‘Alcarràs’ has broken four decades of drought, since ‘La hive’, by Mario Camus, won the 1983 edition with the Golden Bear ex aequo with ‘Ascendancy’, a British production about the Irish conflict. Until then things had not gone badly for Spanish cinema in the icy February days of the Berlinale. 1978 was a historic year, when the Golden Bear was awarded to the entire Spanish participation, that is to say, it was divided between ‘Las truchas’ (José Luis García Sánchez), ‘Max’s words’ (Emilio Martínez Lázaro) and the short ‘Elevator’ (Tomás Munoz). In 1960 it was won by ‘El lazarillo de Tormes’, and in 1981 it was won by Carlos Saura with ‘Deprisa, deprisa’.
Cannes has been less likely than the German festival to reward Spanish films: only one Palme d’Or, and for a film that a few days later Franco’s censorship totally silenced, ‘Viridiana’ (1961), by Luis Buñuel. But a decade earlier, ‘Welcome, Mister Marshall’ (1953) had won a special mention from the jury. Almodovar, A regular at the French competition, he has only won twice, for best screenplay for ‘Volver’, in 2006, and for best actor (Antonio Banderas) for ‘Pain and glory’, in 2019. Carlos Saura, another affinity to La Croisette, is the most successful: he received a special mention twice, in 1974 and 1976, for ‘La prima Angélica’ and ‘Cría cuervos’, the award for best male performer (Fernando Rey) for ‘Elisa, vida mía’ (1977) and the great technical award for ‘Carmen’ (1983). The 1984 edition was a party for the actors: ex aequo Paco Rabal and Alfredo Landa for ‘The Holy Innocents’.
Things have been more difficult at the Venice Mostra, where Spanish participation in the competition so far in the 21st century has been anecdotal and, throughout the history of the Italian event, a Gold Lion has never been achieved despite presenting titles like ‘The Executioner’ – which did win the critics’ award – or ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’ – best screenplay. ‘The Sea Inside’ and ‘Balada triste de trompeta’ did not win the main award, but they did win at the Lido: special jury prize and Volpi Cup for Javier Bardem for the film by Amenábar, and direction and screenplay for the one by Álex de church.
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The bet of san sebastian festival It has also been notorious, since several Gold Shells have gone to debut films by later important filmmakers such as Víctor Erice (‘The Spirit of the Beehive’), Juanma Bajo Ulloa (‘Butterfly Wings’) and Carlos Vermut (‘Magical girl’).