The Carmen Awards, now in their second year under the Andalusian Film Academy, and the Gaudí Awards, celebrating their sixteenth edition from the Catalan Film Academy, shared a weekend spotlight. Yet as a viewer, neither ceremony fully delivered. They stood apart in tone and temperament, offering a snapshot of Spanish cinema that felt disconnected from the pageantry and momentum audiences crave.
The evening of film excellence in Barcelona brought together a cross-section of the country’s best work. The Gaudí program highlighted performances and productions connected to the broader Goya landscape, underscoring the strength of professionals who build the Catalan audiovisual scene. Names like Berger, Erice, Coixet, Bayona, and the Trueba siblings were part of the conversation, alongside ambitious titles such as 20,000 Species of Bees and Creatura, the latter bringing home the top honors for its director Elena Martín. The mood on the night reflected a field proud of its roots and eager to push boundaries that define modern Spanish cinema.
Still, the show carried a relentless race to claim more—more Catalan-language films, more funding to sustain future projects, more recognition of sisterhood within the industry, more advocacy on social issues, and more dramatic flair. The public discourse extended to expressions of resistance against ageism and solidarity with global concerns, including the plight of Palestine, which, for some, may have overshadowed the cinematic discourse. The result felt crowded and at times claustrophobic, as if the competition for attention had eclipsed the art itself. An honorary award went to Rosa Vergés, a nod that left some pondering the balance between a long career and the presence of landmark works that mark a lasting impact on cinema.
The Carmen Awards gala staged in Almería offered a retrospective echo of past ceremonies, with a handful of presenters who added a touch of nostalgia to the proceedings. The two and a half hour program moved with a cadence that recalled film-title nostalgia rather than cutting-edge innovation. The humor leaned toward a style reminiscent of decades past, and some moments felt more about tradition than pushing the envelope. The winner Mamacruz, featuring Kiti Mánver, did not have a corresponding presence in Alicante that evening. Across the country, cinema lovers followed the Catalan triumph as Creatura also demonstrated the power of strong storytelling that resonates beyond regional borders. The experience invites further analysis of how regional festivals intersect with national awards and how audiences perceive these moments of cultural pride across Spain.