Unforgettable moments light up the big screen—expressions and glances that speak louder than words. They convince critics and audiences alike, and soon the name of the actor or actress appears in bets and bets at award season. As the most important event in Spanish cinema draws near, the Goya Awards, it is easy to imagine that honor slipping to the leading actress Carla Quílez or to Pilar Palomero’s latest film. At fourteen, she became the youngest actress to receive the Silver Shell at the San Sebastián Festival, and a few days ago she also shone at the Gaudí Awards. Yet this won’t repeat in Seville on February 11, since she was not nominated. The reason? Age matters.
Since 2011, the Spanish Film Academy has not allowed anyone under sixteen to win prizes. The institution was founded to protect minors, and when a prize is awarded, the recipient also gains certain responsibilities for all scholars involved. One of the most important rights, as stated in its statutes, is the right to vote at General Assemblies and in several Goya categories, including Best Picture, Best Documentary, Best Ibero-American Film, and Best Short Film. The Academy’s choices for Spain’s Oscar and Ariel Award representations are also influenced by audience and member input. Regarding obligations, it highlights the payment of quotas and the need to respect the confidentiality of negotiations and agreements made by any Assembly or Commission.
Until the rules change, six winners under sixteen have previously taken home the Best New Actor or Actress award. Andoni Erburu won at ten for Secrets of the Heart (1997), followed by Juan José Ballesta at twelve for The Ball (2001). Ivana Baquero was sixteen when she won in 2007 for her role in Pan’s Labyrinth. Two years later, Nerea Camacho earned the award for her performance in Path by Javier Fesser. More recently, Francesc Colomer and Marina Comas, in Heroes Black Dad by Agustín Villaronga, were among the last to receive it before the 2011 regulatory changes.
Some have stepped away from the spotlight, while others like Ivana Baquero continued building their careers largely in the United States. “I don’t understand the academy’s rationale for not exposing children too much, because they’re exposed the moment they’re part of a film project with these characteristics,” she told EL PERIÓDICO DE ESPAÑA. For her, the recognition came from the work itself. “If you hire a child and they work around the clock like any adult, it doesn’t make sense not to value them as much as they do.”
Sixty-four the years have passed since her Goya win, and the career has continued, not only because of the award but because the person and the film opened doors. “The award gives prestige, but it is the film that prevails,” she notes, describing how auditions bring many yeses and noes. A career formed early often evolves with puberty, as physical and emotional changes complicate the path from child roles to adult performances. The aim is to show ongoing work and resilience rather than a single moment of recognition.
At eight, she walked through the cinema door, not planning to become an actress. Casting for Romasanta: Monster Hunt came to her school, and she joined the project with Paco Plaza. The experience also produced darker memories, as schoolmates teased and bullying surfaced. Still, she did not abandon what she loved most. “What happens sometimes is alarming, but it’s something that can be managed with support,” she reflects.
Family, friends, and the support system
This struggle is not unique, according to scholars. Madrid’s leading Shooting Coach and a training center for aspiring actors explains that when young actors return to school after a project, their peers may greet them with mixed reactions. The center opened in 2013 and has supported projects such as the trilogy across the decade, working with figures including Santiago Segura, Javier Fesser, and Asghar Farhadi.
Supportive spaces are crucial. The film industry employs a ram to accompany minors on set and transforms stressful environments into safe, friendly spaces. The goal is to help a director obtain what they need from a young performer while ensuring the child’s comfort. The crew has learned that problems often arise after filming rather than during it, and the emphasis remains on safeguarding the child’s well-being throughout the entire process. When the lights go down, families and kids need continued guidance because managing fame is not a simple feat.
Many in the industry argue that minors should not be awarded prizes to keep the focus on their development. The Film Academy emphasizes that minors receive care during filming and that crossing into award ceremonies and heavy media exposure can complicate a child’s emotional balance. It is about safety and appropriate boundaries, ensuring a return to normal life once the project ends.
Psychologists also stress the need to distinguish between children who want to act and those influenced by parents chasing social success or leading roles. The lack of role models can leave young actors vulnerable to the temptations of fame. Guidance is essential, both for the actor and their family, to prevent burnout and to keep a healthy perspective on the industry.
Exposure, especially on social networks, can shape a young actor’s self-image. The key is to contextualize this exposure and to keep the public gaze from overwhelming the person behind the performance. Institutions like the Film Academy strive to moderate these pressures by avoiding unnecessary competition and by managing expectations so they don’t overwhelm a young mind.
What about other competitions? Minors can still be recognized in many festivals. At San Sebastián, there is no age limit for awarding prizes. Carla Quílez, for example, was celebrated for a recent Silver Shell, while in 2021 Flora Ofelia Hofmann earned best performance in another festival. The Oscars, however, have rarely highlighted under-16 winners, though they did recognize younger performers in the past when the youth category existed. The historical record shows that the youth Oscar was awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 1935 to 1961 to actors under eighteen, though this is now a rarity.