Summer 1993 wins big in Catalan cinema awards

Summer 1993, the subtle and heartfelt tale of a six-year-old girl coming to terms with her mother’s death, was the big winner in the 10th edition of the Gaudí Awards, the main annual prizes of Catalonia’s movie industry. Carla Simón’s self-inspired debut earned her the awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay. Estiu 1993 (the original name in Catalan) also won the prizes for Best Secondary Actress and Best Film Editing.

In her acceptance speech, Simón shared the award “with all those families who have welcomed children, with the adoptive parents, because you need to have a lot of strength, sensitivity and courage.” The director, whose film had previously been recognized by Berlín and Málaga international film festivals, added that “we need to continue telling stories because the world needs to see them.”

The most awarded film of the night was Incerta Glòria, by Agustí Vilallonga, with eight prizes. After topping the ranking with 16 nominations, Vilallonga’s film, based on Joan Sales’ novel set during the Spanish Civil War, ended up winning the prizes for Best Actress and Best Secondary Actor, among others.

Some critics suggested that Simón’s victory over Incerta Glòria could mark a shifting point for Catalan cinema, from historical films inspired by novels, towards more intimate and personal stories.