The 13th edition of the Platino Awards, held in Riviera Maya, Mexico, left a bittersweet taste for Spanish cinema. With thirteen awards out of a possible 35, the Spanish delegation surpassed Argentina (eleven) and Brazil (nine) in the number of prizes. However, the night belonged to Brazil thanks to The Secret Agent, by Kleber Mendonça, which took home the highest honors: Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay.
The technical engine behind Ibero-American cinema 🎬
The diversity of narrative and production techniques was key in this edition. While Spain stood out for its strength in visual effects and art direction, Brazil demonstrated mastery of digital composition and surround sound in The Secret Agent. The film used complex long takes and a soundtrack integrated with timecode to synchronize action and emotion. Argentina, for its part, opted for natural lighting and shooting on real locations, reducing post-production costs. Technical competition is intensifying, and countries are investing more in cinematic R&D to compete globally.
Those who win at the Platino Awards and those who pay for the WiFi in Riviera Maya 🌐
While filmmakers celebrated their statuettes, event attendees debated the venue's internet connection. Because yes, winning thirteen awards is great, but downloading the making of your favorite movie in 4K with the hotel WiFi is another feat. And while Brazil takes home the big prizes, the Spanish console themselves by thinking that at least their streaming servers didn't crash during the gala. The real drama isn't on the red carpet, but in the queue for the open buffet.