Basque cinema takes center stage at the Goyas

Basque cinema closed the 2026 Goya Awards gala with eight awards across the main categories. In the 40th edition of the awards presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Spain, Basque productions had previously received numerous nominations.

‘Los Domingos’ was the most awarded film of the night, obtaining five of the main prizes:

• Best Film – Nahikari Ipiña, Manu Calvo, Marisa Fernández Armenteros and Sandra Hermida Muñiz
• Best Director – Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
• Best Original Screenplay – Alauda Ruiz de Azúa
• Best Leading Actress – Patricia López Arnaiz
• Best Supporting Actress – Nagore Aranburu

These awards consolidate Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s professional trajectory and confirm ‘Los Domingos’ as one of the year’s most recognised productions. The film includes the participation of the Basque company Sayaka Producciones, in co-production with Buena Pinta Media S.L.U., Colosé Producciones S.L., Encanta Films S.L., Think Studio S.L., Los Desencuentros Película A.I.E., and Telefónica Audiovisual Digital S.L.U.

Jose Ramon Soroiz received the Goya Award for Best Leading Actor for his role in ‘Maspalomas’, directed by Jose Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi and produced by Irusoin, Moriarti, Maspalomas Pelikula A.I.E., and Bowfinger.

In animation, ‘Decorado’, directed by Alberto Vázquez and produced by the Basque company UniKo in collaboration with Abano Producións, The Glow Animation Studio, Sardinha Em Lata, and María y Arnold A.I.E., won the Goya Award for Best Animated Feature.

The production ‘Los Tigres’, in which Kowalski Films participated alongside Mazagon Films AIE, Feelgood Media SL, Movistar Plus+, and Le Pacte, received the award for Best Special Effects.

The significant Basque presence at this year’s Goya Awards, with numerous nominations for films and professionals from the Basque Country, reflects the sector’s capacity to compete at the highest level across all areas: production, direction, acting, animation, and technical categories.