The 11th Platino Awards, a prestigious celebration of Ibero-American cinematic excellence, unfolded over the weekend at the luxurious Xcaret resort in Mexico. Netflix’s epic “Society of the Snow,” directed by J.A. Bayona, emerged as the night’s biggest winner, taking home a remarkable six awards, including the coveted prize for Best Ibero-American Fiction Film.
This ceremony, however, wasn’t solely focused on celebrating triumphs. The critical situation facing Argentina’s film industry due to recent government cuts to arts funding cast a somber shadow over the festivities.
“Society of the Snow” Sweeps Top Honors: A Story of Resilience and Survival
Bayona’s harrowing film, “Society of the Snow,” chronicles the true story of the Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crash in 1972. The plane, carrying a rugby team to Chile, tragically went down on a glacier in the Andes, leaving survivors stranded for 72 grueling days before rescue. The film depicts their fight for survival in the harsh mountain environment, a testament to the human spirit’s incredible capacity to endure.
The movie’s powerful narrative resonated with the Platino Awards judges, garnering numerous accolades:
Best Ibero-American Fiction Film: This prestigious award acknowledges “Society of the Snow” as the year’s most outstanding feature film hailing from Ibero-America (Spain, Portugal, and Latin America).
Best Director: J.A. Bayona’s masterful direction earned him well-deserved recognition for his skillful portrayal of this real-life tragedy.
Best Male Performance: Rising star Enzo Vogrincic received the Best Male Performance award for his captivating portrayal within the film.
Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound: The film’s technical mastery was further recognized with awards bestowed upon the editing team (Jaume Martí and Andrés Gil), cinematographer Pedro Luque, and the sound team (Oriol Tarragó, Marc Orts, and Jorge Adrados).
Vogrincic’s performance garnered additional praise, receiving the Audience Award – a true testament to his ability to connect with viewers.
Beyond “Society of the Snow”: A Celebration of Ibero-American Cinema
While “Society of the Snow” dominated the awards, other noteworthy films and performances were recognized:
Best Female Performance (Lead): Laia Costa took home the award for her leading role in “Un Amor.”
Best Supporting Performance (Male & Female): José Coronado (“Close Your Eyes”) and Ane Gabarain (“20,000 Species of Bees”) were honored for their captivating supporting performances.
Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren’s “20,000 Species of Bees,” a poignant coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of a beekeeping farm, secured four awards, the second-highest haul of the night.
A Call to Action: Standing with Argentina’s Film Industry
The ceremony wasn’t simply about celebrating cinematic achievements. Several attendees used the platform to raise awareness about the dire situation facing Argentina’s film industry.
Following the recent far-right presidential administration’s drastic cuts to arts funding, many fear the industry’s potential collapse. Award recipients, including renowned actress Cecilia Roth, utilized their acceptance speeches to express their concerns and urge support for Argentinian cinema.
Roth, a muse of director Pedro Almodóvar, implored the audience to “take care of our cinema,” highlighting its vulnerability and importance as a form of artistic expression. Actor Andy Chango, upon receiving an award for his performance in the miniseries “El amor después del amor,” echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing cinema’s crucial role as a platform for national identity and expression. J.A. Bayona echoed these concerns, asserting, “Cinema is a very powerful and fundamental tool of expression of a country… To be against national cinema is to be against the country. Argentina, here we are. They are not alone. We are here to support them.”
These powerful statements served as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by the Argentinian film industry and the need for international solidarity to ensure its continued survival.
