Albert Serra’s “Tardes de soledad” Wins Golden Shell at 72nd San Sebastian Festival in Spain
The 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival, held in Spain, concluded with Albert Serra’s "Tardes de soledad" (Spain-France-Portugal) taking home the prestigious Golden Shell for Best Film. Serra, a renowned Catalan director, continues to impress international audiences with his distinctive cinematic voice. This year’s festival also celebrated several debut filmmakers, highlighting fresh talent in global cinema.
The Silver Shell for Best Director was awarded ex aequo to two emerging directors: Laura Carreira for "On Falling" (UK-Portugal) and Pedro Martín Calero for "El llanto" (Spain-Argentina-France). Both debut works captivated the jury, showcasing their potential as rising stars in the international film scene.
In the acting categories, Patricia López Arnaiz received the Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance for her role in "Los destellos" (Spain), the third feature from Spanish director Pilar Palomero. Pierre Lottin won the Best Supporting Performance Award for his part in François Ozon’s "Quand vient l'automne" (France). Ozon, a festival favorite, also shared the Jury Prize for Best Screenplay with Philippe Piazzo for the same film.
Piao Songri's work on "Bound in Heaven" (China), a debut feature by Huo Xin, was recognized with the Best Cinematography award, demonstrating the increasing visibility of Chinese cinema on the global stage.
The Special Jury Prize went to "The Last Showgirl" (USA), directed by Gia Coppola, in recognition of its exceptional ensemble cast, which included Pamela Anderson, Kiernan Shipka, and Jamie Lee Curtis. The jury praised the film for its delicate portrayal of characters facing the end of an era in their profession.
Jaione Camborda, the Spanish filmmaker and last year’s Golden Shell winner, chaired the jury. She was joined by an esteemed group of international figures, including Argentine writer Leila Guerriero and Greek filmmaker Christos Nikou.
This year’s closing gala, held at the Kursaal Auditorium, featured the European premiere of We Live in Time, directed by John Crowley and starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh.
Among other notable winners, Piet Baumgartner’s "Bagger Drama" (Switzerland) secured the Kutxabank-New Directors Award, while Luis Ortega’s "El jockey" (Argentina-Mexico-Spain-Denmark-USA) took home the Horizontes Award. The Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award was given to Dea Kulumbegashvili for "Aprili" (France-Italy-Georgia), marking her continued success following her 2020 triumph at San Sebastian.
The festival’s audience chose "En fanfare" (France), by Emmanuel Courcol, as the City of Donostia/San Sebastian Audience Award winner, while Mohammad Rasoulof’s "Daney anjir maabed" (Germany-France-Iran) earned the Audience Award for Best European Film.
Complete List of Official Awards:
- Golden Shell for Best Film:
"Tardes de soledad" / Albert Serra / Spain-France-Portugal - Special Jury Prize:
"The Last Showgirl" / Gia Coppola / USA - Silver Shell for Best Director (ex aequo):
Laura Carreira / "On Falling" / UK-Portugal
Pedro Martín Calero / "El llanto" / Spain-Argentina-France - Silver Shell for Best Leading Performance:
Patricia López Arnaiz / "Los destellos" / Spain - Silver Shell for Best Supporting Performance:
Pierre Lottin / "Quand vient l'automne" / France - Jury Prize for Best Screenplay:
François Ozon, Philippe Piazzo / "Quand vient l'automne" / France - Jury Prize for Best Cinematography:
Piao Songri / "Bound in Heaven" / China
Other Official Awards:
- Kutxabank-New Directors Award:
"Bagger Drama" / Piet Baumgartner / Switzerland - Special Mention (New Directors):
"La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cortés" / Antón Álvarez / Spain - Horizontes Award:
