Spain’s Goya Awards: J.A. Bayona’s ‘Society of the Snow’ Wins Best Picture, Director as Sigourney Weaver Receives an International Goya

Netflix Original “The Society of the Snow” won best picture and director for J.A. Bayona at Saturday night’s 38th Spanish Academy Goya Awards.

Those plaudits were two of a total 12 prizes, the third-highest kudos count for any title in the Goyas’ near 40-year history.

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The lineup of best picture nominees was, however, a reminder in itself of the high quality and diversity of Spain’s current film production output. These took in Estibaliz’s Urresola Berlin triple winner “20,000 Species of Bees,” David Trueba’s real-life tender love story “Jokes & Cigarettes,” Isabel Coixet’s probing “Un Amor” and Victor Erice’s “Close Your Eyes,” an “aching ode to film, time and memory,” Variety wrote in its review.

Even after Bayona took best director there was still genuine suspense whether he would also win best picture, after best adapted screenplay went to “Robot Dreams” and “Jokes & Cigarettes” took best actor for David Verdaguer.

Nominated for two U.S. Academy Awards – international feature film and makeup & hairstyling – “The Society of the Snow” swept the technical awards. That made a larger point: a film widely praised for its technical verve was made by non-Hollywood technicians, often Spanish, but also, of Goya winners, from Uruguay (DP Pablo Luque) and France (art director Alain Bainée).

A highly simpática Sigourney Weaver accepted in person Spain’s International Goya Award, to large applause. “Your country has produced so many masterpieces, bold, unsettling, unforgettable. When I think of Spanish cinema, not genres. What a pleasure it is to act in a film where even the dolly grip has read the script.” 

The Goya Awards were presented with élan by veteran thesp-singer Ana Belén and Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, Los Javis, arguably the hottest act in Spain film-TV after “Veneno” and “La Mesías,” the latter the only European series selected for last month’s Sundance, and now soon to be seen at Series Mania.

In a further show of strength of the Spanish and Spanish-speaking cinema, present at this year’s Goya Awards were Penélope Cruz and Pedro Almodóvar who celebrated on stage a 25th anniversary reunion of “All About My Mother” cast as well as Gael García Bernal, all of whom presented awards.

Also in the audience was Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, who has prioritised film and TV as a growth sector in Spain, supporting it by a €1.6 billion ($1.7 billion) Spain AVS Plan.

Threading various speeches was a call for an end to sexual abuse in the Spanish film industry after three women recently accused director Carlos Vermut of sexual violence, which he denies.

Presenting best picture, Pedro Almodóvar also retorted to declarations made a few hours earlier by Juan García-Gallardo, the vice-president of Spain’s Castilla y León, member of he extreme right Vox party, that Spanish filmmakers were “señoritos” (young masters) whose films cost millions to the public purse, but weren’t watched by anybody.

“We return what we receive and much more by paying taxes and social security and also create thousands of jobs,” Almodóvar said. He could also have pointed to Netflix charts which place four Spanish movies. one “Society of the Snow,” in the top five most-viewed non-English-language films ever screened by the U.S. streaming giant.

Spanish movies also now with a certain frequency score top awards at top international festivals such as “20,000 Species of Bees” best lead performance (Sofía Otero) at Berlin last year. On Saturday, “20,000 Species” ended up with three prizes, including best first feature, original screenplay and supporting actress (Ana Gabarain).

Already nominated for a U.S. Academy Oscar, Pablo Berger’s “Robot Dreams” also scored best animation feature on Saturday night. Produced by Chelo Loureiro and Iván Miñambres, “To Bird or Not to Bird,” from Alberto Vázquez collaborator Martín Romero and a standout at last year’s Cannes Animation Day walked off with best animated short.

103-year-old Spanish cinematographer Juan Mariné (“Los guardiamarinas”), whose career reaches back to serving as a camera operator on 1943’s “Eloísa está debajo de un almendro,” received 2024’s Honorary Goya. 

