Iris Berben in Mallorca: women need lead roles past 40

On Mallorca, Iris Berben says actresses over 40 too often find themselves playing wives or supporting characters. She calls for women to keep leading their own stories at every age. Speaking at the Hotel Portixol in Palma, Mallorca, on Thursday, 29 October 2026, she says a woman’s story does not end at 40.

The Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival gave Berben its Evolution ICON Award at Wednesday’s opening gala at the Palma Congress Centre. Cinematographer Matthew Libatique received the Cinematography ICON Award.

Stories beyond 40

Berben says some of the most interesting stories begin after people have gained experience and made decisions about their lives. She also wants to keep working with younger filmmakers and hearing what matters to them and what they want to tell.

On artificial intelligence, she calls for clear rules to protect actors’ voices and images.

Libatique puts the story first

Libatique says the script and the director’s vision guide his work. He needs to understand both before choosing lenses, colour or lighting.

He wants to explore what artificial intelligence can do, but questions whether money is driving its development. The images it has produced so far leave him wondering what happens to films when they no longer resemble life.

Topics: Social affairs · Culture · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com