03/03/2021 - In the run-up to the Goya Awards ceremony, Pilar Palomero’s feature debut has scooped the three most important trophies handed out by the Association of Spanish Film Journalists

While 2020 proved to be a difficult year for the majority of the planet, Schoolgirls [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pilar Palomero
film profile], the first feature by Zaragoza-born Pilar Palomero, was blessed multiple times: premiered in the Generation section of the Berlinale more or less 12 months ago, it went on to win the Golden Biznaga for Best Film at the most recent Málaga Film Festival in August, and in January it garnered the Forqué Award for Best Fiction Feature of last season (see the news). Furthermore, last night, during a physical, in-person ceremony held in a Madrilenian theatre, which abided by the requisite health-and-safety measures recommended by the health authorities, it scooped three Feroz Awards (for Best Drama Film, Best Screenplay and Best Director) at the eighth edition of the prizes handed out by the Association of Spanish Film Journalists (AICE).

Thus, this portrait of the education that girls received in Spain during the decade of the 1990s has positioned itself as the clear favourite – with nine nominations – going into the ceremony for the Goya Awards, which is set to take place on Saturday 6 March in Málaga.

Another title that’s already being talked about as a dead cert for the ceremony on Saturday is The Year of the Discovery [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Murcia-born Luis López Carrasco, which last night pocketed the Feroz Award for Best Documentary after also snagging the Forqué Award. The same goes for Patricia López Arnaiz, who picked up the Best Lead Actress Award for her turn in Ane Is Missing [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Pérez Sañudo
film profile], a feat she also achieved when the Spanish producers’ prizes were given out.

The rest of the awards in the film category went to Mario Casas (the lead in Cross the Line [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Victori
film profile]), Juan Diego Botto (supporting actor in The Europeans) and Verónica Echegui (supporting actress in the musical My Heart Goes Boom! [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nacho Álvarez
film profile]) as the top thesps, while the classy poster for Rifkin’s Festival [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Woody Allen (courtesy of Catalan artist Jordi Labanda), the score for Baby [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (composed by Koldo Uriarte and Bingen Mendizábal) and the trailer for Historias lamentables [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (crafted by Javier Fesser and Rafa Martínez) grabbed the Feroz Awards in their respective categories. Rosa’s Wedding [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Icíar Bollaín earned itself the statuette for Best Comedy, and My Mexican Bretzel [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nuria Giménez
film profile] by Nuria Giménez Lorang got the Special Feroz Award.

In the TV category, it was Rodrigo Sorogoyen and his gripping series Riot Police [+see also:
series review
interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen
series profile] that came out on top, winning Best Drama Series, Best Lead Actor (Hovik Keuchkerian) and Best Supporting Actor (Patrick Criado). Its biggest rival, Patria [+see also:
series review
series profile] (read the review), saw its actresses Elena Irureta (lead) and Loreto Mauleón (supporting) acknowledged, while 30 Coins [+see also:
series review
series profile] by Álex de la Iglesia (read the review) received the Feroz Award for Best Actor (Eduard Fernández split this trophy with Keuchkerian) and Vamos Juan by Diego San José was crowned Best Comedy Series.

Here is the full list of winners:

Films

Best Drama Film
Schoolgirls [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Pilar Palomero
film profile] – Pilar Palomero

Best Comedy
Rosa’s Wedding [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Icíar Bollaín (Spain/France)

Best Director
Pilar Palomero – Schoolgirls

Best Lead Actress
Patricia López Arnáiz – Ane Is Missing [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Pérez Sañudo
film profile]

Best Lead Actor
Mario Casas – Cross the Line [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: David Victori
film profile]

Best Supporting Actress
Verónica Echegui – My Heart Goes Boom! [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nacho Álvarez
film profile] (Spain/Italy)

Best Supporting Actor
Juan Diego Botto – The Europeans

Best Screenplay
Pilar Palomero – Schoolgirls

Best Documentary
The Year of the Discovery [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] – Luis López Carrasco (Spain/Switzerland)

Best Original Score
Koldo Uriarte and Bingen Mendizábal – Baby [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]

Best Trailer
Javier Fesser and Rafa Martínez – Historias lamentables [+see also:
trailer
film profile]

Best Poster
Jordi Labanda – Rifkin’s Festival [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (USA/Spain/Italy)

Special Feroz Award
My Mexican Bretzel [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Nuria Giménez
film profile] – Nuria Giménez Lorang

Series

Best Drama Series
Riot Police [+see also:
series review
interview: Rodrigo Sorogoyen
series profile]

Best Comedy Series
Vamos Juan

Best Lead Actress in a Series
Elena Irureta - Patria [+see also:
series review
series profile]

Best Lead Actor in a Series
Eduard Fernández - 30 Coins [+see also:
series review
series profile]
Hovik Keuchkerian - Riot Police

Best Supporting Actress in a Series
Loreto Mauleón - Patria

Best Supporting Actor in a Series
Patrick Criado - Riot Police

Honorary Feroz Award
Victoria Abril

(Translated from Spanish)