Fernando Méndez-Leite presents the Goya for Best Ibero-American Film to Walter Salles

This Tuesday, Brazilian director Walter Salles collected the Goya for Best Ibero-American Film for the Brazilian film 'Ainda estou aqui' ('I'm still here'), in an event at the headquarters of the Film Academy. The president of the institution, Fernando Méndez-Leite, presented him with the statuette.

It should be noted that, for the first time, the Goya has gone to a Brazilian film, and that at the gala on Saturday, February 8 in Granada, it was represented by the singer-songwriter and musician Jorge Drexler.

In this award ceremony, the filmmaker was “very grateful” and highlighted “the importance of the Goya for Brazilian cinematography, I receive it on his behalf.” Salles has also alluded to the link between the seventh art of our country and that of Brazil. "Our cinematographic memory has roots here, because the most important cinematographic movement in the history of Brazilian cinema, Cinema Novo, is, as maestro Carlos Diéguez said, the meeting point between The Forgotten, by Buñuel; Rome, Open City, by Rossellini, and the editing of Eisenstein's films. Our Ibero-American cinematographic memory is very close and is a prize to celebrate that proximity and belonging," he assured.

Walter Salles visits our country after his film has won the Goya for Best Ibero-American Film and with 3 Oscar nominations (Best Film, Best Actress and Best International Film). The distinction from the Spanish Film Academy adds to the Golden Globe for Best Drama Actress for Fernanda Torres and the Best Screenplay Award at the Venice Festival, among other recognitions that it is achieving Ainda estou aqui (I'm still here) in awards season.