Valladolid Festival Prizes: Alain Gomis’ ‘Dao’ Wins Golden Spike, ‘La Gradiva’ Takes Silver

The 71st Valladolid International Film Festival in Spain concluded with French-Senegalese director Alain Gomis’ film "Dao" receiving the Golden Spike, the festival’s highest accolade. The expansive narrative explores themes of family, migration, and ancestral heritage across Europe and Africa.

"Dao" unfolds through a blend of fiction and documentary styles, weaving together professional and non-professional actors to portray a complex family saga that bridges France and Guinea-Bissau. The film’s immersive rhythm and length—running approximately three hours—were highlighted by the international jury as key to its distinctive cinematic experience.

This film marks Gomis’ return to fiction cinema following his 2017 Berlinale Grand Jury Prize-winning "Félicité." "Dao" premiered in competition at the Berlin International Film Festival and is currently represented internationally by The Party Film Sales, with Janus Films holding North American distribution rights.

Marine Atlan’s debut feature "La Gradiva" was awarded the Silver Spike. The French-Italian production had its premiere at Cannes’ Critics’ Week, where it captured that section’s Grand Prix, followed by recognition at the Melbourne International Film Festival. The film centers on teenagers on a school trip to Naples and Pompeii, handling themes of desire and adolescence with sensitivity.

In addition to the Silver Spike, "La Gradiva" won the José Salcedo editing prize and the Rainbow Spike, which honors LGBTQ-related cinema. The film’s portrayal of youth in transition has been described as highly authentic and affecting. MK2 Films manages its international sales.

Argentine director Lisandro Alonso was honored with the Ribera del Duero Award for Best Director for "Double Freedom," a sequel to his 2001 debut "Freedom." The film was noted for its continuation of Alonso’s distinctive storytelling style and is distributed by Luxbox.

The acting awards went to Alba Rohrwacher for "A Good Little Soldier," a film examining corporate ethics, and Swann Arlaud for "A Man of His Time," which delves into historical narratives surrounding the Vichy regime. Additionally, Emmanuel Marre’s film received the cinematography prize.

The Miguel Delibes Screenplay Award was presented to Austrian filmmaker Sandra Wollner for "Everytime," a drama investigating grief and memory through digital means. A special mention was also given to Tiago Guedes’ "Aquí" by the official competition jury.

Outside the main competition, Thai filmmaker Sompot Chidgasornpongse won the Meeting Point award for "9 Temples to Heaven," marking his fiction debut with a contemplative family pilgrimage story. Other honors included the Fundos Award for Marc Ferrer’s "Cinemanía" and the ESCAC directing prize for Manon Coubia’s "Forest High."

Spanish debut "Salen las lobas," directed by Claudia Estrada Tarascó, garnered significant audience appreciation, securing both the Meeting Point Audience Award and the Seminci Youth Prize. The film portrays the lives of girls in a juvenile justice center united by music and aspirations tied to Barcelona’s trap music scene. It is internationally represented by MoreThan Films, with a Spanish theatrical release scheduled for December.

In the Alchemies section, "Promised Spaces," a film detailing Cambodia’s urban transformation by Ivan Marković, took the Grand Prize. Environmental themes were recognized through a special mention and the Green Spike awarded to David Baute’s "Benigno." Historical reflections were highlighted by Hassen Ferhani’s "Alea Jacarandas," which won the Time of History Grand Prize, alongside a special accolade for Mariano Llinás’ "Life of Jorge Luis Borges."

The critics’ FIPRESCI prize went to Isabelle Stever’s "I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming," and Markus Schleinzer’s "Rose" received the Audience Award in the main competition. The festival’s final screening was the Spanish premiere of Gael García Bernal’s "Hombre al agua."

The festival, hosted from October 23 to 31, was overseen by interim co-directors Mariona Viader and Javier H. Estrada following the death of previous director José Luis Cienfuegos. Despite the cancellation of the traditional closing gala due to a tragic train accident, attendance figures approached 100,000, underscoring the event's vitality amid challenging circumstances.

The range of awarded films at this year’s Seminci reflects an emphasis on narratives that engage deeply with cultural identity, memory, and social issues. The combination of established auteurs and emerging voices reveals the festival’s commitment to diverse cinematic expressions. Notably, the success of films like "Dao" and "La Gradiva" may influence future festival programming and distribution strategies by underscoring the appeal of cross-cultural, genre-blending storytelling.

For Alain Gomis, the Golden Spike elevates "Dao" within his body of work, potentially enhancing its visibility and commercial prospects internationally. The film’s hybrid narrative approach aligns with current trends favoring innovative forms that bridge documentary and fiction, which could suggest new directions for filmmakers operating within diasporic contexts. Similarly, Marine Atlan’s accolades may bolster her standing as a fresh voice in European cinema, particularly within the LGBTQ thematic space.

The festival’s broad scope, spanning topics from corporate critique to historical reckoning and environmental concerns, underscores the evolving priorities of international film audiences and juries. This diversity encourages filmmakers to explore complex social realities through varied cinematic languages, enriching the global film landscape.