Carlos Saura
Ranked among Europe’s elite filmmakers, Carlos Saura had his greatest impact in the late ’60s and early ’70s when his often politically charged films revitalized Spanish cinema. Like his mentor Luis Buñuel, Saura freely blends reality with the macabre and an often grotesque surrealism to create worlds in which reality is subjective. Saura’s most powerful films came during the last years of Franco’s regime; while he still made important films after the dictator’s death in 1975, many critics regard them as lacking the potency and lasting appeal of the earlier works.
Awards:
- Special Mention, San Sebastian International Film Festival, best short film, 1958, for Cuenca.
- Golden Berlin Bear Award nomination, 1964, for Llanto por un bandido.
- Silver Berlin Bear Award, best director, and Golden Berlin Bear Award nomination, both Berlin International Film Festival, 1966, for La caza.
- Silver Berlin Bear Award, best director, and Golden Berlin Bear Award nomination, both Berlin International Film Festival, 1968, for Peppermint frappe.
- Golden Bear Awardnomination, Berlin International Film Festival, 1969, for La madriguera.
- Jury Prize, Cannes International Film Festival, 1974, for La prima Angelica.
- Grand Prize of the Jury (with others), Cannes International Film Festival, 1976, for Cria cuervos.
- Named film figure of 1977 by jury of Spain’s Luis Bunuel Cinema Prize
- Named director of the year, International Film Guide, 1978
- Special Prize of the Jury, San Sebastian International Film Festival, and Academy Award nomination, best foreign language film,both 1979, for Mama cumple cien años.
- Golden Bear Award, Berlin International Film Festival, 1981, for De prisa, de prisa.
- Best foreign language film, 1985, and Special Jury Prize, MontrealFilm Festival, 1986, all for Carmen.
- Special Jury Prize, Montreal Film Festival, 1986, for El amor brujo and Bodas de sangre.
- International Fantasy Film Award nomination, Fantasporto, best film, 1987, for El amor brujo.
- Golden Palm Award nomination, Cannes International Film Festival, 1988, for El Dorado.
- Golden Berlin Bear Award nomination, Berlin International Film Festival, 1989, for La noche oscura.
- Goya Awards, best director and best screenplay adapted from another source (with Rafael Azcona), both 1991, for Ay, Carmela!.
- Golden Seashell Award nomination, San Sebastian International Film Festival, 1996, for Taxi.
- Best Director Award (with Jun Ichikawa) and Grand Prix des Ameriques nomination, both from the Montreal World Film Festival, 1997, for Pajarico.
- Special Award, Camerimage, 1998, for “film direction with a special visual sensitivity”.
- San Diego Film Critics Society Award, best foreign language film, 1999, for Tango.
- Best Artistic Contribution Award, Ecumenical Prize, People’s Choice Award runner up, and Grand Prix des Ameriques nomination, all from the Montreal World Film Festival, 1999, for Goya en Buredos.
