Platino Awards
The audience has the floor
The Audience Award, sponsored by Iberia since 2015, has become the perfect leadup to the Platino Awards. With their votes, spectators choose their favourite films, series, actors, and actresses. 'Marshland' topped a list that includes 'The Distinguished Citizen', 'Roma', or 'Society of the Snow', the latest winner. Do you want to know more about the winning films?
Society of the Snow was released on the 4th of January. Just 11 days later, the streaming platform in charge of its distribution announced that, with 51 million views, it was one of the top 10 most-viewed non-English language films in its history. This success has led it to win the Audience Platino Award for best film at the 11th edition of the Platino Awards. The epic story of the survivors of the 571 Uruguayan Air Force flight that crashed in the Andes in 1972 has moved and shaken half the world. The rest of the awards were granted for: Best Actor (Enzo Vogrincic, Society of the Snow), Best Actress (Dolores Fonzi, Blondi), Best series (Burning Body), Best Actor in a TV series (Santiago Korovsky, División Palermo) and Best Actress in a TV series (Úrsula Corberó, Burning Body).
Iberia, who sponsors the Audience Platino Award since 2015 —the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the pandemic—, invites spectators to choose their favourite films, series, actors, and actresses of the year in the biggest celebration of Ibero-American film. In exchange, they enter a giveaway for an experience on par with the nominees themselves: a double room at a VIP hotel, tickets for the ceremony and afterparty, transfers in official vehicles, access to the red carpet and 120,000 Avios for travelling. The Audience Award has become an established award with a spectacular list of winners, which we’ll go over below.
Marshland
Spain, 1980s. Two teenagers disappear in the Guadalquivir marshes and two out-of-town police officers, expertly played by Javier Gutiérrez and Raúl Arévalo, are sent from Madrid to take charge of the investigation. With opposing personalities and ways of doing things, these law enforcement officials will join forces to solve the mystery while dealing with the ghosts of their own pasts.
“A gristly and passionate thriller which confirms Alberto Rodríguez’s talent for the genre” — La Vanguardia
Other categories awarded by the public in 2015: Best Actor (Javier Gutiérrez, Marshland) and Best Actress (Érica Rivas, Wild Tales).
Ixcanul
The directorial debut of Guatemalan Jayro Bustamante brings us closer to the reality of the indigenous world through María, a 17-year-old Kaqchikel Mayan who rebels against an arranged marriage. Shot on the side of the Pacaya Volcano —called Ixcanul in the Kaqchikel language—, it is a deep dive into the customs and rites of this community, as well as an apoplectic complaint against racism and sexism.
“A powerful modern tale, a captivating and hypnotically beautiful debut” — Variety
Other categories awarded by the public in 2016: Best Actor (Ricardo Darín, Truman) and Best Actress (Penélope Cruz, ma ma).
The Distinguished Citizen
An Argentinian writer who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature returns to his hometown after more than 40 years to be appointed the Distinguished Citizen. Óscar Martínez, who puts himself in the shoes of Daniel Mantovani, stars in a biting comedy full of insane situations. Because his arrival in Salas, the made-up village the film is set in, will awaken all sorts of feelings.
“A smart and fierce comedy that calls on its complicity with the audience” — El Mundo
Other categories awarded by the public in 2017: Best Actor (Óscar Martínez, The Distinguished Citizen) and Best Actress (Natalia Oreiro, I’m Gilda).
A Fantastic Woman
Despite there being a 20-year difference between them, Marina and Orlando dream of a future together, but their story is full of misfortune. One night, Orlando passes away and Marina must face his loss and the suspicions raised against her. A drama about a trans woman played by a trans actress, Daniela Vega, which also won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2017.
“A detailed character study which exposes the shameful banality of intolerance” — IndieWire
Other categories awarded by the public in 2018: Best Actor (Javier Bardem, Loving Pablo) and Best Actress (Daniela Vega, A Fantastic Woman).
Roma
With an Academy Award for Best Director under his belt for Gravity, Mexican Alfonso Cuarón decided to come home to film his most personal film yet: a love letter to the women who raised him. Mexico’s turbulent political situation mixes with the producer’s childhood memories, creating a chronicle that is as beautiful as it is moving, which also won the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film in 2018.
“It’s an expansive, emotional portrait of life buffeted by violent forces, and a masterpiece” — The New York Times
Other categories awarded by the public in 2019: Best Actor (Javier Bardem, Everybody Knows) and Best Actress (Yalitza Aparicio, Roma).
La llorona
Four years after winning the Audience Platino Award with Ixcanul, Jayro Bustamante had recurring success with La llorona, a film that recovers that ghost from Hispanic folklore to tell a story that uses supernatural elements —with resources from horror film— to make a brave political complaint of the Guatemalan or Mayan genocide.
“An emotional piece that uses tenebrist photography and surround sound” — El País
Other categories awarded by the public in 2021: Best Actor (Diego Peretti, The Heist of the Century), Best Actress (María Mercedes Coroy, La llorona), Best series (Someone Has to Die), Best Actor in a TV series (Álvaro Morte, Money Heist) and Best Actress in a TV series (Cecilia Suárez, The House of Flowers).
Parallel Mothers
The lives of Janis (Penélope Cruz) and Ana (Milena Smit) come together in a hospital room while they wait to give birth. Both are single and face this difficulty in their own way, Janis’ mature excitement contrasts with young Ana’s fear. For those few hours, a strong bond is forged between them. Almodóvar brings together intimate and collective tragedies to reflect on motherhood and memory.
“An extraordinary melodrama, as well as a major emotional and political piece” — Fotogramas
Other categories awarded by the public in 2022: Best Actor (Javier Bardem, The Good Boss), Best Actress (Penélope Cruz, Parallel Mothers), Best series (El reino), Best Actor in a TV series (Chino Darín, El reino) and Best Actress in a TV series (Mercedes Morán, El reino).
Argentina, 1985
A brilliant chronicle of the Trial of the Juntas, the trial that imprisoned senior officials of the Argentinian military dictatorship (1976-1983). The film follows in the footsteps of Julio César Strassera and Luis Moreno Ocampo, the prosecutors on the case, alongside their young and idealist prosecution team. In a race against time and threats, they prepared the case and gave an emotional defence statement: “Judges: never again!”
“An honest tale, "flawlessly and humorously told, which evades the rough sketch and glorification of the protagonists” — La Nación
Other categories awarded by the public in 2023: Best Actor ((Ricardo Darín, Argentina, 1985), Best Actress (Laia Costa, Lullaby), Best series (News of a Kidnapping), Best Actor in a TV series (Guillermo Francella, The Boss) and Best Actress in a TV series (Natalia Oreiro, Santa Evita).
