Countdown begins for the 2024 Gaudí Awards

The nominees for the 16th edition of the Gaudí Film Awards came together on Friday for the traditional 'family photo,' just two weeks before the 'Catalan Oscars'. 

The awards, organized by the Catalan Film Academy, will take place on February 4 at the Barcelona International Convention Center. 

J. A. Bayona, David Trueba, Elena Martín, Enric Auquer, Bruna Cusí, and Neus Ballús were among those present at the photo shoot. 

'Creatura' by Elena Martín, with 15 nominations, and 'Jokes & Cigarettes' by David Trueba, with 13, are the films with the most nominations in the 16th edition of the Gaudí Awards of the Catalan Film Academy.   

They are closely followed by '20,000 Species of Bees' with nine nominations, Isabel Coixet's 'Un Amor,' with eight, as well as 'The Teacher Who Promised the Sea' and 'The Movie Teller' with six nominations.  

For the third year in a row, the awards have a majority of female nominees, who make up 57% of all nominations. 

Creatura: Exploring sexuality 

In the frontrunner 'Creatura,' actress and director Elena Martín explores the taboo surrounding sexuality by portraying a woman, played by Martín herself, on a personal journey to understand and make peace with sex. The film takes us back to her childhood and examines moments of self-discovery. 

‘Jokes & Cigarettes’: Comedian Eugenio's life 

David Trueba's 'Jokes & Cigarettes (Saben aquell)' received 13 nominations. The comedy is based on the life and career of iconic comedian Eugenio, portrayed by Catalan actor David Verdaguer, and is set in Barcelona in the late 1960s.

'Society of the Snow' nominated

International success 'Society of the Snow', by director JA Bayona, is nominated in the Best European Film category this year. “Sometimes it’s harder to win at home than abroad,” he said adding that he was “very happy” to be nominated.  

The ceremony will be hosted by comedians Oye Sherman and Ana Polo.