Among the award-winning works, the documentary Renacer: Hopes & Journeys Colombia, directed by Gustavo Espíndola Cifuentes and produced by Sangria Films, stood out by receiving the Terres de l’Ebre Award for Best Film Promoting Sustainability. The production explores post-conflict Colombia with a human and sensitive approach, moving away from stereotypes of violence and drug trafficking, and showing how nature and tourism have become paths of hope for those who endured decades of war. Meanwhile, the Best Catalan Production Award, sponsored by the Audiovisual Cluster of Catalonia, went to Mi abuelo fue a Cuba. Viaje de ida y vuelta (My Grandfather Went to Cuba. Round Trip), by Sergi Martí and Joan Salicrú, a documentary that recovers the memory of Catalan emigrants who settled in Cuba in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, highlighting their roots and cultural identity.
Environmental concerns were at the forefront with the Climent Ferrer Award for Best Production on the Values of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, presented to Scandinavia, into the Darkness, by Mi-Yong Brehm and Verena Feige, produced by Marco Polo Film. The film travels through Finland, Norway, and Sweden to depict the ecological and cultural impact of extreme seasonal changes on wildlife, flora, and local communities, while encouraging the preservation of a fragile Arctic ecosystem. Likewise, the Award for Best Production Promoting Respect among Cultures carried a global perspective: it was given to Angola, the soul of Africa, directed by Jordi Llompart and produced by Gen Image Media, a documentary journey through Angola’s social, cultural, and environmental heritage.
On a personal level, the Terres Pioneers Award honored the career of Pedro Machado, current Secretary of State for Tourism of Portugal and former president of Turismo Centro de Portugal, for his outstanding contribution to the international promotion of tourism and his leadership in innovative projects that have turned the Centro de Portugal brand into a benchmark for sustainability and creativity.
The festival also served as the launchpad for the Terres Travel Experience – B2MTF, an innovative initiative held from September 16 to 20 that brought together five travel content creators who were finalists in the competition. Over five days, they enjoyed an immersive experience in the Terres de l’Ebre region and Barcelona, engaging in activities such as grape harvesting and wine tastings, honey and mussel sampling in the Bay of Alfacs, yoga sessions on the beach, and culinary encounters with local producers. The goal was to position the Terres de l’Ebre as a sustainable and cinematic tourism destination, generating new audiovisual content and fostering connections with local businesses and institutions.
Beyond the competition, the Terres Travel Festival has firmly established itself as a driver of cultural and economic revitalization, engaging local communities, institutions, and the tourism sector. Its use of historical venues and commitment to local products reinforces the Terres de l’Ebre brand as a creative and sustainable destination. This year, the festival earned B Greenly certification as a sustainable event, after an assessment of factors such as mobility, energy consumption, waste management, communication, and carbon footprint. Organized by Terres & Landscape Travel Communication and the City Council of Tortosa, with the support of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, the Provincial Council of Tarragona, and the Baix Ebre County Council, the festival reaffirms its mission as an international meeting point for tourism, cinema, and environmental stewardship.
