The seductive power of Antonio Banderas was clearly evident in the historic, emotional and strange gala of the 35th edition of the Goya Awards. The most international of our actors managed to get his colleagues from Hollywood and many other latitudes to express, from a distance, but in a warm and emotional way, his affection and support for Spanish cinema on its big day. Throughout the more than two hours of the gala, recorded messages from giants of the dream factory were interspersed, full of sympathy, love, respect and support for Spanish cinematography who came to Malaga from locations around the world.
The first to alternate between Spanish and English in their messages were Monica Bellucci, Benicio del Toro and Laura Dern. “I adore Spanish cinema,” was the most repeated phrase. “All my support for Spanish cinema,” said Belucci and Del Toro. The most expressive and in English was Dern: «I love you, Spanish cinema. I love the directors, the actors, the films, the language, the Spanish culture, the cinematographers, the artists, the musicians that you have. Thank you for a lifetime of gifts,” she said.
In Spanish, Emma Thompson sent “a hug of solidarity to Spanish cinema and to her colleagues.” The Argentine actor Óscar Martínez celebrated and applauded the decision “of the Spanish Academy to continue fighting and not give up despite the restrictions.”
Sylvester Stallone or Hale Berry or Melanie Griffith were much more concise in their messages. Salma Hayek explained how she fell in love with Spanish cinema when she was young and how she continues to fall in love with it. «She gives me inspiration and love, and the Spanish language is known through cinema. It is very important that he continues to bring us inspiring stories and that he continues to shine.
Robert De Niro and Tom Cruise also expressed their support for our cinema in Spanish, who congratulated “all my Spanish friends who I love being with.” In English they were made by Glen Close, Matthew McConaughey and Naomi Wats. From Argentina Ricardo Darín wished “a healthy future” for our cinema “in which I will participate whenever I can.” Lupia Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Gael Garcia Bernal, Al Pacino and an enthusiastic Barbra Streissand also participated. “The world is starting to heal, I think,” she said before singing ‘Happy Days Are Back’. Dustin Hoffman wishes that “Spanish cinema continues to be a gift for all of us.”