The Spanish-French-Portuguese production 'Tardes de soledad' ('Einsame Nachmittage') clinched the prestigious Golden Shell at the 72nd San Sebastián Film Festival on Saturday evening. Directed by Albert Serra, the documentary follows bullfighter Andrés Roca Rey in his intense and often brutal craft.
While some critics note that the film may be challenging for Central European audiences, they commend Serra for highlighting the archaic rituals and the suffering of the animals involved. The festival jury recognized Serra’s work with the top honor, underscoring the film's impact.
This year, the Best Director award was shared by Laura Carreira from Portugal for 'On Falling' ('Beim Fallen') and Pedro-Martin-Calero from Spain for 'El Llanto' ('Das Weinen'). Additionally, Patricia López Arnaiz received the Silver Shell for Best Actress for her role in 'Los destellos' ('Das Funkeln').
San Sebastián Film Festival is one of Europe’s most significant film events, alongside Berlin, Cannes, and Venice, and is the largest in the Spanish-speaking world.