The death of film director Agustí Villaronga in the early hours of Sunday morning from cancer, which he made public in 2021, has sparked a wave of messages of recognition, gratitude and grief in the world of culture and politics towards the filmmaker, whose work includes films such as “Pa negre”, “Incerta Glòria” and “El ventre del mar”.

On 1 December, after receiving the National Cinematography Award in 2011, Villaronga, who died in Barcelona at the age of 69, was awarded the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts. This recognition is in addition to the nine Goya Awards he won for the acclaimed “Pa negre” and the Goya Award for Best Original Screenplay for “El niño de la luna”, which also earned him a nomination in the categories of Best Director and Best Film. His latest film, “Loli Tormenta”, is expected to be released this year.

Public condolences

The president of the Govern, Francina Armengol, mourned his loss yesterday on Twitter: “Very sad day. One of the most important film creators in our history who won recognition at home and abroad has left us too soon. We are left with your work, talent and wisdom. We will miss you, my dear”. For his part, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, also mourned his death in a message on the same social network: “We lose the singular gaze of Agustí Villaronga. His legacy will remain forever as one of the treasures of our cultural heritage”.  Likewise, the president of the PP in the Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, wanted to offer her condolences to his family, friends and the world of culture, and to recognise his artistic work: “The cinema of our islands has lost its main and most recognised reference point. Sensitive, innovative, with the capacity to surprise and make us reflect with his films”.

Cultural personalities and numerous organisations in the same field have shown their affection for the renowned film director.  The Catalan Film Academy has highlighted: “His talent, sensitivity, enormous capacity to love everything he touched and his films will remain forever”.

The Film Academy and the Instituto de la Cinematografía y de las Artes Audiovisuales have joined in the warm farewell to Villaronga: “One of the most personal looks of our cinema”, said the Film Academy, while the ICAA has defined him as “a reference of our cinema”.

The Associació de Productors Audiovisuals de les Illes Balears referred to Villaronga as “a companion and friend who will be missed” and regretted that cinema has lost “one of its points of reference, a creator with his own voice and sensibility, who has given rise to some of the best films in Catalan cinema”.

The Mallorcan director and screenwriter Marcos Cabotá also expressed his sorrow with a few words dedicated to the creator: “He is a great world reference and at the same time the best director to have come out of our land, Mallorca. His art and his heart always went hand in hand. Maestro, thank you for your teachings, your affection and for that last film we saw together. I miss you already”.