Catalan Nora Navas wins best actress award at the San Sebastián Film Festival

Good news for Catalan cinema at the San Sebastián Film Festival. Catalan actress Nora Navas won the best actress award for her role in 'Pa Negre', a film about the Spanish Civil War directed by Agustí Villaronga. The festival also honoured Catalan directors Judith Colell and Jordi Cadena, who won the Special Jury Prize for their movie, 'Elisa K'. The Catalan director of photography of 'Aita', Jimmy Gimferrer, was also awarded. The British film 'Neds' directed by Peter Muller took the two top honours at the San Sebastián Film Festival, the Golden Shell for best movie and the Silver Shell for best actor, Conor McCarron.
The 58th edition of the San Sebastián Film Festival was a good occasion for Catalan cinema, awarded with three prizes, including the Silver Shell for best actress that Nora Navas won for her role as Florència in the film ‘Pa Negre’. The Catalan actress dedicated the prize to the film’s director, Agustí Villaronga. “Thanks for believing in me”, she said. Navas also had some words for Roger Casamajor, who was “the inspiration for Florència”. She also thanked her family.

Directors Judith Colell and Jordi Cadena expressed their gratitude for the prize in the Catalan and Basque languages. They dedicated the award to the “marvellous” actresses Aina Clotet and Clàudio Pons who acted in their film 'Elisa K'. The movie explores the violence experienced every day by innocent people such as children that are victims of abuse. Colell said that she hopes the film will provoke “a lot of shame” in those who are silent about acts of child abuse.

Jimmy Gimferrer, the director of photography of 'Aita', dedicated his award to the movie’s director, José María de Orbe, for creating “such a beautiful film”. He also expressed his gratitude to the producer, Luís Miñarro.

The British film 'Neds' by Peter Mullan was awarded with the best movie and best actor prizes. The actor Connor McCarron said he felt “privileged” to be in San Sebastián. The director of the movie said that the festival is usually the first in the world of cinema to recognise good films and actors.