2024 38TH GOYA AWARDS

BEST PICTURE

“20,000 Species of Bees,” (Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren)

“Close Your Eyes,” (Víctor Erice)

“Society of the Snow,” (J.A. Bayona)

“Jokes & Cigarettes,” (David Trueba)

“Un Amor,” (Isabel Coixet)

BEST DIRECTOR

Víctor Erice (“Close Your Eyes”)

Elena Martin (“Creatura”)

J.A. Bayona (“The Society of The Snow”)

David Trueba (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

Isabel Coixet (“Un Amor”)

BEST NEW DIRECTOR

Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Itsaso Arana (“The Girls are Alright”)

Alvaro Gago (“Matria”)

Alejandro Marín – (“I’m Loving You Madly”)

Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastian Vasquez (“Upon Entry”)

BEST ACTOR

Manolo Solo (“Close Your Eyes”)

Enric Auquer (“The Teacher Who Promised the Sea”)

David Verdaguer (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

Hovik Keuchkerian (“Un Amor”)

Alberto Ammann (“Upon Entry”)

BEST ACTRESS

Patricia Lopez Arnaiz (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

María Vázquez (“Matria”)

Malena Alterio (“Something Is About To Happen”)

Carolina Yuste (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

Laia Costa (“Un Amor”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Martxelo Rubio (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Juan Carlos Vellido (“Under Therapy”)

Jose Coronado (“Close Your Eyes”)

Álex Brendemühl (“Creatura”)

Hugo Silva (“Un Amor”)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Ane Gabarain (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Itziar Lazkano (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Ana Torrent (“Close Your Eyes”)

Clara Segura (“Creatura”)

Luisa Gavasa (“The Teacher Who Promised the Sea”)

BEST NEW ACTOR

Brianeitor (“Championext”

Julio Hu Chen (“Chinas”)

Matías Recalt (“The Society of the Snow”)

La Dani (“I’m Loving You Madly”)

Omar Banana (“I’m Loving You Madly”)

BEST NEW ACTRESS

Xinyi Ye (“Chinas”)

Yeju Ji (“Chinas”)

Clàudia Malagelada (“Creatura”)

Sara Becker (“The Movie Teller”)

Janet Novás (“The Rye Horn”) 

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Michel Gaztambide, Víctor Erice (“Close Your Eyes”)

Alejandro Marín, Carmen Garrido (“I’m Loving You Madly”)

Félix Viscarret (“Not Such An Easy Life”)

Alejandro Rojas, Juan Sebastián Vásquez (“Upon Entry”)

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Albert Val (“The Teacher Who Promised the Sea”)

Bernat Vilaplana, J.A. Bayona, Jaime Marques-Olarreaga, Nicolás Casariego (“The Society of The Snow”)

Pablo Berger (“Robot Dreams”)

Albert Espinosa, David Trueba (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

Isabel Coixet, Laura Ferrero (“Un Amor”)

BEST ANIMATION FEATURE

“They Shot the Piano Player,” (Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal)

“Sultana’s Dream,” (Isabel Heguera)

“Hanna And The Monsters,” (Lorena Ares)

“Mummies,” (Juan Jesús García Galocha “Galo”)

“Robot Dreams,” (Pablo Berger)

BEST DOCUMENTARY

“Caleta Palace,” (José Antonio Hergueta)

“Contigo, contigo y sin mí,” (Amaya Villar Navascués)

“This Excessive Ambition,” (Cristina Trenas, Rogelio González, Santos Bacana)

“Iberia, naturaleza infinita,” (Arturo Menor)

“While You’re Still You,” (Claudia Pinto Emperador)

BEST IBERO-AMERICAN FILM

“Alma Viva,” (Cristele Alves Meira, Portugal)

“My Eternal Memory,” (Maite Alberdi Chile)

“The Fishbowl,” (Glorimar Marrero Sanchez Puerto Rico)

“Puan,” (Benjamín Naishtat, María Alché Argentina)

“Simón,” (Diego Vicentini Venezuela)

BEST EUROPEAN FILM

“Aftersun,” (Charlotte Wells, United Kingdom)

“Anatomy of a Fall,” (Justine Triet, France)

“The Eight Mountains,” (Felix van Groeningen, Charlotte Vandermeersch, Italy)

“Safe Place,” (Juraj Lerotic, Croatia)

“The Teachers’ Lounge,” (Ilker Çatak, Germany)

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Natasha Arizu, (“The Teacher Who Promised the Sea”)

Arnau Bataller (“La paradoja de Antares”)

