26/04/2010

The 13th Malaga Spanish Film Festival (April 17-24) has closed its doors after taking over the city for eight days. This festival takes the pulse of Spanish production – although the more established directors still prefer Cannes, Venice and San Sebastian – and pulls off a real balancing act between elements of TV-style celebrity and aspirations to become an unmissable industry event.

There were two major winners at this edition. Firstly, Ecuadorean director Sebastián Cordero’s Spanish/Colombian film Rabia [+see also:
trailer
film profile], which nabbed the Golden Biznaga for Best Film. This dark thriller, backed by Mexico’s Guillermo del Toro and produced by Telecinco Cinema, will be released in Spain on May 28 by Wanda Vision. The film also won Best Supporting Actor (Alex Brendemühl) and Best Cinematography (Enrique Chediak).

The other champion – considered by many to be the rightful winner – is Bon Appetit [+see also:
trailer
film profile], the delightful debut feature by David Pinillos, until now better known as an editor. Produced by Pedro Uriol for Morena Films, the title scooped no fewer than six accolades, including three official awards: Special Jury Prize, Best Actor (Unax Ugalde), and Best Screenplay.

These successes confirm the good health of Telecinco Cinema and Morena Films, who were behind last year’s big Spanish hit, Cell 211 [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Daniel Monzón
film profile].

Other prize-winners include veteran thesp Marisa Paredes, who picked up Best Actress for her role in God of Wood [+see also:
trailer
film profile], and Juana Macias, who was crowned Best Director for Plans for Tomorrow [+see also:
trailer
making of
film profile].

The latter film also received Best Supporting Actress (Aura Garrido) and Best Original Screenplay. Meanwhile, Pau Freixas’s Heroes [+see also:
trailer
film profile] won the Audience Award and Laura Maña’s Life Begins Today took home the Critics’ Prize.

(Translated from Spanish)