Andorran Laia Ateca Wins European Film Award for Sirat Production Design

Andorran filmmaker Laia Ateca received the European Film Award for best production design—also referred to as art direction—for her contributions to *Sirat*, directed by Oliver Laxe, at the 38th ceremony on Saturday in Berlin, home to the European Film Academy.

The Spanish film, starring Sergi López, entered with a leading nine nominations and claimed five technical awards: production design for Ateca; cinematography for Mauro Herce; sound design for Laia Casanovas, Amanda Villavieja and Yasmina Praderas; editing for Cristóbal Fernández; and casting direction, with Bon Dia naming recipients Nadia Acimi, Luís Bértolo and María Rodrigo. *Sirat* did not secure any major prizes, including best film, director, actor or screenplay.

Norway's *Sentimental Value*, directed by Joachim Trier, dominated with six wins: best film, best director, best actor for Stellan Skarsgård (who competed against López), best actress for Renate Reinsve, best screenplay for Eskil Vogt, and best score.

The gala included political notes, with speeches from Iranian director Jafar Panahi addressing his country's crisis and Norwegian filmmaker Liv Ullmann discussing global unrest.

Ateca, who has earned prior awards and nominations for *Sirat*, called the achievement thrilling. Speaking to *Altaveu*, she said the nomination among elite films already felt like a win, and taking the prize was "incredible". She praised the jury's appreciation for the film's "special and bold" qualities, and highlighted Berlin's atmosphere of "camaraderie and love for cinema" among nominees.

Fresh off a Jury Prize at Cannes, *Sirat* and *Sentimental Value* both await possible Oscar nods for best international feature, with Hollywood Academy nominations due this Thursday. Ateca is also a finalist for best art direction at the 18th Gaudí Awards on 8 February at Barcelona's Liceu.