Water is a source of life and, in summer, the most refreshing way to beat the heat! In our hotels and resorts on the Costa Daurada we offer you a thousand and one combinations so that you can refresh yourself while having fun. That? Cool, right?

Our strategic location, on the seafront, does not mean that, apart from immersing yourself in the warm waters of the Mediterranean, you can enjoy with your partner, family or friends in the pools of the Estival Park Hotel and Resort, in La Pineda ; and Estival Centurión or Estival ElDorado , in Cambrils .

In this new blog entry we propose the TOP water entertainment on the Costa Daurada . Do you want to know what they are?

1 AQUOPOLIS

It is the largest water park on the Costa Daurada . Hey! Little joke! We're talking about... 110,000 m² of pure aquatic fun! In addition, Aquopolis Costa Daurada classifies its attractions by level, so that everyone can enjoy the water at their leisure. The most daring are Splash, Kamikaze, Huracán, Boomerang and Black Hole. But if you find them too strong, we recommend more moderate ones such as Magic Oval, Zig zag, Wave Beach, Zip Line, Speed Race, Vulcano River, Indiana and the Maui Laggon. And if you go with little ones, the essential children's attractions are Funny Jungle, Turtle Adventure, Mini Park and Treasure Island. Come on! What are you waiting for!

2 CARIBE AQUATIC PARK

If you are looking for more places to discharge adrenaline through every pore of your body, take note: Caribe Aquatic Park ! It is the water park par excellence of PortAventura World! Take a deep breath, hold your breath, and slide down the Barracudas and Cookie Cay! These two water attractions will test your endurance... to fun! And if you prefer tranquility, you always have the option of relaxing at Bahama Beach. Be that as it may, get ready to live an unforgettable day with guaranteed fun.

3 AQUUM SPA & WELLNESS

At Estival we have kept an ace up our sleeve, if you are one of those who likes to live and enjoy water in a calmer and more reserved environment, while seeking benefits for your body: Aquum Spa & Wellness . Big words! More than 100 stops and 50 sensations in the water, among which you will find air beds, air and water beds, enveloping beds, cervical projectors, waterfalls, water curtains, underwater jets, air benches, benches with jets, tubes hot waters and a hydrodynamic river, among many other things. You can also relax in pools at different levels, in the outdoor whirlpool and in the children's pool (access allowed for children from 5 years old). Check the properties of a good sauna, steam bath, ice fountain and special showers. Your body will thank you!

THE BEST BEACHES!

It's the best kept secret. Did you know that on the Costa Daurada we have the best offer of beaches? More than sixty beaches and coves for all tastes! Natural beaches, urban beaches, secluded beaches, naturist beaches, unique beaches...

ISLANTILLA KICKS OFF THE FOURTEENTH EDITION OF ITS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL UNDER THE MOON WITH THE AWARDING OF THE 'FRANCISCO ELÍAS' AWARD TO THE PRODUCER MARTA VELASCO.

Last night, the Hotel Estival Islantilla hosted the Opening Gala of the exhibition, which thus begins two months of screenings of the best independent cinema with free outdoor sessions.

Actress Pepa Charro led a ceremony in which figures such as director Benito Zambrano supported the new president of the newly created Andalusian Film Academy.

Last night, the gardens of the Hotel Estival Islantilla hosted the Opening Gala and the presentation of the 'Francisco Elías' Award to the producer Marta Velasco within the framework of the fourteenth edition of the International Film Festival under the Moon – Islantilla Cinefórum, a show that during the The next two months will bring to your screens the best independent audiovisual production of the last year in this corner of the Atlantic shared by the Huelva municipalities of Isla Cristina and Lepe.

The ceremony, which began with a performance by the Isleña Musical Band, was conducted by actress Pepa Charro, who has worked under directors such as Pedro Almodóvar ('The Passenger Lovers'), Cesc Gay ('Truman') , Santiago Segura ('Father There Is No More Than One') or Alfonso Albacete ('The Bride of America'), and has achieved enormous popularity by giving life to her most media character, La Terremoto de Alcorcón. The Madrid native, with strong ties to the province of Huelva personally, displayed her generous sympathy before an audience with restricted capacity due to anti-COVID19 security measures who indulged in a night full of emotions, and during her speech at the head of the Gala launched a plea shouting “culture is safe” in defense of shows and an industry that has especially suffered the devastating economic effects of the pandemic.

