39th Goya Awards in Spain see strong support for Palestine once again
The prestigious Goya Awards, one of Spain's most important film honors, were held at the Granada Conference and Exhibition Center, where the winners were announced. Some celebrities showed their support for Palestine by displaying stickers on their outfits. (AA Photo)
The prestigious Goya Awards, the most significant event in Spanish cinema, took place at the Granada Congress and Exhibition Center. Just like last year, the gala was marked by powerful messages of support for Palestine.
Several Spanish artists, including Itziar Bollain, Marta Belenguer, Paula Palacios, and Luis Tosar, arrived at the ceremony wearing brooches or pins featuring the Palestinian flag as a symbol of solidarity.
Award winners and artists speak out
Eva Valino, who won the Best Sound award, took the stage with a Palestinian flag brooch pinned to her shirt, making a visible statement of support.
Throughout the evening, multiple speeches echoed the same sentiment, with calls for justice for Palestine and criticism directed at Israel and the U.S. government.
Filmmaker Iciar Bollain made a strong remark, saying, “We are going through a very dark period. After a genocide, they found the solution in building a resort. It is impossible not to be shocked.”
Actress Aitana Sanchez Gijon also used her platform to highlight global injustices, stating, “We should not fear our culture. We should fear new imperialisms and ethnic cleansing.”
Powerful performances and political statements
The night took an emotional turn when legendary Spanish singer Miguel Rios performed on stage alongside singer Amaral. As the song ended, Rios shouted “Free Palestine!”, prompting a massive round of applause from the audience.
Meanwhile, acclaimed actor Javier Bardem took aim at rising far-right influences, referencing Elon Musk’s controversial salute, which was interpreted as a “Nazi salute” during his support for former U.S. President Donald Trump. Bardem warned, “We must not forget the dangers of fascism and ambiguous gestures.”
American actor and producer Richard Gere, who received the Goya International award, also took the stage with a politically charged statement, declaring, “The U.S. is a dark place because of Trump.”
Top honors at the 39th Goya Awards
The Best Film award was shared by two films: “El 47” by director Marcel Barrena and “La Infiltrada” by director Arantxa Echevarria.
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