Nominations announced for 'Catalan Oscars'

The new year will bring a host of awards ceremonies - among them will be the so-called 'Catalan Oscars,' the Gaudí film awards, held every January in Barcelona.

The nominations for the Gaudí awards were announced on Tuesday, with Catalan filmmakers like Isaki Lacuesta, Mar Targarona and Jaume Rosales among the favorites to take home a statuette.

Lacuesta's 'Entre dos aguas', Targarona's 'El fotógrafo de Mauthausen', along with 'Viaje al cuarto de una madre' by the director from Seville Celia Rico, all received nine nominations each.

Meanwhile, 'Petra' by Rosales has eight nominations, with 'Les distàncies' by Elena Trapé in the running for seven awards at the ceremony on January 27 in the Palau de Congressos de Catalunya.

Awards for 22 categories

Finalists in 22 categories were read out by Catalan actors Núria Prims and David Verdaguer in La Pedrera's auditorium on Tuesday, including those up for 'Best Film', such as 'Les distàncies', 'Jean-François i el sentit de la vida', 'Formentera Lady' and 'Yo la busco'.

In fact, four Catalan language films are candidates for a 'Best Film' award, three of which are first films for their directors: 'Formentera Lady' by Pau Durà, 'Jean-François i el sentit de la vida' by Sergi Portabella, 'Yo la busco' by Sara Gutiérrez Galve, and Trapé's 'Les distàncies'.

Another big prize at the ceremony will be 'Best Director', with Trapé, Rico, Lacuesta and Rosales all favorites to win. All four filmmakers are also among those nominated for 'Best Script', along with Miguel Ibáñez Monroy and Josan Hatero ('Les distàncies'), Isa Campo and Fran Araújo ('Entre dos aguas') and Michel Gaztambide and Clara Roquet ('Petra').

Àlex Brendemühl for 'Petra', Israel Gómez Romero for 'Entre dos aguas', Sergi López for 'La vida lliure', and Mario Casas for 'El fotógrafo de Mauthausen' are up for 'Best Male Actor', with Alexandra Jiménez for 'Les distàncies', Bárbara Lennie for 'Petra', Carme Elías for 'Quién te cantará', and Lola Dueñas for 'Viaje al cuarto de mi madre' aspiring to win the 'Best Female Actor' award.

Winners to be chosen on January 3

A second round of voting is due to take place on January 3, which will produce the winners for each category. Other award categories include prizes for best supporting actor, both male and female, best documentary, best European film and best animated film.

The awards ceremony on January 27 in the Barcelona convention center is being directed for a third year in a row by filmmaker Lluís Danés, and this year will be hosted by Barcelona-born illusionist, Mag Lari.