With Sirat, Oliver Lax, the Film Academy has completed the list of titles that aspire to represent Spain in the category of Best International FilmThe final choice will be announced on September 17, a date marked in red for a career in which Laxe's film has been gaining attention after its screening at Cannes and its reception in theaters.
They weigh in their favor the Jury Prize at Cannes, the interest of the American press and a launch in USA by the hand of NeonThis combo, without much fanfare, consolidates Sirat as an option with notable traction, while the sector calibrates its fit into the new Hollywood Academy.
Sirat: Keys to her candidacy
Among the arguments that explain its drive, it stands out that its condition of radical bet is not a disadvantage today: voices from the production underline that the renewed Hollywood Academy It is more open to bold proposals and authorial perspectives that connect outside of conventional circuits.
In addition to Laxe's personal stamp, the film benefits from the industrial support of El Deseo and a strategy of campaign with experience: producer Esther GarcÃa has announced that they will replicate intense groundwork, with the American distribution already secured by Neon to maximize visibility among voters.
The team insists that the support of Cannes continues to open doors: it is perceived that the international critical and media tuning, reinforced by its presence in pools of US media, helps the film to be understood and circulate freely during awards season.
Festival and box office reception
The ribbon was raised with the Jury Prize en Cannes , a boost that immediately placed her on the international radar. Criticism and public They have highlighted its immersive nature and the power of its atmosphere, elements that have made it a topic of conversation beyond the film circuit.
During its run in Spanish cinemas, Sirat has shown commercial lung: has exceeded 2,5 million euros of collection and has approached the 400.000 viewers, unusual figures for a title with an authorial profile, sustained by word of mouth and its continuity in the poster.
The external projection also counts: after premiering in France, Germany, Portugal y Czech Republic, the film will land in November in the United States with Neon and will go through high profile appointments such as Toronto o New York, a common tool for entering into awards talks.
What 'Sirat' is about
The story follows a father, played by Sergi López, and his youngest son on a journey through the Moroccan raves Searching for a missing young woman. Between mountains and desert, the journey becomes a physical and emotional journey, with electronic music as a backdrop and the gaze of two strangers facing an unknown territory.
On that journey emerge wounded characters, ephemeral communities, and a landscape that, at once intoxicating, imposes distance. The film explores the clash between the need to belong and the impulse to disappear, themes Laxe addresses with a hypnotic mise-en-scène.
Essential sheet: Address: Oliver Laxe; Distribution: Bruno Núñez, Richard Bellamyun, Sergi López, Stefania Gadda; Duration: 120 min; Gender: drama with a thriller pulse; Nationality: Spain; Language: Spanish; Qualification: not recommended for children under 12 years of age; Premiere in Spain: 6 June of 2025.
Calendar and next steps
The Film Academy will announce the September 17 What film will represent Spain before the Academy. Then comes the filter of the shortlist and the final nomination vote. The gala at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles is scheduled for March 15th 2026.
The historical context adds motivation: the last Spanish victory in this category was Into the sea (2005). With recent ups and downs, this year's candidacy seeks to combine authorial identity and global reach, two attributes that Sirat has put it clearly on the table.
With this background —top prize at Cannes, international tour, campaign muscle and a story with personality— Sirat faces the final stretch with tangible options; if it is ultimately not chosen, it will still have consolidated one of the decisive titles of the year for Spanish cinema.