Awards

"Imagine you're in your early 70s, haven't been out of the closet for very long, and now finally want to openly embrace your identity and reignite your libido full on — and right at that moment, during the act, in a darkroom, during a threesome, you have a stroke and wake up in a nursing home. This is what happens to the main character, Vicente, who is given a captivating and very sophisticated portrayal by José Ramón Soroiz! With great sensitivity, this film lets us share in his anxieties, his reticence, and his longing for affection and control of his life. The result is an intimate portrait of a man whom we are allowed to get to know very well as he learns to express who he really is. The two directors succeed, in a deeply moving way, in giving their characters enough time and space to connect with one another, even though they come from different walks of life. This non-judgmental perspective possesses great power and tenderness, for it allows every character the opportunity to grow — to learn how to be a good person. MASPALOMAS is a powerful film about dignity, identity, and the deep desire to be oneself at any age. It offers us a glimpse into a lifestyle that is still far too rarely depicted in cinema: homosexuality in old age. We congratulate the two directors, who unfortunately cannot be here today!"

"For its melancholy and poignant multilevel exploration of romance and remembrance."

Spain

5th place