Tarifa, Gift of Youth: an audiovisual project for FITUR 2024.

Ben Welsh
Jan 26, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Mar 5, 2025

In 2024, I had the honor of working on one of the most special projects of my career: creating the official video for the Tarifa Town Hall, presented at FITUR 2024, one of the most important tourism fairs in the world.

Under the title “Tarifa, Gift of Youth”, the video aimed to capture the essence of Tarifa and promote tourism by highlighting its vibrant energy, rich history, and extraordinary natural beauty.

The project was produced by Carlos Rodríguez, director of the local newspaper Tarifa al Minuto, with whom I frequently collaborate. On top of that, we faced an extra challenge: completing the production and editing in just one month.

🌿 A mythical wedding at the Hurricane Hotel

One of the most striking scenes in the video was the symbolic wedding of Gaia and Zeus, filmed in the lush setting of the Hurricane Hotel. For this scene, we worked with over 20 extras, who brought this mythical celebration to life, surrounded by tropical gardens and with the Strait of Gibraltar as the backdrop.

We also paid tribute to the legendary Garden of the Hesperides, featuring three nymphs who guarded the garden and added a magical, timeless touch to the story.

🌊 What did we want to showcase in the video?

We set out to create a visual journey that would share everything Tarifa has to offer:

Spectacular landscapes captured with drone footage.
Authentic lifestyle moments, with local people as the stars of the story.
Sport scenes reflecting the area's active spirit, including kitesurfing, windsurfing, and horseback riding at sunset.
Historical landmarks like Baelo Claudia, highlighting Tarifa’s Roman heritage.
Unique sunsets over the Strait, local traditions, and the vibrant cultural life of Tarifa.

All of this was presented with a natural, dynamic, and heartfelt style, celebrating the everlasting youth of Tarifa—that fresh spirit that draws people from all over the world.

🎬 A local production, made with passion

It was an intense and exciting shoot. I directed both the filming and editing, supported by a small team of assistants during the outdoor sessions. We focused on creating a polished visual piece, paying close attention to detail and delivering a fast-paced narrative tailored to the promotional needs of the Town Hall.

Seeing Tarifa represented at FITUR through my work has definitely been a milestone in my career as a professional videographer.