THE ACTOR HONOURED AT THE 54TH HUESCA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL CONFESSES THE DECISIVE INFLUENCE THE CALANDA-BORN FILMMAKER HAD ON HIS YOUTH
THE CATALAN PERFORMER SAYS HIS REFERENCES SPAN ALL OF ARAGÓN, CITING FRANCISCO DE GOYA AND CARLOS SAURA
THE FOUR-TIME GOYA AWARD WINNER AND 2025 NATIONAL Film AWARD RECIPIENT HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF SCREENWRITERS IN THE INDUSTRY AND LAMENTS THE LIMITED RECOGNITION THEY RECEIVE
Catalan actor Eduard Fernández, one of the leading figures in Spanish cinema and the recipient of four Goya Awards, making him one of the most decorated performers recognised by the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Spain, received the Luis Buñuel Award at the 54th Huesca International Film Festival. The actor described the distinction as extraordinary: “To add Buñuel to my career, or to suggest that we might have something in common, is almost embarrassing for me to say. It is an honour, and I am not joking. I believe he is one of the greatest film directors in the history of world cinema and someone who has influenced me since my adolescence. If I work in film today, it is because of Buñuel, and that is something I have never said before.”
During a conversation with writer and filmmaker Luis Alegre that filled the Blue Hall of the Casino in the city of Huesca, the actor revealed that the “genius from Calanda” shaped his youth and sparked his passion for cinema. “I was 14 or 15 years old, searching for my place in the world. I felt it was somewhere in the arts, and when I watched Land Without Bread, Viridiana and, above all, Un Chien Andalou, which completely astonished me, I felt vertigo. I began to understand what cinema could do,” he explained.
Fernández studied film directing for two years “because of Buñuel. Don Luis inspired my love and curiosity for cinema, so being here in Huesca receiving this award is truly an honour.” His career spans film, theatre and television, achieving both critical and commercial success across all three fields.
The actor, known for films such as El 47, Marco and While at War, explained that Buñuel’s influence is also present in The Other, a short film written, directed and starring Fernández himself, which forms part of the tribute gala dedicated to him. “I had an image in my mind that had a great deal to do with Don Luis, with Un Chien Andalou. There was a surrealist element to it: a man chasing himself while being chased by himself on a journey with no return. I dared to film it, if only to experience what directing is like, where to place the camera, then edit the footage. It is something I enjoy enormously.”
During the discussion, Fernández broadened the conversation to include other Aragonese creators who have shaped his artistic universe. “Buñuel, from Teruel, is one of my great references, but so are Goya, from Zaragoza, and Carlos Saura, from Huesca, so in a way I cover all of Aragón,” he said. Speaking of the painter from Fuendetodos, he remarked that seeing his work still leaves him overwhelmed: “It gives you goosebumps; it is absolutely extraordinary,” adding that he would love to portray him on screen. As for Saura, Fernández noted that the filmmaker’s extensive body of work “blew all our minds.”
The actor also reflected on the creative process behind filmmaking and championed the value of collective effort. “Cinema is a team endeavour,” he said, emphasising the importance of every profession involved in a production. However, he paused to highlight a figure he believes remains unfairly overlooked within the industry: “Screenwriters are sadly and unjustly forgotten in this country, and writing is the hardest part. I simply do not understand how we keep making that mistake,” he lamented.
