Goya Awards: Strong Support for INCAA and Argentine Culture

La Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences of Spain presented the 2024 Goya Awards, and in this 38th edition of the prestigious recognition of the best films, directors, actors, and actresses of Ibero-American Cinema, there was a strong statement from various personalities in support of the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) and in defense of Argentine Culture.

In a ceremony held at the Feria de Valladolid Auditorium, Society of the Snow, a film about the tragedy of the Uruguayan rugby team in the Andes Mountains in 1972, won 12 awards, including the top prize for Best Picture.

Additionally, Juan Antonio Bayona won for Best Director, and awards for Best Original Music, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing, among others, went to a production mostly composed of a team of Argentinians and Uruguayans.

Society of the Snow (2023), directed by J. A. Bayona

Voices in favor of Argentina

In a context of defunding by the Argentine state, driven by measures of the government of Javier Milei, which if carried out would affect Management Societies such as the Argentine Film Directors (DAC), ARGENTORES, the Argentine Society of Authors and Composers of Music(SADAIC) and the Argentine Society of Management of Actor Performers (SAGAI), as well as the National Institute of Cinema and Audiovisual Arts (INCAA) have been denounced by artists and personalities of renown and popularity at the recent Goya Awards ceremony.

One of the first to speak out was Argentine actor Matías Recalt, who won Best New Actor for his role in the film Society of the Snow. "I want to send a big hug to my country, which is going through a very delicate moment, and ask please not to tarnish the culture," said the actor in his acceptance speech.

Matías Recalt, Argentinian actor winner of the Best New Actor Award for Society of the Snow

Before presenting the last Goya for Best Picture, renowned Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar advocated for Spanish cinema and alluded -without naming him- to the Vice President of Castilla y León, Juan García-Gallardo (Vox), political allies of Javier Milei in Spain, who referred to filmmakers as "gentlemen" living off subsidies.

"A few hours ago, a politician who is in this room spoke of us as the gentlemen who collect subsidies," Almodóvar began. And he continued: "It is obvious that the money received by filmmakers as advances is returned many times over through taxes, social security, and the creation of thousands of jobs," he concluded amid applause from the audience.

At the end of the ceremony, Fernando Méndez Leite, director, film critic, and current President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Spain, delivered his usual speech.

First, he urged the audience to return to cinemas after the pandemic, emphasized the importance of the work of each person involved in a film crew, from screenwriters to post-production, recalled current war conflicts, and expressed concern about the current situation of Argentine cinema.

"Spanish filmmakers are concerned these days about the situation of our Argentine colleagues, with whom we maintain ancient and close ties, and whose film industry is currently seriously threatened by the uncertain legislative projects of their current government," Méndez Leite affirmed.

All winners

Best Picture: Society of the Snow

Best Director: Juan Antonio Bayona, for Society of the Snow

Best Leading Actor: David Verdaguer, for Jokes & Cigarettes

Best Leading Actress: Malena Alterio, for Something is About to Happen

Best European Film: the French film Anatomy of a Fall

Best Ibero-American Film: La memoria infinita by Maite Alberdi (Chile)

Best Supporting Actor: Jose Coronado, for Close Your Eyes

Best Supporting Actress: Ane Gabarain, for 20,000 species of bees

Best Animated Film: Robot Dreams, by Pablo Berger

Best Documentary: While You’re Still You by Carme Elias, by Claudia Pinto

Best Adapted Screenplay: Pablo Berger, for Robot Dreams

Best Original Screenplay: Estibaliz Urresola, for 20,000 species of bees

Best Art Direction: Alain Bainée, for Society of the Snow

Best Editing: Andrés Gil and Jaume Martí, for Society of the Snow

Best Cinematography: Pedro Luque, for Society of the Snow

Best Animated Short Film: To bird or not to bird, by Martín Romero

Best Documentary Short Film: Ava by Mabel Lozano

Best Fiction Short Film: Aunque es de noche, by Guillermo García López

Best Original Music: Michael Giacchino, for Society of the Snow

Best Original Song: "Yo solo quiero amor," by Rigoberta Bandini, for I’m Loving You Madly

Best New Director: Estibaliz Urresola, for 20,000 species of bees

Best New Actor: Matías Recalt, for Society of the Snow

Best New Actress: Janet Novás, for O corno

Best Production Design: Margarita Huguet, for Society of the Snow

Best Special Effects: Pau Costa, Félix Bergés, and Laura Pedro, for Society of the Snow

Best Sound: Jorge Adrados, Oriol Tarragó, and Marc Orts, for Society of the Snow

Best Makeup and Hairstyling: Ana and Belén López-Puigcerver and Montse Ribé, forSociety of the Snow

Best Costume Design: Julio Suárez, for Society of the Snow

Honorary Goya: Juan Mariné

International Goya: Sigourney Weaver

The winners of each category (Photo: AFP)