‘Maspalomas’ Wins Top Prize at Sonoma Film Festival

The 29th Sonoma Intl. Film Festival wrapped March 29 with Spanish film “Maspalomas” winning the Grand Jury Award for best narrative feature. In a statement, the jury noted that directors Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga’s film was “an authentic and rare depiction of an elder man confronting personal and physical crisis at the onset of the COVID pandemic” in this “nuanced and moving queer drama.”

Over five days, SIFF presented 104 films from 37 countries, mixed with filmmaker talks, panels (with guests including Barry Jenkins and Lulu Wang) and culinary pop-ups in the picturesque Northern California town. Filmmaker and artist Julian Schnabel was on hand to accept the Sonoma Intl. Film Festival Visionary Artist Award with a screening of his film “In the Hand of Dante,” with special guest Tom Waits.

“This year’s record-breaking attendance and ticket sales underscore the extraordinary appetite for bold, international cinema and immersive cultural experiences here in Sonoma,” said SIFF artistic director Carl Spence. “With packed screenings, dynamic filmmaker engagement, and a festival atmosphere unlike any other, SIFF 2026 has truly been a landmark community celebration of film, food, wine, and fun.”

Filmmaker and artist Julian Schnabel was on hand to accept the Sonoma Intl. Film Festival Visionary Artist Award with a screening of his film “In the Hand of Dante,” with special guest Tom Waits.

Other festival winners include the Special Jury Prize in Directing to Marie-Elsa Sgualdo for “Silent Rebellion” (Switzerland). The jury cited the film’s “unflinching portrayal of a virtuous teen in WWII era Europe.”

The Grand Jury Award for documentary feature prize went to “State of Firsts,” from U.S. helmer Chase Joynt.

“This year, the jury wants to recognize a film that represents what authentic truth looks like among the squalor of our politics,” said the jury in a statement. “The award-winning film is a nuanced portrait of leadership and responsibility that also provides a clear and honest account of the challenges and apparent harms that come from seeking to change the world. The language of change is complex, and sometimes it’s as simple as using the right name. The jury is honored to platform a story that showcases the wholeness of a person in an industry and society so quick to tokenize”

SIFF also screened 47 short films in its official selection, which competed for three awards.

“A Very Normal Seeming Man,” directed by Al Pattanashetty (U.S.), won the Grand Jury Award: Live Action Short, while “Voices From the Abyss,” directed by Irving Serrano and Victor Rejon (Mexico) earned the Documentary Short honors. “Two Black Boys in Paradise,” directed by Baz Sells (U.K.) took the Animated Short prize.

The festival opened with Maude Apatow’s Toronto Intl. Film Festival hit “Poetic License,” while the Centerpiece Film, Steven Soderbergh’s Ian McKellen-starrer “The Christophers,” won the Stolman Audience Award for Best Film. The A3 Audience Award for Best Documentary went to “Jane Elliott Against the World,” directed by Judd Ehrlich (U.S.).

Other awards include:

Special Mention for Cultural, Environmental and Community Impact: “Abalone Stories: Loss, Connection, Renewal,” from Cynthia Abbott (U.S.)

Special Jury Mention for Directing: “Domingo Familiar,” directed by Gerardo del Razo (Mexico)