This week has been incredibly intense! The seventh edition of the Roots of Europe International Film Festival was filled with remarkable cinematic works, the presence of dedicated filmmakers with new and courageous stories, and a very enthusiastic audience!

We had the participation of the Spanish producer Ángel Blasco, who has an extensive career in distribution and production. During the festival, he presented his most ambitious work, the adaptation of the novel God’s Crooked Lines, which was number one in the United States, France, and Spain on Netflix, and number two worldwide in 2022, as well as a great box office success, and shared secrets about its production and the arduous journey to bring it to life.

We were also fortunate to share the experiences of promising young talents who showcased their latest works, such as Barbara Hermosilla, Aitor López de Aberásturi, and Laura Guerricaechevarria. We hope that next year we can bring together more filmmakers to share their experiences with us.

The closing gala took place on Friday, the 7th. The jury, composed of Spanish film expert Miguel Ángel Salazar, Slovenian producer Martina Kocmur, Spanish screenwriter Raúl Barranco, members of the Spanish Film Academy, Maite Ruiz de Austri, Iñigo Silva, and Santiago de Pablo, announced the winners of the seventh edition of the festival:

• Best Sound: La reina del pop
• Best Score: Estimada Ángela
• Best Cinematography: The borders never die
• Best Editing: La reina del pop
• Best Screenplay: La compañía
• Best Actress: Chelo Gómez for La lista

• Best Supporting Actress: Barbara Hermosilla for La lista
• Best Actor: Alain Hernández for Paris 70
• Best Direction: José Luis Quirós and Paco Sáez for Estimada Ángela
• Best Documentary: La raya, los últimos contrabandistas by Tamara Benítez
• Best Animated Short Film: WAN by Victor Monigote
• Best Short Film: Paris 70 by Dani Feixas Roca

As we do every year, we also award special mentions to high-profile works and filmmakers whose films stand out for their connection with culture or address social issues or great values. This year, we decided to present the Roots of Europe Special Mention to El libro de Mario by Daniel Chamorro and Lulebore by Gentian Minga. Both works speak to us about effort, overcoming obstacles, and great dreams and ideals despite adversities, limitations, and societal opinions.

For us, it was a privilege and a true honor to showcase so many works of great quality and value. We congratulate all the filmmakers who participated in the competition. We encourage you to continue on your cinematic path. Do not stop looking for new stories and telling them. We look forward to seeing you again at the next edition.