“The Distinguished Citizen” dominates Platino Awards

PanARMENIAN.Net - Mariano Cohn and Gaston Duprat's The Distinguished Citizen topped the fourth edition of the Platino Awards, the Latin equivalent of the Oscars, The Hollywood Reporter reveals.

An acid comedy set in rural Argentina about a Nobel-winning writer who goes back to his small hometown decades after leaving, the film grabbed best film, best screenplay and best actor for its lead, Oscar Martinez. Martinez had previously won Venice film festival's Coppa Volpi award for best actor.

Spanish auteur Pedro Almodovar won best director for his latest Cannes-entry Julieta, and dedicated his award to the families of disappeared victims of the Spanish Civil War.

Brazilian legend Sonia Braga picked best actress for Kleber Mendonca Filho's Aquarius, which also premiered at Cannes in 2016. Braga is a former recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Platino, which this year was awarded to Blade Runner star Edward James Olmos.

J.A. Bayona's A Monster Calls, starring Sigourney Weaver, Felicity Jones and Liam Neeson took home four Platinos, for editing, sound, art design and cinematography. 2015 Venice-winner From Afar (Lorenzo Vigas) won the Platino for best fictional opera prima.

Organized by EGEDA, the Platino Awards aim to become the Ibero American version of the Oscars, with the involvement of film academies from 23 Spanish-speaking countries, plus Brazil and Portugal.

Held in Madrid, the gala was broadcast to the Americas by TNT, and next year will move to Mexico for its 2018 edition.