The celebration of the traditional family photo of this year's Gaudí nominees takes place at the Disseny Hub Barcelona. The Catalan Film Academy likes to alternate and try new cultural spaces in Barcelona to immortalize such an event. But the rain and the construction work mean that some have to turn around more than usual and get a little lost. Like Juan Sebastián Vasquez, the Venezuelan director who has written and directed together with Alejandro Rojas the thriller Upon Entry, one of the sensations of the season and nominated for five Gaudí awards. "We are really delighted," he says while looking for a place to change clothes.
An hour before the appointment at the Auditorium, the almost one hundred nominees speak with the press in one of the rooms, greet each other and show smiles and hugs. That February 4th is almost upon us. "It will be a very lively, assertive, elegant and fun gala, which will talk about diversity and in which we will be seated around some tables in a very large space of the Forum and we will have a beautiful setting," explains Judith Colell, president of the Academy. . This year the leitmotiv aims to "look up because it is a year of pride with a spectacular harvest. There are films that have won awards at festivals, that have connected a lot with viewers and have had a stupendous box office. And we have a film with Catalan talent at its best, even if it does not have a Catalan production, which we hope will go to the Oscars and win," he says in reference to The Snow Society.
Precisely, its director, Juan Antonio Bayona, was the most anticipated today. Accompanied by producer Sandra Hermida, the Barcelona director confesses that "since we premiered the film in Venice in September we saw that it was working very well. It is working very well in cinemas, with around 300,000 spectators, and even though it was a limited release. On Netflix the result is overwhelming with more than 50 million views in ten days." Bayona is especially moved by "the response of younger people, who did not know the story as much and identify with characters their own age."
After being nominated for the Golden Globes, the Critics Choice, the Goya and the Bafta, among others, next Tuesday it will be revealed whether it will be a finalist for the Oscar for best international film, something that many already take as a fact. "I knew it was next week but not the day. Imagine how I live right now. We are very happy with all the recognition we have had. The public is responding and the reviews are very good. We cannot complain because we have gone further than we originally expected.
To the Gaudís, his drama about the 1972 aerial tragedy in the Andes, is a candidate for best European film. "Many times it is more difficult to succeed at home than abroad and I am very happy with the nomination. I am very excited to participate in the Gaudí and if not by competing, presenting a prize or present at the ceremony."
David Trueba is also very happy, making his debut at the Gaudí Awards with the 13 nominations for Saben quell, a biopic of the comedian Eugenio to which David Verdaguer lends voice and body. "I am from Madrid and you never think that you will be present at the Gaudí gala. I am very excited." And luckily, that of Elena Martín, who has received 15 mentions with her second feature film, Creatura. "It's a beautiful end to a cycle," she says of a story that has moved many people "who have felt liberated to be able to put words to things that happen and they don't know how to name."
With a little delay, all the nominees - Isabel Coixet, with Covid, and Laia Costa, with flu, as representatives of Un amor - are missing, sit in the seats in the Auditorium. One of the photographers warns that they will do two versions: one seated and one standing. In the first there is silence and Sandra Hermida's bag in the front row is annoying, which does not look good in the photo. The other is more relaxed. "Play with those next door!" There is laughter and applause. And more applause. Like those of Juan Sebastián Vasquez, who has finally been able to change and is wearing a white sweater, a yellow wool hat and has put on shoes with impossible heels. The occasion is well worth it.