Dressed in a protesting mask with the rainbow flag on a day marked by the celebrations of Gay Pride Day throughout Spain and part of the planet, Pepa Charro gave way to the director from Lebrija Benito Zambrano, one of the main collaborators in which the career of Marta Velasco as a producer is one of the most brilliant that Andalusian cinema has contributed to the Seventh Art.

Zambrano, who has worked with the honoree in the celebrated feature film Intemperie (2019), nominated for the Goya for Best Film, highlighted Marta Velasco "not only her professionalism, but also her human quality", and thanked her for giving herself "fully and soul in each project in which she is involved, because although she does not feel like it, her work is very much that of a businesswoman, of obtaining the necessary financial resources so that others like me can make art.”

The Andalusian director offered a simile, recalling that “cinema is an industry, it generates wealth, jobs for many people, tax collection, etc.; As an industry, it requires a lot of work, it means getting up very early, setting up structures, building stages, cutting streets... it is not something that is carried out without sacrifice; and as such an industry, cinema is an investment, and involves a risk; but unlike other industries, the result is something intangible, not material... and even so, it is worth it, because our work serves to feed the soul of those people who, when they come home after a hard day of work, feel "to see a movie and reconcile with life."

Benito Zambrano wished Marta Velasco “many years of work because she is one of the best producers we have, but, in view of her career, Marta is also one of the best producers we are going to have, because she is very young.”

The winner was also accompanied by the president of the Association of Andalusian Film Writers (ASECAN), Lourdes Palacios, who thanked Marta Velasco for having “the bravery, the heart and the courage to carry out her professional project.” taking into account that, as a woman, she has not had any other woman as a reference in which to look at herself; something that thanks to her will change in the future, because many others will be able to see themselves in it.” Likewise, Palacios recognized the honoree "for having managed to carry out the project of the new Andalusian Film Academy and the Carmen Awards for Andalusian cinema, because without her tenacity, this enormous task would not have been possible."

Presentation of the 'Francisco Elías' Award to Marta Velasco.

The honored producer received the award from the institutional representatives of the Commonwealth of Islantilla, Isabel López and Jesús Toronjo, Deputy Mayor of the Municipalities of Isla Cristina and Lepe, respectively.

A visibly excited Marta Velasco addressed the audience to thank the 'Francisco Elías' Award, “a recognition that bears the name of a pioneer of our land, the first to shoot a sound film in Spain in 1928, and that is always a responsibility". Velasco pointed out as a wink of destiny the fact that, precisely, “the last film that Francisco Elías shot was titled Marta.

With a racing heart and tears in her eyes, Marta Velasco wanted to remember her mother at such an important moment for her, “because approximately a year ago I was with her in a hospital and she finally died, but not before pushing me to fight for her. my dreams and to work hard for them, so I can only dedicate this award and those that come in the future to her wherever she is.”

The Sevillian producer also wanted to thank the Commonwealth of Islantilla, the Festival team and the members of the Board of Directors of the Andalusian Film Academy for their presence on such an important night for her, and also to her “partner in life and projects, Gonzalo Bendala, with whom I also share a daughter who is, without a doubt, the best of my productions.”

In addition to Benito Zambrano and Lourdes Palacios, the Andalusian Film Academy has been represented at the Islantilla Festival by the actress Mercedes Hoyos, vice president of the entity, who shared a photocall with other industry professionals such as the producer José Luis Díaz or the representative and specialized journalist Rafa Pontes.

During the opening gala, the main contents of an edition were presented that will once again feature twelve feature films and 100 shorts in competition, in addition to several cycles and parallel sections with Andalusian Cinema, the Centenary of Luis Ciges, the children's film Minifórum and the out-of-competition premiere of the documentary Historias del agua, by José Carlos de la Isla and Paco Ortiz, as a complementary offering to its programming.

In addition, the night featured a special performance by the Argentine singer, composer and actor Maximiliano Calvo, who performed several songs, including one presented on a delayed basis by the singer María Jiménez, who sent the Organization of the exhibition a funny message of video aimed at all attendees of the Gala.

With this event, two months of free screenings begin, for all audiences and in the light of the moon, which will last throughout the entire summer season in what is probably the longest film festival in the world, and which will give The Official Competition Section will begin tomorrow, Monday, with sessions in the patio of the Islantilla Cultural Center located on Avenida de Río Frío.

The screenings will begin at 10:30 p.m., and begin tomorrow with the Chilean feature film by Marco Antonio Núñez titled Al mar. Monday and Wednesday will feature feature films, while Tuesday and Thursday will be reserved for the screening of the one hundred short films in competition.

