On September 28, 2024, Catalan filmmaker Albert Serra won the Golden Shell at the San Sebastian International Film Festival for his bullfighting documentary, Tardes de soledad, despite protests from animal rights groups.
Catalan director Albert Serra’s bullfighting documentary Tardes de soledad took home the Golden Shell, the top award at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, held in Spain’s Basque Country. This 72nd edition of the festival was also notable for its widespread support for Argentine cinema, which has been heavily affected by austerity measures.
Upon accepting his award, Serra expressed his gratitude to the festival for selecting his film, despite protests from animal rights organizations. The Spanish political party Pacma, which advocates for animal rights, had called for the film to be withdrawn from the competition, accusing it of “romanticizing” a tradition that involves violence against animals.
The documentary, which was met with applause during its official screening, follows Peruvian bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey over several days of festivities. It captures his journey from donning his traditional suit to the climactic moments of the bullfight, without shying away from the portrayal of the bulls’ deaths, which are prominently featured.
During the press conference, Serra emphasized that while his film “takes a stance” by showcasing a certain fascination with bullfighting, it remains an artistic endeavor that serves cinema rather than any particular cause.
The controversy surrounding bullfighting continues to divide Spain, where the leftist government recently abolished the National Bullfighting Award.
In other festival news, the Silver Shell for Best Director was awarded jointly to two filmmakers: Portuguese director Laura Carreira for On Falling, a depiction of dehumanizing work conditions in a large e-commerce warehouse, and Spanish director Pedro Martín Calero for his horror film El llanto.
Calero highlighted the Argentine influence on his film, which was partly shot in Argentina with a half-Argentine cast. His remarks echoed the numerous shows of solidarity with Argentine cinema throughout the night, as the country’s film industry faces near-paralysis due to austerity policies under President Javier Milei. Actor Pérez Biscayart also voiced his support as he accepted the award for Best Latin American Film, won by El jockey, directed by Argentine filmmaker Luis Ortega. Biscayart declared, “Long live Argentine cinema!” as he condemned attacks on cultural freedom.
With AFP