Creatura, with 15 nominations, and Saben quell, with thirteen, are the films that start as favorites in the 16th edition of the Gaudí Awards to be held next February 4 at the Barcelona International Convention Center (CCIB). The films directed by Elena Martín and David Trueba are closely followed by 20,000 species of bees, with nine mentions, Un amor, with eight and The teacher who promised the sea and The film teller, both with six. With five parts Upon Entry, debut film by Venezuelans Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vasquez.
In the reading of the nominees that took place this morning at the La Pedrera Auditorium, Vicky Luengo and Pol López - winners last year for their performances in Suro - have revealed a majority presence of female finalists, a trend that has been noted for two years now. editions and which continues to rise this year with 57% compared to 43% of men.
Four productions in the Catalan language are competing in the category of best film: Creature, Saben aquell, Els encantats and The permanent image. The brave look at female sexuality that Elena Martín portrays in her second feature film was awarded in the Fortnight of Filmmakers at the Cannes festival. In Saben aquello, Trueba focuses on the legendary humorist Eugenio in an intimate portrait centered on his relationship with his first wife Conchita. Els encantats, by Elena Trapé, reflects on motherhood and in The permanent image, Laura Ferrés combines fiction and documentary in a story of loss and reunion that escapes the conventional and was awarded the Espiga de Oro in the Seminci.
In the non-Catalan language film section, the participants are 20,000 species of bees, the story of a trans girl directed by Estíbaliz Urresola, awarded at the Berlinale and Málaga, and top favorite at the Goya Awards; Un amor, by Isabel Coixet, about a woman in crisis; The Teacher Who Promised the Sea, which tells the true story of Professor Antoni Benaiges, tortured and murdered by Falangist militiamen at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War; and Upon Entry, the claustrophobic story of a couple who is detained and subjected to intense interrogation upon arrival in the United States.
Martín, Trueba, Coixet and Agustí Villaronga, with a posthumous nomination for Loli Tormenta, are the candidates for best director, while in novel direction the Venezuelans Juan Sebastián Vásquez and Alejandro Rojas (Upon Entry), Alejandro Marín for I am loving you madly compete. , Estíbaliz Urresola for 20,000 species of bees and Laura Ferrés for La imatge permanent. In an original script, the members of the Catalan Film Academy value the works of Estibaliz Urresola by 20,000 species of bees; Elena Martín and Clara Roquet for Creatura; Juan Sebastián Vásquez and Alejandro Rojas for Upon Entry, and Víctor Iriarte, Isa Campo and Andrea Queralt for Sobre todo de noche.
In adapted screenplay, the nominees are Albert Val for The Master Who Promised the Sea, based on the book of the same name by Francesc Escribano; Pablo Berger for Robot Dreams, adaptation of the graphic novel by Sara Varon; Isabel Coixet and Laura Ferreiro for the adaptation of Sara Mesa's novel Un amor; and David Trueba and Albert Espinosa, for explaining a part of Eugenio Jofra's biography in Saben That.
As for performances, Laia Costa will compete again in the category of best leading actress for Un amor after winning the statuette for Victoria (2015); Bruna Cusí will also seek her second Gaudí for her work in Upon Entry after obtaining it as a secondary for Estiu 1993; Carolina Yuste from Extremadura will have the opportunity for her role as Conchita, Eugenio's wife in Saben That; and Patricia López Arnáiz for playing the mother in crisis of a trans girl in 20,000 species of bees.
In the men's section there are Oriol Pla, who could add his third Gaudí for Creatura; David Verdaguer, with two other statuettes for 10,000 Km and Tierra Firma, also aspires to a third for his Eugenio; Enric Auquer, who already achieved one for Whom Iron Kills, opts for his Antoni Benaiges of The Master Who Promised the Sea and Alberto Amman competes for the first time for Upon Entry.
As secondaries, the academics have chosen as finalists the actresses Clara Segura (Creature), Aina Clotet (Els encantats), Ane Gabarain (20,000 species of bees) and Ana Torrent (Sobre todo de noche). As for the actors, the favorites are Hugo Silva (Un amor), Pedro Casablanc (Saben aquel), Daniel Brühl (La contadora de películas) and Alex Brendemühl (Creature).
Robot dreams, by Pablo Berger - distinguished last weekend at the European film awards - will compete for the award for best animated film; Disparan al pianista, by Fernando Trueba and Javier Mariscal; Hanna i els monstres, by Lorena Ares and Heavies tendres, by Joan Tomàs Monfort.
