“Snow Society” by Juan Antonio Bayona dominated the Goya Awards, earning top honors in a contest that celebrated the 1972 Andes air tragedy and marked Goya’s 38th edition. Bayona secured 12 of the 13 awards he aimed for, including Best Film and Best Director, signaling a historic moment for his career and for Spanish cinema.
It was the first time a Bayona project claimed the Goya for Best Film. Previous attempts, like A Monster Calls (2017) and The Impossible (2013), did not reach that pinnacle. The ceremony highlighted Bayona’s ongoing mastery of storytelling and production management, setting a high bar for future national productions.
Meanwhile, Estibaliz Urresola’s feature 20,000 Species of Bees led the gala with 15 nominations, and went on to claim three awards: Best New Director, Original Screenplay, and Supporting Actress for Ane Gabarain, as the film departed Valladolid where the gala took place. The event underscored Urresola’s emergence as a formidable new voice in contemporary Spanish cinema.
Goya’s big winner Juan Antonio Bayona thanks Netflix for the opportunity: “They said it wasn’t possible, and they were wrong”
Meanwhile, Pablo Berger’s Robot Dreams earned two prizes, including Best Adapted Screenplay in the animated category, becoming the sole Bayona film to lose to another title in this edition. The award process prevented Bayona from reaching a perfect slate of nominations, a milestone no other film in Goya history has ever achieved, underlining the intense competition and high standards of the awards cycle.
This unique outcome added a twist to the night, illustrating how even a dominant campaign can be thwarted by strong rival performances and the evolving tastes of the jury. Bayona’s team, however, still celebrated a record-breaking haul and a major spotlight on Snow Community as a cultural phenomenon in Spain’s cinematic landscape.
Best Movie
20,000 Species of Bees
Close Your Eyes
Snow Community
That One Love
Best Address
Víctor Erice, Close Your Eyes
Elena Martín from Creatura
JA Bayona for Snow Community
David Trueba, They Know This
For a Love by Isabel Coixet
25
Best New Direction
Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren for 20,000 Species of Bees
Itsaso Arana for The Girls Are Fine
Álvaro Gago for Matria
Alejandro María for I Love You Madly
Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez for Upon Entry
Best Original Screenplay
Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren for 20,000 Species of Bees
Michel Gaztambide and Víctor Erice, To Close Your Eyes
Alejandro Marín, Carmen Garrido for I Love You Madly
For a Not-So-Simple Life Félix Viscarret
Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez for Upon Entry
Best Adapted Screenplay
Albert Val for The Master Who Promised the Sea
Bernat Vilaplana, JA Bayona, Jaime Marques-Olarreaga, Nicolás Casariego on behalf of Snow Community
Pablo Berger for Robot Dreams
Albert Espinosa and David Trueba (They Know It)
Isabel Coixet and Laura Ferrero from Un Amor
‘The Snow Society’ swept the Goya with 12 awards, including Best Film and Best Direction
Best Original Music
Natasha Arizu for The Master Who Promised the Sea
Arnau Bataller for The Antares Paradox
Michael Giacchino on behalf of Snow Community
Alfonso de Vilallonga from Robot Dreams
Andrea Motis, They Know This
Best Original Song
Eco – Composers: Xoel López for Cheerleaders
Chinas – Composers: Marina Herlop for Chinas
Andrea’s Love – Composers: Álvaro Benito Baglietto, David El Indio, Guille Galván, Jorge González, Juanma Latorre and Pucho (Vetusta Morla), Valeria Castro for Andrea’s Love
La Gallinita – Composers: Fernando Moresi Haberman, Sergio Bertran for La Imatge Permanent
I Just Want Love – Composers: Rigoberta Bandini for I Love You Madly
Best Leading Actor
Patricia López Arnaiz for 20,000 Species of Bees
Matria by María Vázquez
Malena Alterio for Nobody Sleeps
Carolina Yuste, They Know It
Laia Costa for One Love
Best Leading Actor
Manolo Just for Close Your Eyes
Enric Auquer for The Master Who Promised the Sea
David Verdaguer, They Know This
Hovik Keuchkerian for One Love
Alberto Ammann at the Entrance
Best Supporting Actor
Martxelo Rubio for 20,000 Species of Bees
Juan Carlos Vellido for Under Treatment
Close Your Eyes to José Coronado
Álex Brendemühl, Creatura
Hugo Silva for One Love
Best Supporting Actress
Ane Gabarain for 20,000 Species of Bees
Itsaso Lazkano for 20,000 Species of Bees
Main Torrent for Close Your Eyes