The Festival programming can be consulted on the website www.islantillacineforum.com

MARTA VELASCO, 'FRANCISCO ELÍAS' AWARD FROM THE ISLANTILLA FESTIVAL: “THE NEW ANDALUSIAN FILM ACADEMY WAS ALREADY AN UNACCEPTABLE TOOL TO PROJECT THE ENORMOUS POTENTIAL OF THE ANDALUSIAN AUDIOVISUAL INDUSTRY.”

The constituent president of the new institution that will mark the future of the Seventh Art made in the south of Despeñaperros will receive tonight the highest award at the Huelva exhibition. The Sevillian producer Marta Velasco held a meeting with the press this morning a few hours before the Festival International Film Under the Moon – Islantilla Cinefórum pays tribute to him in the context of the Opening Gala of its fourteenth edition, which will take place tonight in the gardens of the Hotel Estival Islantilla, official headquarters of this film exhibition stranded on the shores of the Huelva Atlantic , between the municipalities of Isla Cristina and Lepe.

Velasco, who has been supported in this event by the island's Deputy Mayor, Isabel López; by his lepero counterpart, Jesús Toronjo; and by the director of the Festival, Esteban Magaz; She was visibly moved when she expressed her gratitude for a recognition “that bears the name of a pioneering Andalusian like Francisco Elías, the first Spaniard to shoot a sound film, which is a symbol and a responsibility,” and she dedicated this award “especially to the person who has supported me the most in my career and who has believed in me the most: my mother; She told me that if I was clear about my dream, I should fight and work hard for it; Today, with this tribute to my professional career, I can't help but remember her."

The one who is also the constituent president of the recently created Andalusian Film Academy, has referred to this new institution as “a tool that was already unavoidable to position the Andalusian industry in the place it deserves due to the enormous national and international that it has”, and has also had words of gratitude for the members of its Board of Directors, some of them attending the event, such as its vice presidents, the actress Mercedes Hoyos and the president of ASECAN, Lourdes Palacios; or the director Benito Zambrano.

The Deputy Mayor of Isla Cristina, Isabel López, thanked the honoree “for having accepted this award from a young festival, with only fourteen editions behind it, but which in a very short time has been able to take the pulse of the industry and project the name of Islantilla to the five continents, with figures as compelling as the more than 1,400 works registered in its Official Competition Section in the midst of a pandemic, when film production has been reduced throughout the world.

For his part, the Deputy Mayor of Lepe, Jesús Toronjo, has reiterated “the support of institutions such as the Commonwealth of Islantilla for cinema and the professionals of the Andalusian audiovisual industry, because from the first moment we understood that the pandemic could not paralyze the culture and that this Festival had to go ahead, even if its security measures had to be adapted, because today it is the most important cultural offering on the entire coast of Huelva.”

Finally, the director of the exhibition, Esteban Magaz, recalled the brilliant professional career of Marta Velasco through production, “in which she began in 2004 with the help of her partner Gonzalo Bendala with the production company Áralan Films, leaving for the posterity outstanding national and international works.” Magaz has defined her as “a true producer, on set,” and has expressed her admiration “for a woman who fights for each of the projects she embarks on, feeling that they are hers.”

Among Marta Velasco's most celebrated works are titles such as Intemperie, by Benito Zambrano (2019); Who will sing to you, by Carlos Vermut (2018); Gold, by Agustín Díaz Yanes (2017); The Wild Children, by Patricia Ferreira (2012); as well as the two titles by Gonzalo Bendala: When the Angels Sleep (2018) and Innocent Killers (2015). Velasco is currently immersed in the production of the feature film The Turtle Maneuver, by Juan Miguel del Castillo, work that she combines with the creation, starting in 2022, of the Carmen Awards, which will be awarded by the new Andalusian film institution, and of which he has declared that “it was born with great enthusiasm and great desire, but above all with the most beautiful thing we have: the love we have for cinema.”

Marta Velasco was chosen in 2014 by the European Film Promotion and the ICAA as a Spanish representative on the Producers on the Movie platform, participating in the Cannes Festival among a total of twenty-four emerging European producers. In 2019, the Association of Film Writers of Andalusia (ASECAN) awarded her the Josefina Molina Prize, an award that highlights the work of Andalusian women filmmakers. Other notable awards for his filmography are the Biznaga de Oro at the Malaga Festival for The Wild Children (2012); the Feroz Zinemaldia Award from the San Sebastián Festival for Quien Te Cantar; or the Goya nomination for Best Film for Intemperie (2019).