Else Beekman
What if the world you’re raising your child in wasn’t made for you? That confronting question pulls the viewer straight into Sorda, the big winner of the 2025 Malaga Film Festival. Directed by Eva Libertad, the film not only took home the prestigious Biznaga de Oro for Best Spanish Film, but also won over both the audience and the jury.
Four awards in total, including Best Actor and Best Actress, while the festival norms normally limit the amount of prices per film to a maximum of three.
A festival of women, debuts and sibling triumphs
Four films dominated this 28th edition of the Málaga Film festival: Sorda, Los tortuga, La furia, and Molt lluny. Notably, three were directed by women, three were directorial debuts, and all four were backed by RTVE.
What truly moved the audience to tears was the heartfelt moment backstage when brother and sister Álvaro and Ángela Cervantes embraced after both winning a Biznaga de Plata – for Sorda and La furia respectively. The applause in the theatre lasted for minutes in response to their shared emotion. The makers of two intense films, two very different stories – both deeply rooted in human drama.
Silence as strength in Sorda
The film follows Ángela, a deaf woman who is expecting a child with her hearing partner. The arrival of their baby tests their relationship and forces Ángela to confront a world that doesn’t understand her.
Lead actress Miriam Garlo, who is deaf herself, made history as the first deaf Spanish actress to star in a feature film – and to win a major award for it. Her performance, alongside that of Álvaro Cervantes – who navigates both sign and spoken language in the role – gives the film a rare sense of authenticity.
Los tortuga and the return of Belén Funes
Ten years after her award-winning short film, director Belén Funes returned to Málaga and walked away with three major prizes. These are: Best Director, Best Screenplay, and the Special Jury Prize. Her film Los tortuga is a raw portrait of grief and resilience, set in a bleak, unwelcoming Barcelona. Two women, a mother and daughter, mourn the loss of a father and husband. Meanwhile they try to survive in a city that seems determined to swallow them whole.
Youthful rage and personal quests in La furia and Molt lluny:
La furia, the dark directorial debut from Gemma Blasco, made a strong impression. Ángela Cervantes and Àlex Moner shine in a film that dares to portray pain, anger, and healing with unflinching honesty. The editing – sharp and precise – slices through the narrative and earned a well-deserved award.
And then there’s Molt lluny, in which Mario Casas delivers a striking performance as a young man who, during a trip to the Netherlands, decides to leave everything behind. Director Gerard Oms drew from personal experience, and it shows in every frame. Casas received his second Biznaga for Best Actor.
A quick look back
The Málaga Film Festival has become one of the most important platforms for Spanish-language cinema, known for highlighting new voices and powerful storytelling. In 2024, the Biznaga de Oro was awarded to Creatura by Elena Martín Gimeno, a bold exploration of female identity and trauma that sparked conversations far beyond Spain’s borders.
Also read: Pedro Almodóvar makes history with Golden Lion win at Venice Film Festival