SEVILLA – The Spanish-French co-production “As Bestas” (in English “The Beasts”) triumphed at the presentation of the Spanish film awards, the Goyas, in Seville.
The gripping psychological thriller about a newcomer who is adamantly rejected by his rural Galician neighbours has won a total of nine awards. These include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Actor, Denis Ménochet.
Director Rodrigo Sorogoyen found his inspiration in the drama surrounding the disappearance and murder of Martin Verfondern. His neighbours murdered the Dutchman in 2010. Moreover, the police could not solve this murder until four years later.
The main character in the movie is French and had started an ecological farm with his wife in the mountains of Galicia. The villagers hoped to earn extra money by allowing windmills on their land. But when Antoine ‘el Francés’ refuses to participate, they get angry and the drama develops.
Political thriller “Argentina 1985”
The prize for the best Ibero-American film went to “Argentina 1985”. Santiago Miter’s political thriller is about the first major criminal case against members of Argentina’s military dictatorship. Furthermore, the jury awarded the Norwegian film “The worst person in the world” by Joachim Trier with the prize for best European film.
Posthumous tribute to Carlos Saura
The mourning and commemoration of the director Carlos Saura (“Carmen”) marked the 37th Goya ceremony. Saura passed away on February 10 at the age of 91. Consequently, the jury awarded him an honorary Goya for his career. The wife of the deceased, Eulalia Ramón, and their children Antonio and Anna accepted the prize. Saura had also left a message saying he was sorry he couldn’t be with the Goyas.
The French Juliette Binoche was also honoured in Seville.
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