Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s Basque family drama Sundays beat out Oliver Laxe’s Oscar-nominated techno-tracked dystopian drama Sirāt to take top prize at the Goya Awards, Spain’s top film honors.
Sundays won best picture, director, best actress for star Patricia López Arnaíz, and best original screenplay, alongside a supporting actress win for Nagore Aramburu. The film won San Sebastián’s Golden Shell in September, and was the consensus choice for the Spanish film academy, who members vote on the Goyas.
Sirāt, which won Cannes’ Jury Prize last year and is Spain’s contender for the best international feature Oscar, as well as an Academy Award contender for best sound, did not go home empty handed. Laxe’s feature won six Goyas at the event, held in Barcelona on Saturday night, scoring trophies for best sound, cinematography, editing and original score.
Another multiple-prize winner was Eva Libertad’s Deaf, a drama following a deaf woman navigating pregnancy and motherhood with a hearing partner, which won Goyas for best new director, best supporting actor and best new actress for star Miriam Garlo. The film premiered in Berlin last year, where it won the audience award for the Panorama section. Toni Fernández Gabarre took best new actor honors for his performance in Guillermo Galoe’s Sleepless City.
Joachim Trier’s Oscar contender Sentimental Value was named best European film, while Dolores Fonzi’s Oscar-shortlisted Belén won best Ibero-American film.
Politics, as so often at the Goyas, were part of Saturday’s ceremony. Co-host Luis Tosar wore a Palestine flag pin and, from the stage, condemned what he called the “Gaza genocide,” drawing sustained applause. Multiple winners wore “Free Palestine” or “Stop Genocide” badges.
Susan Sarandon, who was honored with the lifetime achievement honor, praised both Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and local artists for speaking “with such moral lucidity.” In a world marked by “cruelty” and “violence.” “It helps me to feel less alone, part of a larger community,” she added.
Full list of 40th Goya Awards Winners
Best PictureSundays, dir. Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
Original ScreenplaySundays, dir. Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
Adapted ScreenplayLa Cena, dir. Joaquín Oristrell
New ActorToni Fernández Gabarre, Sleepless City
Documentary FeatureAfternoons of Solitude, dir. Albert Serra
Original SongFlowers for Antonio, dir. Alba Flores
Special EffectsLos Tigres, dir. Alberto Rodríguez
Costume DesignLa Cena, dir. Joaquín Oristrell
Makeup & HairstylingThe Captive, dir. Alejandro Amenábar
European FilmSentimental Value, dir. Joachim Trier
Fiction ShortÁngulo Muerto, dir. Cristian Beteta
Documentary ShortEl Santo, dir. Carlo D’Ursi
