Lav Díaz's "Magallanes" Shares Seminci Golden Spike

Filipino director Lav Díaz's new film, Magallanes, won the Golden Spike for Best Film this Saturday at the Valladolid International Film Week (Seminci). It shared the award with Mastermind, by American director Kelly Reichardt.

Mexican actor Gael García Bernal stars as the Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan. The film is an international co-production involving Portugal, France, and Spain, with additional contributions from Andergraun Films (Catalonia) and El Viaje Films (Canary Islands).

Lav Díaz wrote and directed Magallanes. The film re-examines the story of the famous explorer who led the first journey around the world between 1519 and 1522. It offers a critical and very human perspective on Magellan's ambition and eventual downfall. The movie looks at how the dream of discovery clashes with power, faith, and the brutality of conquest. Lav Díaz explained, "It is not the myth of Magellan, but the truth of his journey. I wanted to understand the price of the imperial dream and the solitude of the man who embodies it."

The cast also includes Portuguese actress Ângela Azevedo Ramos and Mexican actor Dario Yazbek (known for La casa de las flores). Artur Tort, a frequent collaborator of Albert Serra, was in charge of cinematography and also served as a producer, alongside Montse Triola and José Alayón.

Magallanes was co-produced by Rosa Films (Portugal), Lib Films (France), and the Spanish companies Andergraun Films and El Viaje Films. It received support from ICAA, TVE, and the Canary Islands Government fund for minority international co-productions. Volos Films (Philippines and Taiwan) also contributed to the production, with Luxbox Films handling international sales.