

The workshop offered an introduction to the director's craft, studying aspects such as the grammar of cinema, the use of format, framing, composition, colour and camera movements, through the analysis of film scenes and reflection on cinema and the act of filming. It also included a mission statement, notes on cinematographic language, and planning and staging to reflect on what is filmed and how it is filmed. Amongst the objectives were learning to observe space and faces, to connect with both themselves and the city, and to film a portrait of the surroundings or a self-portrait, which the students later edited. The workshop concluded with a screening of the pieces produced, followed by a discussion on the results, as well as guidance on how to distribute these short films independently.

Carmen Domínguez, Councillor for Culture of the City Council of Eivissa, also visited the workshop. She reaffirmed the capital's commitment to promoting film and supporting Ibizacinefest, which she described as “a benchmark that places the town and the island on the cultural map.” Domínguez also emphasised the significance of hosting the Slow Cinema Workshop-Residency at Can Tomeu and concluded by highlighting the council's objective: “We want Eivissa to be a city of culture and cinema with a capital C.”

Using a methodology that combines theory and practice, workshop participants worked on creating an audiovisual piece based on the principles of contemplative cinema, a language that contrasts with the speed and instant consumption of images in today’s world. This workshop was designed for those interested in developing their own perspective and personal style, returning to the essence of cinema through the language of film and the act of filming, beyond plot or script. It was aimed at students of art, film, photography and audiovisual studies, film and photography enthusiasts, and professionals and artists looking to develop new forms of expression in the language of film.

To conclude, on Sunday 9 March, the Can Jeroni cultural centre (located in the town of Sant Josep de Sa Talaia) hosted a screening of the short films made by the participants, providing the public with an opportunity to view the results of this creative process. With this initiative, Ibizacinefest reaffirms its commitment to film education and solidifies its position as a benchmark for experimentation and innovation in the independent film industry.

(Translated from Spanish)