Max Lemcke’s “Five Square Meters,” a socially engaged drama about the

effects of corruption in the Spanish construction industry, won the

best film prize at the 14th Malaga Spanish Film Festival, which

wrapped Saturday. Thesp Fernando Tejero, playing the lead in his first

stab at a non-comedy role, took best actor for the same film as a

housebuyer fighting for his rights.

Awards met with little complaint. But the general feeling around

Competish pics was that quality was down on previous years, with

section featuring a high number of debut and sophomore helmers and few

major players. Regionalism set the tone, with the official section

featuring films in not only Spanish, but also Basque, Catalan and

Galician.

The director’s nod went to Tom Fernandez for “What’s a Bear For?” an

amiable eco-comedy about two brothers waiting for wild bears to

reappear in the woods.

In perhaps the biggest awards surprise, several gongs fell to Alberto

Gorritiberea’s Basque film “Arriya “, about three youngsters from that

region struggling against the weight of local tradition. Pic took best

actress (Begona Maestre), best first feature, and three tech awards.

Best supporting actor went to Jorge Bosch for “Meters”, playing

Tejero’s justice-seeking sidekick, while Geraldine Chaplin, as the

woman who raised the protag siblings in “Bear”, took best supporting

actress. (Chaplin’s daughter Oona also appears in the film.)

Fest’s Zonazine section, displaying edgier items, was won by Martin

Sastre’s campy, entertaining parable about a Uruguayan girl dreaming

of fame in a regional Catholic town. Pic generated controversy on its

Uruguayan release for its depiction of a kissing Jesus. Best

documentary went to Aaron Schock’s “Circus”, about the day-to-day life

of a Mexican roadshow.

Fest ran from 26 March to 2 April.

Complete list of winners at the 14th Malaga Spanish Film Festival:

GOLDEN BIZNAGA

“Five Square Meters” (Max Lemcke)

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

“Catalunya Uber Alles” (Ramon Termens)

CRITICS AWARD

“Five Square Meters” (Max Lemcke)

DIRECTOR

Tom Fernandez (“What’s a Bear For?”)

ACTRESS

Begona Maestre (“Arriya”)

ACTOR

Fernando Tejero (“Five Square Meters”)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Geraldine Chaplin (“What’s a Bear For?”)

SUPPORTING ACTOR

Jorge Bosch (“Five Square Meters”)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Enrique Otero, Miguel de Lira (“Crebinsky”)

AUDIENCE AWARD

“Amigos” (Borja Manso, Marcos Cabota)

ORIGINAL SCORE

Bingen Mendizabal (“Arriya”)

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Gaizka Bourgeuad (“Arriya”)

EDITING

Ángel Hernández Zoido (“What’s a Bear For?”)

COSTUME DESIGN

Saioa Lara (“Arriya”)

ASECAN FIRST FEATURE PRIZE

“Arriya”

SHORT

“Picnic” (Gerardo Herrero)

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

“Circus” (Aaron Schock)

DOCUMENTARY SPECIAL JURY PRIZE

“The Marriage” (Aldo Garay)

LATIN TERRITORY

“Boleto Al Paraíso” ( Gerardo Chijona)

ZONAZINE

“Miss Tacuarembo” (Martin Sastre)