On August 15, 2023, special guests Vic Armstrong (famed stuntman of the James Bond series and other legendary films) and Cuca Roseta (revered Portuguese fado singer) made special appearances at an exclusive event - by invitation only - in Ferragudo, Algarve.

This event was co-produced by long-time collaborators Aston Martin Lisboa, the International Motor Film Awards (IMFA), and Spy Manor Productions. The overarching objective: to commemorate the creative collaboration of the automotive and film industries, and celebrate the impactful individuals who give significant support to luxury brands and high-end productions, especially here in Portugal.

Filming destination

During the event, we had the opportunity to meet Vic Armstrong and his wife Wendy, who is a famous stuntwoman and one of the first women to work in this area, when she started several years ago. "At the time, there weren't many women. Therefore, there were a few men who were stuntmen because there weren't many women doing it," they said.

Vic and Wendy met on Superman, where she was a stuntwoman and Vic was Superman's stunt coordinator. Since then, they've worked together on several popular films.

Both Wendy and Vic haven’t worked in Portugal yet, but recognise the good potential the country has as a filming destination. "Portugal isn't too far from England, we have the same time zone and it's beautiful”.

In this respect, Spain has always been a popular location for British filmmakers when they wanted to shoot in the sun. However, Portugal could now become the new Spain. "In the UK, we have a huge film business, but we don't have the same climate as the south of Europe. If we want the sun in two hours, we go to Spain. And the same applies to Portugal."

Intimate event

The private venue for this year’s event, aptly named Villa Skyfall, served as a classic and luxurious locale for Aston Martin Lisboa clients to partake in an evening of networking, intimate fado performances, and the rare opportunity to sit in on a fireside chat, Q&A, and media interview with Vic Armstrong (who will also be a judge of this year’s IMFA) and Vince Knight (CEO of IMFA). During the event, IMFA announced the 2023 nominees and premiered an exclusive sneak preview of the nominations reel ahead of its 10th Awards ceremony, scheduled for September 2023 in London. Finally, attendees had the rare opportunity to view the private, clandestine Aston Martin museum collection at Villa Skyfall.

To quote Vanda Everke, Founder of Spy Manor Productions: “We are thrilled to bring the world of luxury and creativity to Ferragudo, Algarve. It is an honour to introduce the legendary stunt professionals Vic and Wendy Armstrong and the International Motor Film Awards, which has once again returned to the Algarve. Let’s celebrate the elegance of Aston Martin, the magic of cinema, and the people who make it all happen.”

Aston Martin Lisboa is an officially authorised dealership of Aston Martin, the 110-year-old luxury English car brand, known on the big screens and among film enthusiasts as the choice brand of the James Bond series. The International Motor Film Awards is a highly coveted event and showcase of talent in the automotive tv and film industry. It will celebrate its 10th anniversary on September 21, at the Alexandra Palace in London, England, where a trade expo will feature seminars and networking, followed by a black-tie awards ceremony, where nominees across 17 categories will be recognised. Spy Manor Group is a syndicate of Spy Manor Productions and Spy Manor Real Estate, both of which operate fully in the Algarve to deliver luxury boutique services and custom experiences across the film, property development, and real estate industries to a global clientele.

Author

Paula Martins is a fully qualified journalist, who finds writing a means of self-expression. She studied Journalism and Communication at University of Coimbra and recently Law in the Algarve. Press card: 8252

Paula Martins