"The Sundays," "Sirat" Lead 40th Goya Nominations

"The Sundays," directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, and "Sirat," by Óliver Laxe, are the leading contenders for the 40th Goya Awards, with 13 and 11 nominations respectively. The awards ceremony will take place on February 28 in Barcelona. Tenerife actress Toni Acosta and Valencia actor Arturo Valls announced the nominees yesterday. Other films with a strong showing include "Maspalomas," filmed in the Basque Country and the Canary Islands, with nine nominations; "The Dinner," with eight; and "Deaf" and "The Captive," each with seven.

For Best Director and Best Film, the nominated films are "The Sundays," "Maspalomas" (directed by Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga), and "Sirat." "The Dinner" and "Deaf" are also up for Best Film. Additionally, Carla Simón ("Pilgrimage") and Albert Serra ("Afternoons of Solitude") are nominated for Best Director.

Nominees for Best Lead Actor include Alberto San Juan ("The Dinner"), Miguel Garcés ("The Sundays"), José Ramón Soroiz ("Maspalomas"), Mario Casas ("Very Far"), and Manolo Solo ("A Portuguese Estate").

In the Best Supporting Actor category, the nominees are Miguel Rellán ("The Captive"), Juan Minujín ("The Sundays"), Kandido Uranga ("Maspalomas"), Tamar Novas ("Rondallas"), and Álvaro Cervantes ("Deaf").

The Best Lead Actress nominees are Ángela Cervantes ("The Fury"), Patricia López ("The Sundays"), Antonia Zegers ("The Turtles"), Nora Navas ("My Friend Eva"), and Susana Abaitua ("A Ghost in Battle").

For Best Supporting Actress, the nominations go to Elvira Mínguez ("The Dinner"), Nagore Aramburu ("The Sundays"), Miryam Gallego ("Pilgrimage"), Elena Irureta ("Deaf"), and María de Medeiros ("A Portuguese Estate").

The nominees for Best New Actress are Nora Hernández ("The Dinner"), Blanca Soroa ("The Sundays"), Elvira Lara ("The Turtles"), Uxia García ("Pilgrimage"), and Miriam Garlo ("Deaf"). For Best New Actor, the contenders are Antonio Fernández ("City Without Sleep"), Julio Peña ("The Captive"), Hugo Welzel ("Enemies"), Jan Monter ("Strange River"), and Mitch Robles ("Pilgrimage").

Nominated for Best New Director are Ion de Sosa ("Balearic"), Jaume Clarell ("Strange River"), Gemma Blasco ("The Fury"), Gerard Oms ("Very Far"), and Eva Libertad ("Deaf").

The Best European Film nominees are "Conclave" (Edward Berger), "The Girl with the Needle" (Magnus von Horn), "On Falling" (Laura Carreira), "A Simple Accident" (Jafar Panahi), and "Sentimental Value" (Joachim Trier).

In the Best Ibero-American Film category, the nominations go to "Belén" (Dolores Fonzi), "The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo" (Diego Céspedes), "The Skin of Water" (Patricia Velásquez), "Manas" (Marianna Brennand), and "A Poet" (Simón Mesa).

For Best Documentary, the nominated films are "Afternoons of Solitude," "Flowers for Antonio," "We Are All Gaza," "The Sleeper. The Lost Caravaggio," and "Eloy de la Iglesia. Film Addict."

Finally, the Best Animated Film nominees are "Bella," "Decorated," "Barracuda's Treasure," "Norbert," and "Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake."