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Spanish director Eva Libertad’s debut solo characteristic Deaf (Sorda), astir a deaf female expecting a kid pinch her proceeding partner, has won nan 2026 European Parliament’s LUX Audience Award.
The grant continues a prizewinning tally for nan movie which world premiered successful nan Berlinale’s Panorama conception successful 2025, wherever it was feted pinch nan assemblage grant and nan CICAE arthouse cinema prize.
Since past it has garnered aggregate prizes including Best New Director for Libertad astatine nan Goyas pinch lead character Miriam Garlo, who is deaf, winning Best Actress, and co-star Álvaro Cervantes, Best Supporting Actor, successful nan prestigious Spanish awards.
The LUX Prize was created successful 2007 pinch nan purpose of supporting films which raise consciousness of socio-political issues successful Europe arsenic good arsenic to promote nan distribution of European films passim nan region and worldwide. The winning movie is chosen by combining a nationalist ballot and a ballot by MEPs, each weighted astatine 50%.
“The LUX Audience Award shines a ray connected films that unfastened our eyes to experiences beyond our own. This year’s winner, Deaf, does precisely that – pinch courage, warmth, and uncommon authenticity. Director Eva Libertad gives america an unforgettable model into nan life of a deaf female navigating motherhood successful a world not built for her,” said European Parliament vice-president Sabine Verheyen astatine nan grant ceremonial successful Brussels connected Tuesday evening.
“Led by a stunning capacity from deaf actress Miriam Garlo, nan movie challenges america to perceive otherwise and to build a Europe wherever nary 1 is near unheard.”
The different short-listed films were Brendan Canty’s Christy, Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just An Accident, Anna Cazenave Cambet’s Love Me Tender and Joachim Trier’s Best International Feature Film Oscar-winner Sentimental Value.
The inaugural besides supports nan distribution successful Europe of each nan shortlisted films by providing subtitles successful 24 European Union languages. This year, for nan first clip and keeping pinch Parliament’s committedness to accessibility, shortlisted films person subtitles for nan deaf and difficult of hearing.
“I dream that this grant will thief to attraction connected nan Deaf community, and nan diverseness of group successful Europe, and to beforehand inclusion policies that amended their surviving conditions. I americium besides assured that it will lend to nine changing its position of diversity, that it will nary longer beryllium seen arsenic a problem and that it will beryllium perceived arsenic quality wealth”, said Libertad.
The movie was produced by Distinto Films, Nexus CreaFilms and A Contracorriente Films. Sold internationally by Latido Films, it has been released successful much than 40 countries worldwide.
“This bonzer winning movie that is not conscionable a worthy victor of this prestigious award, it is simply a textbook illustration of really to get audiences into cinemas to watch inspiring European films and promote them to prosecute successful debates astir Europe – raising consciousness of immoderate of Europe’s social, governmental and humanities issues, and they reflecting nan beauty and diverseness of European cinema,” said Mike Downey, Honorary President of nan action panel.
