On September 26th, Pedro Almodóvar, the director, screenwriter, and producer, will be honored with the Donostia Award at the 72nd edition of the San Sebastian Festival. The award recognizes his extraordinary contribution to the world of cinema. The presentation will take place at the Kursaal Auditorium before the screening of his latest movie, “The Room Next Door (La habitación de al lado ),” his first feature film in English. The movie stars Tilda Swinton and Julianne Moore and is set to compete for the Golden Lion at the upcoming Venice Festival. Tilda Swinton will be presenting the award to him on stage.
Pedro Almodóvar’s illustrious career spans over a dozen short films, some of which have gained international acclaim. These include “La voz humana” (The Human Voice) (2020), which premiered at the Venice Festival, and “Extraña forma de vida” (Strange Way of Life) (2023), screened at Cannes. Almodóvar has also directed almost thirty feature films, winning nearly 170 awards and receiving over 200 nominations. His accolades include two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, seven European Film Academy Awards, five BAFTAs, four Césars, five Goyas, and two David de Donatellos. He has been honored at prestigious film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, and San Sebastian, and was the subject of a homage at the MOMA. Additionally, Almodóvar has been recognized with the Jean Renoir Award, chosen for the David Lean Lecture, and awarded honorary doctorates from Harvard and Oxford. He has also been honored with the National Medal of Arts in the USA, the Spanish Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts, the Prince of Asturias Medal of the Arts, and the French Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honour.
Pedro Almodóvar’s cinema is known for the writing of its female characters, the directing of its actors, its courage in addressing subjects such as the LGBTIQ+ universe, religion, sex, addiction and historical memory, and his political commitment, which has driven him to take a public stance against war and extreme right-wing discourse.
Almodóvar has a long history with the San Sebastian Festival, beginning in 1980 with his second feature, Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del montón / Pepi, Luci, Bom, competing in the New Filmmakers section. It was also screened in the Neighbourhoods and Towns initiative and, 24 years later, in 2004, was recovered in the Incorrect@s retrospective.
This year’s Festival takes place 20 – 28 September
