The FlixOlé Awards celebrate their new edition in Madrid

Ginés Miñano

The ceremony was hosted by journalist Lucía Piñar, who opened the gala by highlighting "the excellent state of cinema in 2025" and noting that filmmaking "goes beyond films, encompassing publications, programs, educational spaces, and the research conducted each year at universities." She also emphasized the value of these innovative initiatives that connect with new generations and provide tools for industry professionals.

Later, Mario Rajas, director of the Spanish Cinema Chair of FlixOlé and the Rey Juan Carlos University, recalled “the spirit in which the awards were conceived, to recognize essential professions such as journalism, criticism and film historiography, as well as to bring the academic production that arises in the faculties closer to the industry.”

The Rector of URJC, Abraham Duarte, thanked the promoters of the initiative and presented the award for Best Final Degree Project to Esther Muñoz Sánchez for her study on the representation of women in the art direction of Spanish cinema. He emphasized that this recognition “reflects the learning, research, and knowledge transfer work carried out by the university.”

Among the other award winners were Eduard Grañana, for best Master's thesis; Fernando Sánchez López, for best doctoral dissertation; Minerva Campos Rabadán, for best scientific article; and Begoña Piña, who received a special award for a specialized article. Also recognized were Concepción Cascajosa for a research book; Miguel Marías for a work dedicated to Spanish cinema; José Pastor for his work in audiovisual research; María Guerra for the radio program La Script; and Yolanda Flores for the RNE program De Película. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presentation of the special award for lifetime achievement to Conxita Casanovas, presented by filmmaker Fernando Trueba.

The gala concluded with remarks from Enrique Cerezo, owner of FlixOlé, who celebrated the consolidation of these awards “as a necessary space to strengthen the link between research and the industry.” He emphasized the importance of studying, disseminating, and analyzing the Spanish cinematic legacy, stating that “understanding this legacy is essential to preserving it and inspiring future generations, because knowing our cinema is caring for it, and caring for it ensures that we continue to be inspired for many more generations. Thank you for keeping the love for Spanish cinema alive.”