‘El 47’ is crowned best film at the 39th Goya Awards of Spanish cinema

USPA NEWS - The American actor and producer Richard Gere received this Saturday the highest distinction of Spanish cinema for an international filmmaker “for his extraordinary contribution to the cinematographic art, starring in some of the most iconic films in the history of cinema, and the social commitment manifested in his personal and professional life.” Gere, star of iconic films such as ‘Days of Heaven’, ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’, ‘American Gigolo’, ‘The Cotton Club’, ‘Pretty Woman’ and the musical ‘Chicago’, for which he won the Golden Globe, held a meeting with the press one day before receiving the International Goya, an award with which the Spanish Film Academy recognizes “personalities who contribute to cinema as an art that unites cultures and spectators from all over the world.”

The American actor and producer Richard Gere received this Saturday the highest distinction of Spanish cinema for an international filmmaker “for his extraordinary contribution to the cinematographic art, starring in some of the most iconic films in the history of cinema, and the social commitment manifested in his personal and professional life.” Gere, star of iconic films such as ‘Days of Heaven’, ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’, ‘American Gigolo’, ‘The Cotton Club’, ‘Pretty Woman’ and the musical ‘Chicago’, for which he won the Golden Globe, held a meeting with the press one day before receiving the International Goya, an award with which the Spanish Film Academy recognizes “personalities who contribute to cinema as an art that unites cultures and spectators from all over the world.”

The American actor and producer expressed his gratitude for the Academy of Film Awards and his happiness to return to Granada, a city he visited more than 40 years ago and of which he has “very vivid memories of the gardens, the calm and beauty of the Alhambra”. He explained that “I do not regret any decision. I feel great gratitude for what I have been able to do; I have made wonderful films with great directors” such as Francis Ford Coppola, John Schlesinger, Robert Altman, Paul Schrader, Richard Brooks, Lasse Hallström, Mike Figgis, Todd Haynes, Rob Marshall, Mira Nair and Jerry Zucker.

With a standing ovation from the entire auditorium, actress Aitana Sánchez-Gijón collected the 2025 Goya of Honor, a distinction with which the Academy of Film recognizes her entire career. Her colleague, friend and presenter of the gala, Maribel Verdú, presented her with this award, after reviewing the actress's filmography and the directors she has worked with and pointing out how special the night was.

Emotional, the actress raised the statuette. “I look back and feel that I have been somewhat precocious in many moments. I started out as a child, I had the honour of presiding over this Academy before I turned thirty and today I receive this award when I still feel like that girl who pronounced her first sentences between boxes, with everything to do, with the same trembling, with the same vertigo, with the same desire to unravel the mystery,” Sánchez-Gijón highlighted on the stage in Granada. In her acceptance speech she took stock of the 40 years she has been professionally dedicated to acting and remembered the many people who have been fundamental in her career, including her teacher Alicia Hermida, the filmmaker Bigas Luna and the director Patricia Ferreira.

Richard Gere danced on the Granada stage with a smile. “Thank you all very much, it’s fantastic,” he said after receiving the statuette from Antonio Banderas, who stressed that he is a “prestigious actor and producer committed to the industry in front of and behind the cameras” and that he has made himself unforgettable for the public. Gere, who received this award in the year that marks 50 years since his debut on the big screen, said that “this award is a fantastic encouragement. I always think that recognition of professional career is a little premature. I have a lot to do,” said the American actor, who has been living in Spain since last autumn. For this reason he was delighted to attend the Goya Awards, “because Spain is my new home,” he said.

In the days leading up to the gala, the Film Academy offset the carbon footprint of the 2025 Goya Awards by planting holm oaks by actresses Maribel Verdú and Leonor Watling, presenters of the gala, and actress Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, who received the Honorary Goya Award for the 39th edition. The trees planted by the three actresses and the president of the Academy, director Fernando Mández-Leite, are a living testimony of the celebration of the Goya Awards in the city of Granada for future generations.

The winners in each category of the 2025 Goya Awards for Spanish cinema were:

-Honorary Goya: Aitana Sánchez Gijón.
-International Goya: Richard Gere.
-Best film: ‘El 47’, by Javier Méndez and Laura Fernández Espeso.
-Best director: Isaki Lacuesta and Pol Rodríguez for ‘Second prize’.
-Best new director: Javier Macipe, for ‘La estrella azul’.
-Best original script: Eduard Sola, for ‘Por Casa en flames’.
-Best adapted script: Pedro Almodóvar, for ‘La cuarto de al lado’.
-Best original music: Alberto Iglesias, for ‘La cuarto de al lado’.
-Best original song: ‘Los Almendros’. Composers: Antón Álvarez, Yerai Cortés and La Tania.
-Best leading actor: Eduard Fernández, for ‘Marco’.
-Best Leading Actress: Carolina Yuste, for ‘La infiltrada’.
-Best Supporting Actor: Salva Reina, for ‘El 47’.
-Best Supporting Actress: Clara Segura, for ‘El 47’.
-Best New Actor: Pepe Lorente, for ‘La estrella azul’.
-Best New Actress: Laura Weissmahr, for ‘Salve María’.
-Best Production Management: Carlos Apolinario, for ‘El 47’.
-Best Photography Direction: Edu Grau, for ‘La habitacion de al lado’.
-Best Editing: Javi Frutos, for ‘Second Prize’.
-Best Art Direction: Javier Albariño, for ‘La Virgen roja’.

-Best Costume Design: Arantxa Ezquerro, for ‘La Virgen roja’.
-Best Makeup and Hair: Karmele Soler, Sergio Pérez Berbel and Nacho Díaz, for ‘Marco’.
-Best sound: Diana Sagrista, Eva Valiño, Alejandro Castillo and Antonin Dalmasso, for ‘Second Prize’.
-Best special effects: Laura Canals and Iván López Hernández, for ‘El 47’.
-Best animation film: ‘Mariposas negras’, produced by César Zelada, David Baute, Edmon Roch and Marc Sabé. Direction: David Baute.
-Best documentary film: ‘La guitarra flamenca’, by Yerai Corté. Production: Antón Álvarez, Cristina Trenas and Santos Bacana. Direction: Antón Álvarez.
-Best Ibero-American film: ‘Ainda estou aqui’, from Brazil.
-Best European film: ‘Emilia Pérez’, from France.
-Best fiction short film: ‘La gran obra’. Production: Lluís Quílez Sala. Direction: Àlex Lora.
-Best documentary short film: ‘Semillas de Kivu’. Production: Carlos Valle, David Perez Sañudo, Ivan Miñambres, Nestor Lopez, Pepe Castro and Pilar Sancho. Direction: Carlos Valle and Nestor Lopez.
-Best animated short film: ‘Cafuné’, by Carlos Fernandez de Vigo, Damian Perea, Mintxo Diaz and Sergy Moreno. Direction: Carlos Fernandez de Vigo and Lorena Ares.