Michael Giacchino (“The Society of The Snow”)

Alfonso de Vilallonga (“Robot Dreams”)

Andrea Motis (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

“Eco,” (Xoel López for “Amigos hasta la muerte”)

“Chinas,” (Marina Herlop for “Chinas”)

“El amor de Andrea,” (Álvaro Benito Baglietto, David “El Indio”, Guille Galván, Jorge González, Juanma Latorre y Pucho (Vetusta Morla), Valeria Castro for “El amor de Andrea”)

“La gallinita,” (Fernando Moresi Haberman, Sergio Bertran for “The Permanent Picture”)

“Yo solo quiero amor,” (Rigoberta Bandini for “I’m Loving You Madly”) 

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Pablo Vidal (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

María José Díez (“Close Your Eyes”)

Margarita Huguet (“The Society of The Snow”)

Eduard Vallès (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

Leire Aurrekoetxea, Luis Gutiérrez (“Valle de sombras”)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Gina Ferrer García (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Valentín Álvarez (“Close Your Eyes”)

Pedro Luque (“The Society of the Snow”)

Bet Rourich (“Un Amor”)

Diego Trenas (“Una noche con Adela”)

BEST EDITING

Raúl Barreras (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Ascen Marchena (“Close Your Eyes”)

Andrés Gil, Jaume Martí (“The Society of the Snow”)

Fátima de los Santos (“Mamacruz”)

Fernando Franco (“Robot Dreams”)

BEST ART DIRECTION

Izaskun Urkijo (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Curru Garabal (“Close Your Eyes”)

Carlos Conti (“La contadora de películas”)

Alain Bainée (“The Society of The Snow”)

Marc Pou (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Nerea Torrijos (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Maria Armengol (“The Teacher Who Promised the Sea”)

Mercè Paloma (“La contadora de películas”)

Julio Suárez (“The Society of The Snow”)

Lala Huete (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

BEST MAKEUP AND HAIR DESIGN

Ainhoa Eskisabel, Jone Gabarain (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Ana López-Puigcerver, Belén López-Puigcerver, Montse Ribé, (“The Society of the Snow”)

Eli Adánez, Juan Begara (“La ternura”)

Caitlin Acheson, Benjamín Pérez, Nacho Díaz (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

Sarai Rodríguez, Noé Montes, Óscar del Monte (“Valle de sombras”)

BEST SOUND

Eva Valiño, Koldo Corella, Xanti Salvador (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Tamara Arévalo, Fabiola Ordoyo, Yasmina Praderas (“Championext”)

Iván Marín, Juan Ferro, Candela Palencia (“Close Your Eyes”)

Jorge Adrados, Oriol Tarragó, Marc Orts (“The Society of the Snow”)

Xavi Mas, Eduardo Castro, Yasmina Praderas (“Jokes & Cigarettes”)

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS

Mariano García Marty, Jon Serrano, David Heras, Fran Belda, Indira Martín (“20,000 Species of Bees”)

Eneritz Zapiain, Iñaki Gil “Ketxu” (“La ermita”)

Pau Costa, Félix Bergés, Laura Pedro (“The Society of the Snow”)

Mariano García Marty, Jon Serrano, Juan Ventura, Amparo Martínez (“Tin & Tina”)

Raúl Romanillos, Míriam Piquer (“Valle de sombras”)

BEST LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM

“Aunque es de noche,” (Guillermo García López)

“Carta a mi madre para mi hijo,” (Carla Simón)

“Cuentas divinas,” (Eulàlia Ramon)

“La loca y el feminista,” (Sandra Gallego)

“París 70,” (Dani Feixas)

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM

“Ava,” (Mabel Lozano)

“BLOW!.” (Neus Ballús)

“El bus,” (Sandra Reina)

“Herederas,” (Silvia Venegas Venegas)

“Una terapia de mierda,” (Javier Polo)

BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM

“Becarias,” (Marina Cortón, Marina Donderis, Núria Poveda)

“To Bird or Not to Bird,” (Martín Romero)

“Todo bien,” (Diana Acién Manzorro)

“Todo está perdido,” (Carla Pereira, Juanfran Jacinto)

“Txotxongiloa,” Sonia Estévez)

ENDS

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