Three Spanish films picked as pre-candidates for Oscars 2021

A total of 58 full-length feature films – 22 more than for the 2020 edition – were gunning for a place in the top three semi-finalists competing for Best International Film Award, and the Oscars next April could be the second on the trot with productions from Spain in the running, after a 16-year absence.

This year, cult director Pedro Almodóvar's semi-autobiographical Dolor y Gloria ('Pain and Glory') was nominated for Best International Film and its lead player, Antonio Banderas, up for Best Actor – the first time Spain made it to the last leg of the contest since The Others' director Alejandro Amenábar reached the final in 2004 with Mar Adentro ('The Sea Inside'), starring Skyfall villain Javier Bardem.

Nominee for the 2020 Goya for Best Direction for its creator Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia this year, and winner of Best Special Effects, El Hoyo ('The Platform') is one of the three pre-candidates for next year's Oscars.

In a far-off future, prisoners are kept in vertical cells and witness how inmates of the ones above are eaten by those below when extreme hunger strikes in a 'survival-of-the-fittest' thriller where there are 'only three types of person', according to FilmAffinity: those above, those below, and those who decide to jump out.

Belén Cuesta won Best Lead Actress at the Goyas for La Trinchera Infinita ('The Infinite Trench'), which also notched up a string of nominations and is now in the running for Best International Film Oscar.

When the Spanish Civil War breaks out in 1936, Higinio (Antonio de la Torre) hides in his home, terrified of being shot by dictator General Franco's supporters – but does not leave the house again for 33 years, until 1969. During this time, his ordeal is shared by his wife Rosa (Belén Cuesta).

The film is based upon the true story of the mayor of Mijas (Málaga province), Manuel Cortés, who lived hidden at home for three decades during Spain's Second Republic and whose tale eventually became known through the 2011 documentary, 30 Años de Oscuridad ('30 Years of Darkness').

These two are up against the Galicia-based film which won a Goya for Best New Actress for Benedicta Sánchez and Best Photographic Direction for Mauro Herce, and a nomination for Best Direction for Óliver Laxe – O Que Arde ('Fire Will Come', pictured above), focuses on a serial arsonist who is released from prison at the end of his string of sentences and plans to settle down to a quiet life with his mother (Benedicta) and her dog.

But a spate of major forest fires across the north-western region of Galicia leads to the finger being pointed at the convicted arsonist – whether or not he is behind the mass destruction will become clear over the course of the film.