Producer Jose Maria Morales was absolutely stunned when he heard Alejandro Amenabar call out the name of his film for the third time on Goya Awards night. Three nominations and three awards – Best Picture, Best Director for Jaime Rosales, and Best Newcomer Actor for Jose Luis Torrijos – for a film which debuted modestly with little fanfare and with few betting on it. In fact, its director, Jaime Rosales, was hardly recognized by the reporters awaiting the celebrity arrivals on the “green carpet” at the opening of the event. “It’s a huge surprise; thank you very much for supporting a film which, from the radical nature of its message, seeks to touch and connect with the public,” said an emotional Jaime Rosales after the ceremony. The Orphanage, one of the night’s favorites, with 14 nominations, received seven Goya-bust statuettes, including those for Best Newcomer Director for Juan Antonio Bayona and Best Original Screenplay for Sergio G. Sanchez. Las 13 Rosas had to settle for four prizes, one of which went to actor Jose Manuel Cervino in the Best Supporting Actor category. However, if Solitary Fragments caused the biggest sensation of the evening, the awarding of the Goya for Best Actress to Maribel Verdu was one of the most applauded moments of the gala. This award was anticipated as it was uncertain, with Verdu competing with really tough rivals like Emma Suarez, Belen Rueda and her companion actress in the film for which she was awarded, Blanca Portillo. Verdu finally received the recognition she was due, after five nominations from the Spanish Film Academy for her performances in Amantes, La Celestina, La buena estrella, El laberinto del fauno and the film that garnered her the award this year, Siete mesas de billar frances. Maribel Verdu can finally display her Goya-bust statuette in a prominent place in her home. “At last, at last. I deserved it. It’s the culmination of a spectacular year,” stated the actress without any false modesty. She cried it out at the top of her voice from the wings, first alone and then while hugging her great friend, Jose Coronado, from whose hands she received the award. Soon she will be crossing the Big Pond to do shooting for “Tetro” under the direction of Coppola. The award for Best Male Performance went to actor Alberto Sanjuan for playing the saxophonist Benito Lacunza in Bajo las estrellas, a drama whose director, Felix Viscarret, went up to the stage to get his Goya for Best Adapted Script. As always, though, the most emotional moment of the gala was the awarding of the Goya de Honor, this year to Alfredo Landa. The actor, who had been so verbose with the press about the award prior to the big event, could hardly articulate his feelings when he finally took to the stage to collect his prize. “I have so much inside… this Goya de Honor given for my lifetime career is the best award of my life, the one I appreciate the most,” the actor said. With these words, he was able to hit the nail on the head with his voice chocked with emotion, causing anxiety among event organizers and uneasiness among the attending public, which gave him standing ovations several times to support him. The veteran actor concluded with a “last goodbye”, as he is retiring from performing on the big screen. When it comes to anecdotes, it’s always a child who takes a leading role. After the unusual (and slightly repellant) maturity of the little girl Ivana Baquero when receiving the Goya prize, we were able to enjoy a child who behaved like what he is, a child, on the grand night for Spanish cinema. The little Roger Princep, of all of 8-years-old, attended to the journalists with charm and spontaneity upon arrival at the gala. Four hours later, he snorted and tugged on his mother’s sleeve when, at the end of the ceremony, with a miniature Goya replica in-hand, the press chased after him for interviews. Bursting with Glamour With the trains of their designer outfits, long lines of celebrities waited to pose in the photo call, showing off being nominated and invited on the “green carpet”. Spectacularly elegant, as always, Silvia Abascal floated by in a light, flowing dress by designer Roberto Cavalli. Meanwhile, from Dior, and also very elegant, posed actress Barbara Goenaga, nominee for Best Newcomer Actress. Silver was one of the favorite colors of the night. Maribel Verdu, chose it, for example, in a single-shoulder-strap outfit by Alberta Ferretti. Goya Toledo had on a bright and shining dress with ruffles and the novel Manuela Velasco was very pretty, indeed, with strapless dress by Carolina Herrera. The Venezuelan designer was also chosen by some of the most awaited actresses – Belen Rueda, for example, having shined before in a dress by this designer when she won the Goya for The Sea Inside. It didn’t bring her the same luck this year, but she was one of the most admired at the ceremony.