Catalan co-production 'Sirât' nominated for two Oscars

The Catalan co-production 'Sirât', directed by Óliver Laxe, has been nominated for two awards at the 98th Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, as announced on Thursday from Los Angeles.

'Sirât' has been nominated for Best International Feature Film and Best Sound.

It had been shortlisted for three other Oscars: Best Cinematography, Casting, and Original Score. The movie was selected by Spain to represent the country in September and was shortlisted in December.

'Sirât' joined 14 other films from around the world in the shortlist of the Best International Feature Film category, including Joachim Trier's 'Sentimental Value' (Norway) and Jafar Panahi's 'It Was Just an Accident' (France).

The film will now compete against Brazil's 'The Secret Agent,' France's 'It Was Just an Accident,' Norway's 'Sentimental Value,' and Tunisia's 'The Voice of Hind Rajab.' 

For Best Sound, Amanda Villavieja, Laia Casanovas, and Yasmina Praderas will compete against movies such as 'F1,' 'Frankenstein,' 'One Battle After Another,' and 'Sinners.'

"If you make a film, you’ve already won"

Laxe called the film’s two Oscar nominations "a bonus" and "an award” he did not expect.

"In art, there are no winners or losers; if you make a film, you've already won," Laxe told the Catalan News Agency (ACN) and public broadcaster TV3 following the Academy’s announcement.

Speaking in Catalan, the Parisian-born Galician director said the nominations would mean "more freedom" for the films he undertakes in the future.

"Sirât is a very bold, radical and daring film; it wasn't made to seek consensus or to win an Oscar, which is why we're so happy,” he added, before thanking everyone who has supported the project, particularly in Catalonia.

Nominations

The film had also been nominated for two Golden Globes: Best Motion Picture—Non-English and Best Original Score. However, during the awards ceremony, the movie lost to 'The Secret Agent' and 'Sinners.'

'Sirât', already honored with the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, has also been awarded five trophies at the European Film Awards. Laxe's production has also secured 11 Goya Awards nominations and 12 Gaudí nominations.

This Catalan co-production tells the story of a man’s journey through the desert to find his daughter in an apocalyptic world of raves. Explosive, hypnotic, and featuring an incredible soundtrack, the film captivates from start to finish.

The main character is portrayed by Catalan Sergi López, who is also a contender for many Best Actor awards for his performance in this film.

The movie, considered one of the must-watch films of the year, is available in Spain on Movistar+ and is still playing in several cinemas.