Clara Segura from Creatura
Luisa Gavasa for The Master Who Promised the Sea
Best New Actress
Xinyi Ye for Chinas
Yeju Ji from Chinas
Clàudia Malagelada from Creatura
Sara Becker for The Movie Teller
Janet Novas for That Corno
Best Newcomer
Brianeitor for Campeonex
Julio Hu Chen for China
Matías Recalt for Snow Community
La Dani because I love you madly
Ömer Banana because I love you madly
Best Production Direction
Pablo Vidal for 20,000 Species of Bees
Close Your Eyes by María José Díez
Margarita Huguet on behalf of Snow Society
Eduard Valles, They Know This
Leire Aurrekoetxea and Luis Gutiérrez for Valley of Shadows
Best Cinematography
Gina Ferrer García for 20,000 Species of Bees
Close Your Eyes for Valentín Álvarez
Pedro Luque on behalf of Snow Community
Bet on Rourich for a Love
One Night with Adela Diego Trenas
Best Montage
Raúl Barreras for 20,000 Species of Bees
Marchena gets up to close her eyes
Andrés Gil, Jaume Martí on behalf of Snow Society
Fatima de los Santos, Mamacruz
Fernando Franco for Robot Dreams
Best Art Direction
Izaskun Urkijo for 20,000 Species of Bees
Curru Garabal closing his eyes
Carlos Conti in The Movie Teller
Alain Bainée, on behalf of Snow Society
Marc Pou, They Know This
Best Costume Design
Nerea Torrijos for 20,000 Species of Bees
Maria Armengol for The Master Who Promised the Sea
Mercè Paloma for Film Narrator
Julio Suárez on behalf of Snow Community
By Lala Huete They Know That
Best Makeup and Hair
Ainhoa Eskisabel, Jone Gabarain for 20,000 Species of Bees
Ana López-Puigcerver, Belén López-Puigcerver, Montse Ribé on behalf of Snow Society
Eli Adanez, Juan Begara for Tenderness
Caitlin Acheson, Benjamín Pérez, Nacho Díaz for They Know
Sarai Rodríguez, Noé Montes, Óscar del Monte for Valley of Shadows
Best Sound
Eva Valiño, Koldo Corella, Xanti Salvador for 20,000 Species of Bees
Tamara Arévalo, Fabiola Ordoyo, Yasmina Praderas – Campeonex
Iván Marín, Juan Ferro, Candela Palencia for Close Your Eyes
Jorge Adrados, Oriol Tarragó, Marc Orts on behalf of Snow Community
Xavi Mas, Eduardo Castro, Yasmina Praderas for Saben That
Best Special Effects
For 20,000 Species of Bees Mariano García Marty, Jon Serrano, David Heras, Fran Belda, Indira Martín
Eneritz Zapiain, Iñaki Gil Ketxu for Hermitage
Pau Costa, Félix Bergés and Laura Pedro on behalf of Snow Community
Mariano García Marty, Jon Serrano, Juan Ventura, Amparo Martínez for Tin & Tina
Raúl Romanillos, Míriam Piquer for Valley of Shadows
Best Animated Movie
They Hit the Piano, Cristina Huete, Fernando Trueba, Javier Mariscal
The Sultan’s Dream, Chelo Loureiro, Diego Herguera, Fabian Driehorst, Isabel Herguera, Iván Miñambres, Mariano Baratech
Hanna and the Monsters, Ángeles Hernández, David Matamoros, Lorena Ares
Mummies, Cleber Beretta, Francisco Celma, Jordi Gasull, Juan Jesús García Galocha Galo, Marc Sabé, Pedro Solís, Toni Novella
Robot Dreams, Ángel Durández, Ibon Cormenzana, Ignasi Estapé, Pablo Berger, Sandra Tapia
Best Documentary Film
Calta Palace – José Antonio Hergueta, Leticia Salvago Soto
With You, With You and Without Me – Amaya Villar Navascués, Carlo D’Ursi
This Excessive Ambition – Antón Álvarez, Cristina Trenas, Isabel Utrera Alfaro, María Rubio, Patricia Alfaro, Rogelio González, Santos Bacana
Iberia, Endless Nature – Arturo Menor, Cristina Menor
The Here and Now of Carme Elias as Long As You Are – Claudia Pinto Emperador, Iván Martínez-Rufat, Joana M. Ortueta, Jordi Llorca, Óscar Bernàcer, Pilar Llorca
Best Ibero-American Film
Living Soul – Portugal
Eternal Memory – Chile
Aquarium – Puerto Rico
Points – Argentina
Simon – Venezuela
Best European Film
After Sun – United Kingdom
Anatomy of a Fall – France
Eight Mountains – Italy
Safe Place – Croatia
Teachers Guild – Germany
Best Fiction Short Film
Even Though It’s Night – Director: Guillermo García López
Letter to My Mother for My Son – Address: Carla Simon
Divine Accounts – Director: Eulàlia Ramon
Crazy Woman and Feminist – Director: Sandra Gallego
Paris 70 – Director: Dani Feixas
Best Documentary Short Film
Ava – Director: Mabel Lozano
BLOW! – Address: Neus Ballus
Bus – Direction: Sandra Reinac
The Heirs – Director: Silvia Venegas Venegas
Shitty Therapy – Director: Javier Polo
Best Animated Short Film
Scholarship Holders – Direction: Marina Cortón, Marina Donderis, Núria Poveda
To Bird or Not to Bird – Director: Martín Romero
Everything Is Fine – Direction: Diana Acién Manzorro
All Is Lost – Director: Carla Pereira