The Valencia Institute of Culture (IVC) and the Valencia Audio-Visual Academy (AVAV) announced a pool of 369 applications across 26 categories for the SAW Berlanga Valencia Audiovisual Awards. The entries, submitted between November 2022 and November 2023, aim to celebrate the quality of feature films, short films, TV series, and video games produced within the Valencian Community and its neighboring regions.
Within this diverse slate, several works originate from the province of Alicante. Notably, a number of feature films showcase Alicante’s creative talent. Unicorns from Barcelona, produced by Jaibo Movies with components filmed off Alicante’s coast, stands among the featured projects, while Days of the Night from Alicante led by Angel Puado is also highlighted. The roster includes nine documentary titles centered on Chiaroscuro and the people involved, including Miguel Herrero Herrero, along with eight entries tied to Álex Cuellar and Rafa G. Sánchez. Altea, celebrated as a coastal town, appears with five entries linked to Alexander Blasco. The lineup also includes prominent titles such as The Movies to Be Forgotten (featuring 17 candidates and a lead role by Morgan Blasco), Kepler Sixth B (16 nominations), Escanyapobres, Quan Doesn’t Finish the Night with Alicante-based Alex Peral in a supporting role, No Felic avivarii (15 nominations), and a TV series titled After You with 17 nominations.
In the short film category, several Alicante-anchored titles have earned a place in the first screening phase. Endless Story from San Vicent, Change from Benidorm-based Alberto Gospel, The Kisses I Lost by Mark Chanca, Wizard by Tirso Calero, Our History by Angel Puado, God Bless You Maria by Noelia Fluxá and Julie-Estel Soard (distinct from another similarly titled short shot in Benissa), and Academics co-directed by Alicante’s Marina Corton all feature among early favorites.
Process
The evaluation and voting process rests with a panel of academics who assess the eligible works. The candidate list is accessible on both the IVC and AVAV websites. The first round of voting closes in October, with finalists announced in the same week and named as official nominees for the VI Berlanga Awards. A second round, running from October 6 to 29, determines the winners in each category. The awards ceremony for the Berlanga gala is scheduled for November 11, 2023, at the Valencia Art Palace and will be broadcast live by À Punt.
The event continues to celebrate the diverse storytelling across cinema and television, with a focus on regional talent and collaborative production across communities. The Berlanga Awards emphasize regional contributions while aligning with broader Spanish audiovisual standards, highlighting the creativity that thrives in the Valencian sphere. The ceremony serves not only as recognition but also as a platform for emerging directors, screenwriters, composers, and technical artists to showcase their work to audiences and industry insiders alike.
Filming notes from the production of Unicorns, directed by Àlex Lora and produced by Jaibo Films, include ongoing shoots around La Vila and surrounding coastal areas, illustrating the dynamic setting that Valencia’s film scene embraces.
New rewards
In this edition, the Berlanga Awards introduce two notable changes to the winners list. The category for best original song has been expanded, and the jury will actively determine its recipient. Additionally, a new Valencia Audiovisual Honorary Award is bestowed by the First Vice Presidency and the Ministry of Culture and Sports as a nod to outstanding lifetime achievement and ongoing support for the regional industry.
The Berlanga Awards continue to distinguish themselves with 26 awards, reinforcing the event’s status as a crucial cultural milestone for Valencia and its neighbors. The revised format underscores the region’s commitment to recognizing excellence across all facets of audiovisual production, from direction and writing to score and postproduction.
Nominations by category
When examining nominations by category, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, and Original Score stand out as the divisions with the most confirmed contenders. AVAV reports a total of 369 submissions spread across all competition categories, with the three mentioned categories leading the count. Specifically, Best Directing records 35 nominations, Best Screenplay 31, and Best Original Score gathers a substantial share alongside related editing and postproduction entries. A note remains that no production submitted entries for Best Animated Feature, leaving that category without applicants for this cycle.