Spanish film industry honors acting careers via Goya Awards, sans dramatic spectacle in selection process
Article Rewrite:
"Crossing the Silver Screen for Three Decades"
As Spanish audiovisual work started to make waves in the Film Academy, the first Best Picture Goya went to the comedy "El viaje a ninguna parte" in 1987. Since then, we've seen a diverse array of films vie for the prestigious award. While the comprehensive genre breakdown of all winners remains elusive, a majority of successful films have been rooted in dramatic storytelling.
Navigating the Silver Screen's ComplexitiesGerardo Sánchez, director of La 2's 'Días de Cine' program, believes that categorizing feature films is a challenging endeavor. "Defining a film in one word can sometimes be difficult," he shares during a conversation with Datosour website. Some films, according to Gerardo, lack strict genre boundaries and have an "intermediate" touch, making it impossible to categorize them easily. Despite this complexity, Gerardo congratulates the Academy for valuing comedies so highly due to the data represented herein.
Stars of the Silver Screen: Would a Laugh Really Solve It All?The list of actors with multiple nominations and awards includes well-known talents such as Antonio de la Torre, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, and Carmen Maura. By observing their filmographies, it's not surprising that drama and comedy dominate, with some incursions into crime, action, romance, and suspense. However, a long career, such as Fernando Fernán Gómez's who appeared in over 100 titles, may not guarantee a win or even a nomination.
A Silver So Divide: Luis Tosar vs. Victoria AbrilThough both actors have touched various genres throughout their careers, they have experienced different fates with the Academy. In Luis Tosar's 26-year career, dramas and comedies hold the most significance. However, his nominations (Los lunes al sol, comedy; Te doy mis ojos, drama; Celda 211, action) mirror the genres he works on most. Victoria Abril, with 20 years more experience, has a 40% concentration of dramas in her career. Surprisingly, crime - which makes up less than 10% of her work - has become a dominant force in her nominations, with films like Baton Rouge and El séptimo día propelling her past performances to the forefront.
Comedy: A Silver Screen StarOut of the 16 actors analyzed, 12 are widely recognized for the types of films they usually act in. Among them, Veronica Forqué and Alfredo Landa stand out for their high comedy presence, distinguishing themselves from the rest of the pack. However, Eduard Fernández, Laia Marull, and Emma Suárez's nominations coincide with drama, the genre they are most associated with. Interestingly, Veronica Forqué is the only actor whose five nominations and four awards align exclusively with comedy, a symbol of her dedication to her craft.
Silver Statuettes and a Career in FocusGerardo Sánchez believes the Academy values the long-term work of actors and actresses. According to him, "If you do more comedy, the chances of being nominated or awarded for a comedy are greater than if you make a dramatic film." However, there are often exceptions to this rule as there are surprises in store when it comes to recognizing exceptional performances. For example, Victoria Abril, with a somewhat limited career, received the Goya for her role in "Nadie hablará de nosotras cuando hayamos muerto," a testament to her exceptional talent.
Marking the Silver Screen's PastThis analysis is based on information provided by the Academy of Cinema on the Goya Awards year by year and category. The chosen actors' and actresses' filmographies are primarily sourced from the Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Titles that have not been released in Spain or in which the actors do not play a significant role have been omitted. In some cases, IMDb did not reflect the genre of some films. This information has been completed with other websites such as filmaffinity, regional organizations, and cinema-dedicated portals.
- Celebrities, such as Veronica Forqué, are often associated with comedy, as she is the only actor whose five nominations and four awards align exclusively with this genre, indicating a strong dedication to her craft within the entertainment realm of movies and TV.
- Pop-culture enthusiasts might find it intriguing that crime, a genre that makes up less than 10% of Victoria Abril's work, has propelled her to numerous nominations, demonstrating an unexpected twist in the world of crime-focused movies and TV.
