Spain’s Ministry of Culture and the Government of Catalonia have presented ‘Acción Portabella’, a programme of activities that will unfold throughout 2026 and 2027 to commemorate the centenary of the birth of filmmaker and political activist Pere Portabella, born in Figueres in 1927.
The initiative, joined by a wide range of Catalan, Spanish, and international cultural institutions, aims to disseminate and highlight Pere Portabella’s artistic work, his dialogue with contemporary creation, and his enduring relevance today.
During the launch event held today in Barcelona, the Minister of Culture of Spain, Ernest Urtasun, has featured that “Portabella’s centenary is not only an anniversary; it is an invitation to look at the present again through his eyes: with restlessness, with curiosity, with a radical will for freedom.” He added that “‘Acción Portabella’ is not a static tribute; it is a moving gesture, a circulating energy, a way of being in the world. Because Portabella has never been a figure of the past; he has always been a creator working from the present toward the future.”
For her part, the Minister for Culture of the Government of Catalonia, Sònia Hernández, stated that “Pere Portabella has been a driving force behind projects that cross generations and borders, and that have decisively helped place Catalan cinema on the national and international map.” She also noted that “his work offers tools for reflecting on power, memory, and institutions—especially relevant in a context like today’s, in which the pillars of our democracy are being called into question.”
Also taking part in the event were the Director of the Filmoteca, Valeria Camporesi, the Director of the Filmoteca de Catalunya, Pablo La Parra, Pere Portabella’s daughter Carol Portabella, and the coordinator of the programme of activities, Jordi Balló.
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More than 60 initiatives worldwide
The provisional programme for ‘Acción Portabella’, presented today in Barcelona, brings together initiatives from 62 organisations, 20 of which are international.
They include art and cultural centres, festivals, cinematheques, laboratories and foundations focused on political and social thought, universities, media outlets, cross-sector organisations, and artists’ collectives. In the coming months, additional organisations will be added upon request, and their activities will be incorporated into the project’s website. Each organisation will propose its own activities and strategies, which will be featured on the centenary website, to be launched soon.
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For more information
- Press release – Ministry of Culture
- Press release – Filmoteca de Catalunya
- Press materials – Filmoteca de Catalunya
- Video of the event – Filmoteca de Catalunya
- Acción Portabella – Pere Portabella