26/02/2007

Although Penélope Cruz was not the queen of the evening and Germany's The Lives of Others [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Florian Henckel von Donners…
interview: Ulrich Muehe
film profile] beat out Pan's Labyrinth [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] (a majority Spanish co-production competing for Mexico in the Best Foreign Language Film category), Spain's talent was nevertheless recognised last night at the 79th Academy Awards ceremony.

Guillermo del Toro’s fantastical tale won David Martí and Montse Ribé the Best Makeup Oscar while Pilar Revuelta shared the Best Art Direction Oscar with her Mexican colleague Eugenio Caballero.

Javier Navarrete, nominated in the Best Original Score category for the Mexican/Spanish production, saw the Oscar escape to Argentinean composer Gustavo Santaolalla (the only award of the night to Babel).

Screened for the first time in Cannes last May (see news), Pan's Labyrinth was produced in Spain by Madrid-based Estudios Picasso, with support from private broadcaster Telecinco.

Released locally in early October, the film ended 2006 in third place among the year’s most-seen domestic films, behind Alastriste [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] and Volver [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Agustín Almodóvar
interview: Carmen Maura
interview: Pedro Almodóvar
interview: Pénélope Cruz
film profile].

Earlier this year Pan's Labyrinth saw its public success recognised by the members of the Spanish Academy of Arts and Cinematographic Arts, which attributed it seven Goyas, including Best Female Revelation for 13 year-old Ivana Baquero.