The films ‘20,000 species of bees’ and ‘Las Hijas’ receive the Biznaga de Oro from the Malaga Festival

The work 20,000 species of beesdirected by Estibaliz Urresola, has won the Biznaga de Oro for the best Spanish film at the twenty-sixth edition of the Malaga Festival, which has also awarded The daughters, by Kattia G. Zúñiga for best Ibero-American film. These awards, endowed with 8,000 euros, are joined by the intriguing choral comedy Under Therapy, signed by Gerardo Herrero, as a special award from the jury “for all its actors and actresses”, according to the list of winners. The best direction has gone to the Chilean Matías Bize for his work The penalty, an intense story about the disappearance of a child and a mother without much interest in finding him that is based on a true story and shot in a single 80-minute sequence shot. The Official Section jury, chaired by the filmmaker Manuel Gutiérrez Aragón, was made up of Gabriela Sandoval, Pablo Stoll, Julieta Zylberberg and Gonzalo Miró. The public prize has gone to start the danceby Marina Seresesky.

The other awards have been widely distributed in an edition “with full rooms”. “What greater joy could we have to bring back to the public”, said Juan Antonio Vigar, director of the contest. The Biznaga de Plata for the best female performance went to the Galician María Vázquez for her role in motherlandwhile the masculine one has been for Alberto Ammam for upon entry. The work carried out by Patricia López Arnaiz in 20,000 species of bees has earned him the Biznaga de Plata for the best female performance in a cast and the male has been for Jorge Marrale for start the dance. Miguel Ibáñez and Elena Trapé —who already won this contest in 2018 with the awards for best film and best director— sign the one that has been considered for best script. The Silver Biznaga for best music goes to Pablo Mondragón for the film Rebellion and the one with the best photography for Serguei Saldívar for Red Shoes (Red shoes). The award for Best Editing has been awarded to Haroldo Borges and Juliano Castro for their work in Saudade fez dwelling here inside. Critics have also awarded I woke up with a dreamby the Argentinian Pablo Solar.

After its success in the last edition of the Berlinale, where the protagonist Sofía Otero, only eight years old, received the Silver Bear for best performance, 20,000 species of bees He leaves the Malaga festival with two biznagas, the only one he has repeated in this twenty-sixth edition of the contest. The work of Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren (Llodio, 38 years old) approaches a transgender girl during family vacations from France to a town in the Spanish Basque Country with her mother, Patricia López Arnaiz, also awarded in Malaga. A journey that confronts and unites three generations of women where the little girl faces both the gazes of those closest to her and the adults of the municipality.

The daughters, Directed by the Costa Rican-Panamanian director Kattia G. Zúñiga, it recounts another summer vacation, this time of two teenage sisters who move from Costa Rica to Panama. The relationship between the two intersects with their new environment, their new friends and lovers. “A journey towards emancipation in which they will learn the virtue of simply hanging out,” she explains her synopsis. Much applauded during its premiere at the Malaga festival, it is based on Zúñiga’s personal relationship with her sister and a trip they took to meet her father, whom they had not seen for years.

As for films dedicated to reality, the award for best documentary went to The slaughterhouseby Fernando Fraguela, and the Best Director for The Best Director goes to Sofía Paoli for Handsome and. The public prize has gone to remember my nameby Elena Molina. The best documentary short film is acheronby Manuel Muñoz and Special Mention for The busby Sandra Reina.

Finally, in the ZonaZine section, kill crabs has been designated the best Spanish film by Omar Al Abdul Razzak. meanwhile, the work diogenes, has won the award for best Ibero-American film, is directed by Leonardo Barbuy, who has also received the award for best Ibero-American director. The actress Paula Campos has received the award for best female performance for her work in kill crabs and Saturnino García the masculine for his role in lands of our mothers “for transmitting the energy and enthusiasm of a newcomer”, according to the jury. The next edition of the Malaga Festival, number 27, will be held between March 1 and 10, 2024.