Basque production ´Maixabel´ lands 14 Goya Award nominations

Produced by Kowalski Films, ‘Maixabel’ has received 14 nominations for the Goya Awards, given yearly by the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Directed by Iciar Bollaín, the film tells the story of Maixabel Lasa, widow of Basque politician Juan María Jáuregui, who was murdered by ETA. Maixabel Lasa was also one of the first victims to agree to meet with those who killed her husband.

The nominations include Best Film, competing with ´El buen patrón´ (Fernando León de Aranoa) and ´Madres paralelas´ (Pedro Almodovar), Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Leading Actress. The film has also been nominated for Best New Actress and Best Supporting Actor and will also compete in technical categories such as Best Production Supervision, Best Editing, Best Art Direction, Best Costume design, Best Make-up and Hairstyles, Best Sound and Best Original song, with the participation of numerous Basque artists and professionals.

The Basque presence at the Goya Awards will also be in the way of animated films. ´Nacer´ (Roberto Valle) by the Bilbao production company Uniko is up for Best Animated Short Film and ´Save the Tree (Zutik!)´ directed by Haizea Pastor and Iker Álvarez is nominated for Best Animated Film.

Jorge Guerricaechevarría, autor of ´Las leyes de la frontera´ (Daniel Monzón), has been nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and Fernando Albizu Ruiz de Alegria for Best Supporting Actor for his role in ´El buen patrón´.

The Goya Awards ceremony will take place in Valencia on 12 February.