Almodóvar praises cinema at the RNE Sant Jordi Premis: “I can’t conceive my life without making films”

This Tuesday, film director Pedro Almodóvar received the Honorary Award at the 70 RNE Sant Jordi Cinematography Awards, where he praised cinema: “I can’t conceive my life without making films and I can’t conceive my future without them either.”

“I have been very lucky. In the 46 years that I have been dedicating myself to this profession, I have had much more success and I have had many more awards than I would have dreamed of,” he stated at the gala, which was held at the Teatre Lliure de Montjuïc, in Barcelona.

He has highlighted his vocation for cinema, as he says that since he was little it was clear that he wanted to dedicate himself to making films, at first as an actor, although he later discovered directing and scriptwriting: “There I decided that that was the position I wanted to occupy.”

He recalled his beginnings in the 80s, when Spain celebrated the arrival of democracy: “Suddenly we had access to all kinds of freedoms. Living through those years marked me forever. My cinema is a direct child of that freedom. Without democracy I would not have been able to make any of the films I have made.”

He thanked the generosity of the RNE Sant Jordi Awards and said he was very happy to be in Barcelona: “I can’t wait for another film to come to mind so I can film here again.”

The recognition was given to him by the singer Amaia Romero, who assured that Almodóvar “has changed the way of looking at cinema”; and the actress Bárbara Lennie, who remembers that the director gave her the novel ‘The Bad Custom’ by Alana S. Portero.

CARME ELIAS AND KARLA SOFIA GASCÓN

On the other hand, Carme Elias has received the Special Mention of the awards, which honors her career, and, after collecting it, the actress thanked those who have accompanied and taught her in her career, and called on her to go to the theater: “Always go to the theater, because theater is life.”

The actress Karla Sofia Gascón has been awarded the International Achievement Award, and in her speech she has vindicated culture in the face of the darkness of today’s world: “Although many insist on hiding it and try to subjugate us between religions and politics. I, like the legend of Sant Jordi, have to be at swords with a handful of dragons every day.”

The director of ‘Los Domingos’, Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, has been recognized with the award for Best Spanish Film, and has pointed out that if this film has been able to grow and travel it has been because of the viewers, for their “time, healthy detachment from the literal and even for taking the risk of having their own opinion of the film.”

The director and screenwriter Eva Libertad, winner of the Best First Feature for ‘Sorda’, a film participated by RTVE, has dedicated the award to the deaf women who shared their experiences with her and highlights the “transformative power of cinema” because, as a result of the film, the General Assembly of Murcia has approved a protocol for deaf women during childbirth.

OTHER RECOGNITIONS

Angel Larroca, for his part, has collected the award for Best Foreign Production for ‘The Life of Chuck’ by Mike Flanagan, and has highlighted the “honor” of distributing this film, highlighting how it has managed to connect with the public.

The director of RNE, Roberto Santamaría, has presented the Industry award to Blanca Aysa, from Plan B, who has highlighted the 25 years of the agency and the power to advise and propose both established people and young talents, to whom he tells “to let themselves be discovered, because their voice is also very necessary” in the industry.

The actor Álvaro Cervantes has received the award for Best Actor, for his performance in ‘Sorda’, who has pointed out that “sometimes it is difficult” for the public to go to movie theaters and that he is very excited to receive this recognition

Nora Navas has been recognized with the Best Actress award for her role in ‘My friend Eva’, and says that she is excited to receive this award for a comedy: “I have realized how difficult comedy is, how difficult it is for an actor to be in such a fine score.”

Renate Reinsve and Stellan Skarsgard have been awarded as best foreign actress and actor for ‘Valor sentimental’; and, in terms of the public vote – the Roses of Sant Jordi -, the recognitions went to the comedy ‘La cena’ and the animated film ‘Flow’, as best Spanish and international film, respectively.

GALA

The gala also commemorates the 50 years of Ràdio 4 and among the attendees were the actresses Carme Sansa, Betsy Túrnez, Andrea Guasch, Àgata Roca and Ingrid Rubio; the actor Joan Sentís and the director and screenwriter Cesc Gay.

The presenters were Silvia Abril and Gemma Nierga, and the singers Amaia Romero and Alfred Garcia also attended the event; the journalists Cristina Villanueva and María Eizaguirre; the actor and comedian Salva Reina; Benidorm Fest artists Tony Grox & LUCYCALYS, Asha and Izan Llunas; the OT 2018 singer Dave Zulueta, and the influencer Edgar Caro, among others.