- The Latvian animated film Flow, which received two nominations in Hollywood, won the Puerta América Award in Seville. This award was given to films from various sections of the festival that represented their countries in the Oscar nominations.
- Emilia Pérez, directed by Jacques Audiard and screened in the EFA Section, is nominated in 13 categories, making it the top favorite. Among those categories are Best Film, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actress in a Leading Role.
On March 2, the 21st Seville European Film Festival program will shine brightly at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the anticipated nominations for its 97th Oscar Awards, which include a list in the Best International Film category highlighting the Seville Festival's programming and cinematic perspective. Four of the five nominated productions were shown in the cinemas of the Andalusian capital last November: The Girl with the Needle (Denmark, Poland, and Sweden; directed by Magnus Von Horn and written by Line Langebek Knudsen) and Flow (Latvia; directed by Gints Zilbalodis and co-written with Matīss Kaža) - part of the Official Selection - along with The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany; directed and written by Mohammad Rasoulof) and the multi-nominated Emilia Perez (France; directed and written by Jacques Audiard) as part of the EFA Selection.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig (written and directed by Mohammad Rasoulof)
In addition to these films featured in Seville's cinematic autumn, No Other Land (directed and written by Basel Adra, Hamdan Ballal, Yuval Abraham, and Rachel Szor) is programmed in the Puerta Europa section. This Norwegian and Palestinian production is nominated for Best Documentary. Emilia Pérez, which has won four Golden Globes, is nominated in 13 categories, making it this year's top favorite. Among these are Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actress in a Leading Role for Spain's Karla Sofía Gascón.
Recognition of the awards of the 21st Seville Festival
The 21st Seville Festival has been the most eagerly awaited showcase of European cinema and the prelude to both the premieres in commercial theaters and what was to come in the prestigious awards season, such as the Golden Globes, the European Film Awards (EFA) or the Goya Awards. Seville's program, which featured almost 90 premieres in Spain, has served as a springboard for promising works and looks.
Flow (written and directed by Gints Zilbalodis)
It is important to note that the Sevillian Awards have already recognized two of the productions competing in the Oscar race back in November. The Danish film The Girl with the Needle received four awards: Best Director (Magnus von Horn), Best Actress (Trine Dyrholm), Best Cinematography (Michał Dymek), and Best Art Direction (Jagna Dobesz). Meanwhile, the Latvian animated film Flow, which has become one of the revelations of the season and, in addition to Best International Film, is also in the running for Best Animated Film, won the Best Editing Award -also the work of its director, Gints Zilbalodis-, the Grand Jury Award and the Puerta America Award. The latter award, one of the key innovations of the 21st Seville Festival, was given to films from various sections representing their countries in the Oscar nomination for Best International Film. This initiative has enriched the program and enhanced the ability to preview some of the season's hits, as demonstrated.
