The 28th Festival de Málaga brought ten days of cinema to a close with a closing gala that awarded 'Sorda' the Biznaga de Oro for Best Spanish Film. Broadcast on TVE's La 2, the ceremony was hosted by actor Salva Reina and journalist Elena Sánchez, who opened the evening with a presentation full of humour and references to iconic figures from Malaga such as Picasso, Antonio Banderas and Chiquito de la Calzada.
 
The start of the gala was marked by the moving performance of María José Llergo, who gave a heartfelt version of the classic 'La bien pagá'. This was followed by the screening of a video compilation of all the films in the Official Competition Section, recalling the diversity and richness of the films that characterised this edition of the Festival.
 
The awards ceremony began with the casting, technical and audience awards. The Biznaga de Plata for Best Supporting Female Performance went to María Elena Pérez for 'Perros', while the Best Supporting Male Performance went to Álex Monner for 'La furia'. The Biznaga de Plata for Best Music went to Filipe Raposo for 'Lo que queda de ti' and the Biznaga de Plata for Best Photography went to Alván Prado for 'Sugar Island'. Finally, the Audience Awards went to 'Sorda' (El País Audience Award), by Eva Libertad, and '8' (Out of Competition Audience Award), by Julio Médem.
 
During the gala, Elena Sánchez wanted to highlight the importance of the Festival de Málaga as an essential platform for the dissemination of Spanish-language audiovisuals, supporting both new talents and independent projects. She then gave way to a video summary with the best images of this year's edition.
 
Music continued to take centre stage with a performance by Xoel López, who moved the audience with his rendition of 'Tierra', followed by the awarding of the Biznaga de Plata for Best Editing to Didac Palou and Tomás López for 'La furia', and the Biznaga de Plata for Best Screenplay to Belén Funes and Marçal Cebrián for 'Los Tortuga'. The Special Critics' Jury Prize went to 'Molt lluny (Muy lejos)', by Gerard Oms. As for the male and female acting categories, both were ex aequo: the Biznaga de Plata for Best Male Performance went to Álvaro Cervantes for 'Sorda' and Mario Casas for 'Molt lluny (Muy lejos)', while the Hotel AC Málaga Palacio Award for Best Female Performance went to Ángela Cervantes for 'La furia' and Miriam Garlo for 'Sorda'.
 
The musical closing of the evening was provided by El Kanka, who performed his song 'Pasa la vida' before giving way to the Biznaga de Plata Award for Best Director, which went to Belén Funes for 'Los Tortuga', and the Special Jury Prize, which also went to Funes' film.
 
Finally, the jury took to the stage to award the main prizes of the evening. Chaired by the Argentinian actress Mercedes Morán, and made up of Pucho, singer of Vetusta Morla; the directors and screenwriters Pilar Palomero and Carlos Marques-Marcet; the director of the Guadalajara Festival (Mexico), Estrella Araiza; the actress and singer Daniela Vega; and the actresses Irene Escolar and Belén Cuesta, the jury announced the most important awards.
 
The Biznaga de Oro for Best Ibero-American Film went to 'El ladrón de perros' by Vinko Tomičić. Eduardo Calle, the film's distributor, came out to collect the award and wanted to highlight "how in the last two years the Biznagas de Oro for Best Ibero-American Film have gone to Bolivian productions. This award is also for all Bolivians."
 
And finally, upon receiving the Biznaga de Oro for Best Spanish Film for 'Sorda', the director, Eva Libertad, thanked all the people who made the film possible: "From a corner of the Murcian huerta to the Biznaga de Oro, this journey has been possible thanks to the efforts of many filmmakers, administrations and Murcia television. Thank you all for making this dream come true."
 
The Festival de Málaga, organised by Malaga City Council's Department of Culture, once again reaffirms its crucial role in the promotion of Spanish-language cinema, a task made possible thanks to the support of the Andalusian Regional Government, the Malaga Provincial Council and the Ministry of Culture through the ICAA. The event was also supported by sponsors and collaborators such as RTVE, Atresmedia, Repsol, Cervezas Victoria, Iryo, Andalucía Turismo, Fundación La Caixa and Diario Sur.
 
The Festival de Málaga bids farewell until its next edition, which will be held from 6 to 15 March 2026. With this exciting closing ceremony, the event leaves an indelible mark on the Spanish-language film industry and in the hearts of all lovers of the seventh art.