Aitana Sánchez-Gijón Honored with Goya of Honor 2025
The prestigious Goya of Honor for 2025 has been awarded to actress Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, marking a significant milestone in her career. Announced by the Academy of Cinema on Thursday, she becomes the ninth woman to receive this esteemed recognition for her lifetime dedication to the art of cinema. The award ceremony is set to take place on February 8 in Granada, coinciding with the 39th edition of the Spanish film awards.
Fernando Méndez-Leite, the president of the Academy, highlighted that although Sánchez-Gijón has not yet received any Goya awards throughout her career, he anticipates many outstanding performances from her in the future. Méndez-Leite also noted that she had made history as the first female president of the Academy of Cinema back in 1998.
During a press conference, Sánchez-Gijón humorously shared her struggles to keep the news of her award a secret from her loved ones, showing her appreciation for the honor.
The Goya of Honor is a recognition that has a tradition of celebrating the contributions of significant figures in Spanish cinema. In the previous edition, the honor was awarded to esteemed director of photography, film restorer, and researcher Juan Mariné. The 2023 accolade went to the late filmmaker Carlos Saura, who passed away just one day prior to the Goya gala and was honored with a heartfelt tribute during the ceremony.
Other notable recipients of the Goya of Honor include well-respected figures such as José Sacristán, Ángela Molina, Ana Belén, Antonio Banderas, and Marisa Paredes. Each of these artists has left an indelible mark on Spanish cinema, and the Academy continues to recognize outstanding achievements in the industry.
As the announcement about Sánchez-Gijón has been made, it will undoubtedly bring attention back to her extensive body of work and the contributions she has made to the film landscape in Spain.
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