Jaime Rosales pulled off the surprise of Spain's 23rd Goya awards in Madrid by winning best director and best film for Solitary Fragments (La Solidad).

Until those awards were announced, the evening had been dominated by Juan Antonio Bayona's hugely-popular horror The Orphanage and Emilio Martinez-Lazaro's Las 13 Rosas.

Bayona's debut feature had amassed seven awards, including best new director and original screenplay (Sergio Sanchez), and Lazaro's Franco drama had taken four awards, including best supporting actor (Jose Manuel Cervino) and director of photography (Jose Luis Alcaine).

After collecting his best new director award, Bayona told Screen the Goyas proved new Spanish talent was breaking through, despite the recent downturn in the state of the local industry.

'If you look at those nominated alongside me for the best new director award, the likes of Tom Fernandez (La Torre De Suso) and Felix Viscarret (Bajo Las Estrellas), the future looks bright for Spanish cinema.'

'We need to follow the example of Mexican directors (like Guillermo Del Toro, a producer on The Orphanage) who prove that Spanish language films can succeed.'

Bayona's horror film is doing just that having taken over $40m already internationally and $6m in the US through Picturehouse.

In a further nod to new talent, the Spanish Academy gave two awards to Jaume Balaguero and Paco Plaza's horror film Rec, including best new actress to Manuela Velasco. Rec is now being adapted in the US by Screen Gems.

Other noted winners on the night included Maribel Verdu who won best actress for her role in Gracia Querejeta's Siete Mesas De Billar Frances, and Alberto San Juan who beat off stiff competition, including from veteran actor Alfredo Landa, to win best actor for Bajo Las Estrellas. Landa was compensated, however, by picking up an honour award for his achievements in cinema.

Topics