As Bestas and its main actor Denis Menochet rewarded at the Goya

The film

is the big winner of the Goya ceremony, the Spanish equivalent of the Oscars, which also dedicated Saturday its main actor, the Frenchman Denis Menochet and paid tribute to the director Carlos Saura, who died the day before at 91 years old.

Rodrigo Sorogoyen's feature film, shot with French actors Marina Foïs and Denis Ménochet, won a total of nine awards, including those for best Spanish film, best director and best original screenplay.

Its main actor Denis Menochet, 46, won the prize for best actor.

This is the most important award obtained to date by the French actor, who has worked with filmmakers François Ozon (Peter von Kant), Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious

) and Ridley Scott (

).

Read alsoOur review of As bestas: the land of discord

The film by Sorogoyen, a rising star of Spanish cinema, aged just 40, tells the story of a couple who fell in love with a deprived corner of Galicia, in the north-west of Spain, whose installation arouses the threatening hostility of neighbours.

This feature film inspired by a true story has already been seen by 700,000 spectators.

He had already caused a sensation in May at the Cannes Film Festival, where he was presented out of competition.

"

" of the characters, "

, “explained the director to AFP in Cannes.

The 37th edition of the Goyas was also an opportunity for the world of cinema to pay tribute to the Spanish director Carlos Saura, who died Friday at his home in the Madrid region, to whom was awarded a Goya of honor.

International award for Juliette Binoche

"

" because "

", underlined the president of the Cinema Academy Fernando Méndez-Leite during the ceremony, which was held this year in Seville, in the south of Spain.

An honorary Goya was awarded to the filmmaker's two children and to his wife, actress Eulalia Ramón.

The latter read a message prepared by Carlos Saura in person, thanking those who accompanied him "

".

Died Friday at his home in the Madrid region at the age of 91, the filmmaker, author of around fifty films, including

in 1975, would normally have had to pick up this lifetime achievement award in person.

Read alsoSpanish director Carlos Saura died at the age of 91

Born January 4, 1932 in Huesca (Aragon, north), Carlos Saura is considered a key figure in Spanish cinema, along with Luis Buñuel and Pedro Almodovar.

He received numerous awards during his career, including a Silver Bear in 1966 in Berlin for

.

His latest film,

(the walls speak), was released in early February in Spain, "

", according to the Spanish Film Academy.

The 37th edition of the Goyas also paid tribute to French actress Juliette Binoche, who received an international prize on Saturday evening for "

" in cinema.

Upon receiving her award, the actress sang the tune of

, an emblematic song from the film

by Carlos Saura.

The Spanish filmmaker "

", she assured, before saying in Spanish "

" to receive this "

".

During her forty-year career, Juliette Binoche has starred in many films, including

and

for which she received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.