The film Los domingos, directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, emerges as the favorite with 13 nominations for the 40th Goya Awards, to be held in Barcelona on February 28. Sirat, by Oliver Laxe, follows with 11 nods, in a contest marked by polarization between box-office hits and festival darlings. The ceremony will be hosted by Rigoberta Bandini and Luis Tosar.
The Spanish Film Academy has announced the nominations for the 40th Goya Awards, to be held in Barcelona on February 28. This marks the second time the ceremony takes place in the Catalan capital since its inception in 1987, and it will be hosted by Rigoberta Bandini and Luis Tosar.
Los domingos, directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, tops the list with 13 nominations, closely followed by Sirat, by Oliver Laxe, with 11. The former examines the recruitment of religious vocations in a crumbling world, while the latter, which won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes, presents a nihilistic vision with hints of hope and is vying for nods in five Oscar categories, including Best International Feature.
In the Best Film category, contenders are Los domingos, Sirât, Maspalomas (by José Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi, with 9 nominations), La cena (by Manuel Gómez Pereira, with 8), and Sorda (by Eva Libertad, with 7). Other notable films include Los tigres and El cautivo, both with 7 mentions.
For Best Director, nominees include Alauda Ruiz de Azúa for Los domingos, Carla Simón for Romería, Oliver Laxe for Sirât, José Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi for Maspalomas, and Albert Serra for Tardes de Soledad, the latter unprecedentedly nominated in a non-fiction category.
In lead acting, José Ramón Soroiz for Maspalomas and Patricia López Arnaiz for Los domingos stand out as frontrunners. The full list covers categories like screenplay, music, and short films, reflecting a strong season with films awarded at festivals such as San Sebastián, Cannes, Berlinale, and Málaga.
Ciudad sin sueño, by Guillermo Galoe, also earns 5 nominations, including breakout actor for Toni Fernández Gabarre, praised for its social commitment in the Cañada Real.
