Santiago Mitres Argentina, 1985 and News of a Kidnapping, created by Andrs Wood and Rodrigo Garca, swept the top prizes for best picture on Saturday night at the 2023 Platino Awards, in a sign of how the global streamers here Amazon Studios and Prime Video have lured top-of-their-class talent in Latin America.
One highlight of the ceremony, dedicated to films and TV shows in the Spanish-speaking world, was Benicio del Toros acceptance speech of a honorary Platino in which he reflected on being typecast for many years in Hollywood as a Latino actor.
If I had to play stereotypes, I tried to find the characters humanity, a sense of complicity, so that audiences felt what my character felt and whilst theyre watching, dont forget who I am and where I come from., he said. Whats important is to share more than be divided, he added.
Courtesy of PlatinoAwards/Enrique Cidoncha Del Toro was received with a standing ovation by an audience made up of some of the best actors in Spain, which hung on his every word.
Directed by Mitre, who broke out to attention with The Student, then conquered Cannes with Paulina, the Academy Award-nominated Argentina, 1985, produced by Amazon Studios, Infinity Hill, Mitres label Unin de los Rios and star Ricardo Darns Kenya Films swept best picture, screenplay (Mitre, Mariano Llins) actor (Darn), among five awards.
Commissioned by Prime Video in 2020, in the same funding round that included Iosi, the Repentant Spy, News of a Kidnapping scooped best series, creators (Wood, Garca), series actress (Cristina Umaa) and supporting actress (Majida Issa). Stuart Fords AGC Studios and Chiles Invercine Wood produce.
It may or may not be a coincidence that both titles, as well as Rodrigo Sorogoyens The Beasts, which swept four prizes including best director, talk about how individuals or institutions the Colombian senator husband of an abduction victim in News, Darins crusading public prosecutor in Argentina, 1985, a French couple in deep Galicia in The Beasts confront violence, whether the institutionalised torture and murder under Argentinas Junta, endemic drug gang coercion in News and wounded machismo in The Beasts.
Thank you to the thousands and thousands of Colombians who, silently, without any show, try to make peace and a country, despite all the obvious difficulties, said Umana.
Memory is important. We cant allow violence to be the innate solution in any part of the world, said Infinity Hills, Axel Kuschevatzky, a producer of Argentina, 1985.
In other Awards highlights, Spains Laia Costa and Susi Snchez repeated their Goya plaudits taking best film actress and supporting actress as daughter and mother in Lullaby.
1976 director Manuela Martelli(center) being congratulated by her team Manuel Fiestas Moreno FILM
Best Feature
Argentina, 1985 (Argentina)
Director
Rodrigo Sorogoyen, The Beasts
Lead Performance
Laia Costa, Lullaby
Ricardo Darn, Argentina, 1985
Screenplay
Mariano Llins, Santiago Mitre, Argentina, 1985
First Feature
1976 (Chile, Argentina)
Best Feature Comedy
Official Competition, (Argentina, Spain)
Original Score
Sergio Prudencio, Utama
Supporting Role Performance
Susi Sanchez, Lullaby (Spain)
Luis Zahera, The Beasts (Spain, France)
Animated Feature
The Eagle and the Jaguar: the Legendary Warriors (Mexico)
Documentary Best Feature
El Caso Padilla, (Cuba, Spain)
Editing
Alberto del Campo, The Beasts
Art Direction
Micaela Saiegh, Argentina, 1985)
Cinematography
Barbara lvarez, Utama
Sound Direction
Aitor Berenguer, Fabiola Ordoyo, Yasmina Praderas, The Beasts
Film Education In Values
Argentina, 1985 (Argentina, U.S)
HONORARY AWARD
Benicio del Toro
TV
Best Series Or Mini-Series
News of a Kidnapping (Colombia, Chile, U.S.)
Best Series Or Mini-Series Creator
Andrs Wood, Rodrigo Garca, News of a Kidnapping
Actor In A Series Or Mini-Series
Guillermo Francella, The One in Charge
Actress In A Series Or Mini-Series
Cristina Umaa, News of a Kidnapping
Supporting Actor In A Series Or Mini-Series
Alejandro Awada, Iosi, The Regretful Spy
Supporting Actress In A Series Or Mini-Series
Majida Issa, News of a Kidnapping