Aitana Bonmatí and Kilian Jornet among recipients of Catalonia's prestigious Creu de Sant Jordi award

The recipients of this year’s Creu de Sant Jordi (Saint George's Cross), one of Catalonia's most prestigious honors, were announced on Tuesday.

Among the 20 individuals recognized are FC Barcelona footballer Aitana Bonmatí and renowned long-distance trail runner Kilian Jornet.

The honor also goes to two of Catalonia’s most celebrated actors: Eduard Fernández, the lead in the hit film El 47, and Clara Segura, a star of A House on Fire, which recently became the most-watched Catalan-language film of the decade in local cinemas.

Other notable honorees include Josep-Lluís Carod-Rovira, former vice president of the Catalan government; Àngels Barceló, journalist and host of Cadena SER's flagship morning radio program; and Pepa Plana, one of Europe's most influential clowns.

The Creu de Sant Jordi is a humanitarian award presented by the Catalan government to individuals and entities that have significantly contributed to and enriched the nation’s cultural identity.

The award is also given to 10 organizations, including Filmin, the Catalan-based streaming platform; SOS Racisme, an anti-racism NGO; and the Farmers' Union, which led this year's massive farmers' protests.

"The Creu de Sant Jordi has been an established symbol since 1981. The government has awarded this honor to 1,329 people and 510 organizations, recognizing exemplary civic and cultural values," said government spokesperson Sílvia Paneque.

The awards will be officially presented at a ceremony on December 23 at the Catalan National Theatre (TNC).