13/02/2023 - The Spanish-French co-production directed by Rodrigo Sorogoyen wins nine statuettes, including Best Film, Directing, Screenplay and Leading Actress

As expected, The Beasts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Isabe…
film profile], the latest feature film by Madrid-born Rodrigo Sorogoyen, was a clear winner over its rivals at the Goya Awards, organised annually by the Spanish Film Academy, held last Saturday in Seville. The event was attended not only by key figures such as the Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez, the Minister of Culture Miquel Iceta and the Director General of the ICAA Beatriz Navas, but also by the very best of the Spanish audiovisual sector, including the other Queen of Spain (Penélope Cruz).

The Beasts won the Goya for the Best Spanish Film of 2022 and eight more statuettes including Best Director, Screenplay (written by Sorogoyen with Isabel Peña), Supporting Actor (Luis Zahera who also appeared in all the betting pools) and Leading Actor for the French Denis Ménochet, who weeks earlier won the Forqué (read more).

The ceremony was marked by the death of Carlos Saura just a day before receiving his well-deserved Honourable Goya. Other Spanish cinema personalities who have passed away in the last twelve months were also present, such as Agustí Villaronga, who was affectionately remembered by some of the actors who took to the stage.

As for the rest of the awards, although the night began with five awards for Modelo 77 [+see also:
trailer
film profile], a prison drama by Alberto Rodríguez, in the end other titles took the spotlight. Lullaby [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
film profile], by Alauda Ruíz de Azúa, was not only voted as Best New Director, but also its actresses received their awards: Leading Actress Laia Costa and Supporting Actress Susi Sánchez.

Finally, the Goya for Best European Film went to the comedy The Worst Person in the World [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile], directed by Joachim Trier, and the Goya for Best Ibero-American Film went to Argentina 1985, by Santiago Mitre; and the tender film Alcarràs [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carla Simón
interview: Carla Simón
interview: Giovanni Pompili
film profile], by Carla Simón, which won the Golden Bear in Berlin just a year ago, was selected to represent Spain in the Oscars and received an excellent reception from both audiences and critics, but came away empty-handed.

This and the absence of Albert Serra and his Pacifiction [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Albert Serra
film profile], with no nominations (which J.A. Bayona bravely reminded the audience at the microphone in the auditorium where the ceremony was held), was the most unfair aspect of a generally logical and equitable distribution of awards. For example, the well-deserved Goya for Best Animated Feature went to the daring and valiant film Unicorn Wars [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile], directed by Alberto Vázquez.

The award winners:

Best Film
The Beasts [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Isabe…
film profile] - Rodrigo Sorogoyen (Spain/France)

Best Director
Rodrigo Sorogoyen - The Beasts

Best New Director
Alauda Ruíz de Azúa - Lullaby [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
film profile]

Best Leading Actress
Laia Costa - Lullaby

Best Leading Actor
Denis Ménochet - The Beasts

Best Supporting Actress
Susi Sánchez - Lullaby

Best Supporting Actor
Luis Zahera - The Beasts

Best New Actress
Laura Galán - Piggy [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carlota Pereda
film profile]

Best New Actor
Telmo Irureta - The Rite of Spring [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Fernando Franco and Koldo Z…
film profile]

Best Original Screenplay
Isabel Peña and Rodrigo Sorogoyen - The Beasts

Best Adapted Screenplay
Fran Araujo, Isa Campo and Isaki Lacuesta - One Year, One Night [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Isaki Lacuesta
film profile] (Spain/France)

Best Documentary Film
Labordeta, un hombre sin más - Gaizka Urresti and Paula Labordeta

Best Animated
Unicorn Wars [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] - Alberto Vázquez (Spain/France)

Best Cinematography
Álex de Pablo - The Beasts

Best Editing
Alberto del Campo - The Beasts

Best Production Supervision
Manuela Ocón Aburto - Modelo 77

Best Art Direction
Pepe Domínguez del Olmo - Modelo 77

Best Costume Design
Fernando García - Modelo 77

Best Makeup and Hairstyling
Yolanda Piña and Félix Terrero - Modelo 77

Best Special Effects
Esther Ballesteros and Ana Rubio - Modelo 77

Best Sound
Aitor Berenguer, Fabiola Ordoyo and Yasmina Praderas - The Beasts

Best Original Score
Olivier Arson - The Beasts

Best Original Song
Sintiéndolo mucho - Joaquín Sabina and Leiva (Feeling It [+see also:
trailer
film profile])

Best Fictional Short Film
Arquitectura emocional 1959 - León Siminiani

Best Documentary Film
Maldita, a love song to Sarajevo - Amaia Remírez and Raúl de la Fuente

Best Animated Short Film
Loop - Pablo Polledri

Best Ibero-American Film
Argentina 1985 - Santiago Mitre (Argentina/United States)

Best European Film 
The Worst Person in the World [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Joachim Trier
film profile] - Joachim Trier (Norway/France/Sweden/Denmark)

Honorary Goya
Carlos Saura

International Goya
Juliette Binoche

(Translated from Spanish by Vicky York)