As it gears up for its commercial release in Spanish cinemas on December 5, the film 'Emilia Pérez' has emerged victorious at the XIX Edition of the Mérida Film Festival, winning the Audience Award for Best Film in the official competition section.
Directed by Jacques Audiard and featuring Karla Sofía Gascón, the film received an impressive score of 8.91 out of 10, marking the highest rating in the festival's 19-year history, surpassing the previous record of 8.90 set by Irina Palm in 2007.
Additionally, 'Emilia Pérez', which previously earned the Jury Prize and a joint award for Best Actress for its entire cast at Cannes 2024, is a leading contender for the Oscar for Best International Feature, representing France. It was also the most viewed film at the XIX Mérida Film Festival, with 327 attendees enjoying its two screenings.
The Youth Jury awarded 'A Different Man' by Aaron Schimberg, featuring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, the Youth Award, praising its unique exploration of human complexity. The Youth Jury also gave 'Emilia Pérez' a Special Mention, recognizing the dedication of its production team.
Following 'Emilia Pérez', the audience favored 'Memorias de un Caracol' (8.81/10), an adult animated film by Adam Elliot, and 'La Guitarra Flamenca' by Yerai Cortés (8.41/10) as the top-rated films of the year.
This year’s average rating for the eight competing films was 7.89/10, indicating a positive reception from the Mérida audience.