Tenerife Film *La Lucha* Wins Two Awards, Set for Berlinale Screening
Tenerife filmmaker Jose Alayón's La Lucha, a film about Canarian wrestling, won Best Director and Best Film at the Punta del Este International Film Festival and will be screened at the Berlinale's European Film Market, following its success in Spanish cinemas.
Tenerife filmmaker Jose Alayón's film, La Lucha, has achieved significant international success, winning two awards at the Punta del Este International Film Festival in Uruguay. The jury of the Ibero-American Fiction Competition named him Best Director, while the Uruguayan Film Critics Association (ACCU) chose La Lucha as the Best Film. This recognition adds to the news that the film will also be screened at the Berlinale's European Film Market this Monday, distributed by Bendita Film Sales, further boosting its global reach.
La Lucha has also been very popular in Spanish cinemas, especially in the Canary Islands. Since its premiere on January 30, the film has been one of the top ten most-watched films in the Canary Islands for its second week, drawing over 7,000 viewers across Spain. Notably, despite being shown in fewer cinemas, it has earned more at the box office than other popular films in the Islands, highlighting its strong connection with local audiences.
The film is now in its third week in Madrid, showing at Pequeño Cine Estudio. It continues to play in various cinemas across the Canary Islands, including Yelmo Fuerteventura, Multicines Atlántida (Lanzarote), Multicines Tenerife, Yelmo Meridiano (Tenerife), and Zentral Center (Tenerife), with extra showings at Yelmo Vecindario and Yelmo La Villa. It has also reached both cinemas in La Palma (Millennium de Los Llanos de Aridane and Cine Teatro Chico in Santa Cruz). A special screening is planned for February 22 in El Hierro, at the Auditorio de la Peña, supported by the island council. Outside of Madrid, the film has had daily screenings in Barcelona and other cities like Cuenca for two weeks.
La Lucha tells the story of Miguel, played by Tomasín Padrón, and his daughter Mariana, portrayed by wrestler Yazmina Estupiñán. They both find comfort and a way to cope with the loss of their wife and mother, respectively, through Canarian wrestling. The main cast also includes renowned Majorera wrestler Inés Cano as Inés, Miguel's sister. With its combination of critical acclaim, public popularity, and strong distribution, La Lucha is becoming an important example of independent Spanish cinema with roots in the Canary Islands.