Santiago de Compostela, Spain, celebrated the best in Spanish cinema and television on Saturday, February 24th, at the 13th annual Premios Feroz awards in Pontevedra. The gala, hosted by samantha Hudson, Petra Martínez, Elisabet Casanovas, and Antonio Durán ‘Morris’, recognized both established and rising talents in film and series production [[1]]. This year’s event was particularly highlighted by the Academy Award nomination of Oliver Laxe’s “Sirat,” marking a significant moment for Spanish portrayal on the international stage [[1]].
Santiago de Compostela, Spain – The biggest names in Spanish film and television walked the red carpet at the 13th annual Premios Feroz in Pontevedra on Saturday, February 24th, as the city celebrated the diversity of the audiovisual landscape. This year’s ceremony was particularly notable for the Oscar nomination of Oliver Laxe’s “Sirat.”
Despite the typical Galician rain, actors and actresses nominated for awards paused to greet the hundreds of fans gathered under a tent before posing for photos. The event recognizes excellence in Spanish cinema and is awarded by the Association of Cinematographic Information of Spain (AICE).
Teams from films like “Los domingos,” “Sirat,” “La cena,” and “Maspalomas,” as well as series including “Anatomía de una instante,” “Yakarta,” “Poquita fe,” and “Superstar” were in attendance. Over 1,000 people, including nominees, guests, and dignitaries, attended the gala, which was hosted by Samantha Hudson, Petra Martínez, Elisabet Casanovas, and Antonio Durán ‘Morris’ and broadcast on La 2 de TVE and RTVE Play.
Elisabet Casanovas admitted to feeling a bit nervous, but expressed confidence in the chemistry with her co-hosts. Samantha Hudson, however, said she was relaxed and anticipated an excellent show.
Javier Cámara, alongside his “Yakarta” co-star Carla Quílez, expressed optimism about the series’ chances at the awards. “It would be a little embarrassing to go home empty-handed,” Cámara joked, while Quílez added that “the real prize has been making the series.”
José Ramón Soroiz and Kandido Uranga, both first-time nominees for “Maspalomas,” highlighted the film’s positive reception from audiences and the “very good results” they’ve seen. “It’s a wonderful script,” Soroiz said.
Victoria Luengo, who will star in Pedro Almodóvar’s upcoming film “Amarga Navidad,” also walked the red carpet. She previewed the film the previous day, describing it as “beautiful, honest, brave, and very intelligent.”
However, the spotlight shone brightest on Oliver Laxe, whose film “Sirat” recently received an Academy Award nomination for Best International Feature Film, in addition to a nomination for Best Sound for Laia Casanovas. The nomination marks a significant moment for Spanish cinema on the global stage.
“I think ‘Sirat’ is a shock to the system. It stirs things up and touches you deeply,” Laxe explained, adding that he believes Hollywood has understood his film well. “I think they valued the boldness. They made films like ‘Sirat’ in the 60s and 70s, but they stopped making them. I think they’re surprised by the courage and the craftsmanship.”
“It’s been overwhelming. We’re very happy and still celebrating,” Casanovas added. “It’s something we didn’t even dare to dream of.”
Galicia took center stage as the host region.
Galician actor Xoán Fórneas said it’s been “a great year for cinema and series” and expressed his joy at being able to celebrate in his homeland, “where a lot of fiction is also being made,” including in Galician. “I think the city has fully embraced the awards,” he said, while director Jaione Camborda championed a “very fertile” Galician cinema that is bringing audiences back to theaters.
That momentum is evident with “Rondallas,” Daniel Sánchez Arévalo’s film that has become a late-season awards contender. “There’s a lot of love for the film. They just told us we’ve already surpassed 250,000 viewers. Getting people to the theaters is very difficult now, and that shows it’s a film that resonates and is benefiting from strong word-of-mouth,” said Tamar Novas, a member of the film’s cast. EFE
(c) Agencia EFE