"El jockey" / Luis Ortega / Argentina-Mexico-Spain-Denmark-USA - Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award:
"Aprili" / Dea Kulumbegashvili / France-Italy-Georgia - Special Mention (Zabaltegi-Tabakalera):
"Monólogo colectivo" / Jessica Sarah Rinland / Argentina - Nest The Mediapro Studio Award:
"El reinado de Antoine" / José Luis Jiménez Gómez / Cuba-Dominican Republic - Culinary Zinema Award:
"Mugaritz. Sin pan ni postre" / Paco Plaza / Spain - Eusko Label Awards:
First Prize: "Las guardianas" / Borja de Agüero / Spain
Second Prize: "Km 0" / Jon Martija Leunda / Spain - Loterías Awards:
First Prize: "Antón" / Mikel González Beorlegui / Spain
Second Prize: "Cafunè" / Carlos Fernández de Vigo, Lorena Ares / Spain - Irizar Basque Film Award:
"Chaplin | Espíritu Gitano" / Carmen Chaplin / Spain-UK-Netherlands-France - Special Mention (Irizar Basque Film):
"Erreplika" / Pello Gutiérrez Peñalba / Spain - City of Donostia / San Sebastian Audience Award:
"En fanfare" / Emmanuel Courcol / France - Audience Award for Best European Film:
"Daney anjir maabed" / Mohammad Rasoulof / Germany-France-Iran - DAMA Youth Award:
"Turn Me On" / Michael Tyburski / USA
Industry Awards:
- Premios WIP Latam – WIP Latam Industry Award:
"Un cabo suelto" / Daniel Hendler / Uruguay-Argentina - Premios WIP Latam – EGEDA Platino Industria Award for Best WIP Latam:
"Cuerpo celeste" / Nayra Ilic / Chile-Italy - Premios WIP Europa – WIP Europa Industry Award:
"Blaue Flecken (AT)" / Sarah Miro Fischer / Germany - Premios WIP Europa – WIP Europa Award:
"Blaue Flecken (AT)" / Sarah Miro Fischer / Germany - XIII Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum Awards – Best Project Award:
"Los Dos Paisajes" / Francisco Lezama / Argentina-Brazil - XIII Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum Awards – DALE! Award (Development Latin America-Europe):
"Los Dos Paisajes" / Francisco Lezama / Argentina-Brazil - ArteKino International Prize:
"Mar de leva" / Mariana Saffon / Colombia-France - Ikusmira Berriak Awards – Sideral Award:
"Caro Bastiano / Dear Bastiano" / Maria Elorza Deias / Spain - Ikusmira Berriak Awards – Casa Wabi-Escine Award:
"Senda" / Mikele Landa Eiguren / Spain - Zinemaldia Startup Challenge Award – Best European Project:
"Sonic Alchemist" / Lithuania - Zinemaldia Startup Challenge Award – Best Spanish Project:
"Dubme" / Spain - Special Mention (Zinemaldia Startup Challenge):
"Current Anima" / Spain - Best Entrepreneurial Project (Zinemaldia Startup Challenge):
"Kaspar K1" / Denmark
XX Lau Haizetara Documentary Co-Production Forum Awards:
- Music Library Award:
"La noche de la infancia" / Xixi Sofía Ye Chen / China-Spain - Dogwoof Award:
"Barrabás" / Daniel Martínez-Quintanilla / Spain-Peru - EPE-IBAIA-Elkargi Award:
"Barrabás" / Daniel Martínez-Quintanilla / Spain-Peru
Other Awards:
- RTVE - Another Look Award:
"All We Imagine as Light" / Payal Kapadia / France-India-Netherlands-Luxembourg - Special Mention (RTVE - Another Look Award):
"On Falling" / Laura Carreira / UK-Portugal - Cooperación Española Award:
"Sujo" / Astrid Rondero, Fernanda Valadez / Mexico-USA-France - Euskadi Basque Country 2030 Agenda Award:
"Soy Nevenka / I Am Nevenka" / Iciar Bollain / Spain - Dunia Ayaso Award:
"Los pequeños amores" / Celia Rico Clavellino / Spain-France
Honorary Awards:
- Donostia Awards:
Cate Blanchett
Pedro Almodóvar - Zinemira Award:
Elena Irureta
Parallel Awards:
- FIPRESCI Award:
"Bound in Heaven" / Huo Xin / China - Feroz Zinemaldia 2024 Award:
"Tardes de soledad" / Albert Serra / Spain-France-Portugal - Euskal Gidoigileen Elkartea Award:
Víctor Erice, Michel Gaztambide / "Cerrar los ojos / Close Your Eyes" / Spain-Argentina - Sebastiane 2024 Award:
"Reas" / Lola Arias / Argentina-Germany-Switzerland - Lurra - Greenpeace Award:
"The Wild Robot" / Chris Sanders / USA - Signis Award:
"Los destellos" / Pilar Palomero / Spain - Ateneo Guipuzcoano Award:
"Tardes de soledad" / Albert Serra / Spain-France-Portugal