GOYA WINNER AND GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENT FOR MERIT IN THE FINE ARTS, SHE BOASTS A FILMOGRAPHY OF OVER ONE HUNDRED TITLES UNDER THE DIRECTION OF FILMMAKERS SUCH AS GONZALO SUÁREZ, MONTXO ARMENDÁRIZ, IMANOL URIBE, AND MARIO CAMUS
THE TRIBUTE WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY, JUNE 10, AND WILL INCLUDE A PUBLIC MEETING, A GALA, AND A SCREENING OF THE DOCUMENTARY ME CUESTA HABLAR DE MÍ ABOUT HER CAREER
THE FESTIVAL IS PROUD TO HONOR “ONE OF THE GREAT SPANISH ACTRESSES, WHO ALSO MET THE GENIUS OF CALANDA AND CAME CLOSE TO WORKING WITH HIM ON THE MILKY WAY
The 53rd Huesca International Film Festival will present Charo López with the Luis Buñuel Award on June 10, 2025. She won a Goya Award for Secrets of the Heart, and was nominated for The Most Natural Thing. Her accolades include four Fotogramas de Plata, the CEC Medal for El hueso, the Sant Jordi Career Achievement Award, and the Gold Medal for Merit in the Fine Arts, among many others—establishing her as, in the words of Festival Director Estela Rasal, “a talent that defined an era.” With around 60 films, 40 TV series, and 20 stage productions to her name, she has been described as “a symbol of light at the end of Francoism’s tunnel.”
Charo López has worked with acclaimed directors such as Gonzalo Suárez (who gave her her debut), Montxo Armendáriz, Mario Camus, Vicente Aranda, Imanol Uribe, and Pedro Almodóvar. She nearly worked with Buñuel on The Milky Way, but French actor unions pressured for the role of the Virgin to go to a French actress. Her life in film will be celebrated in Huesca through events that highlight her legacy. On Tuesday, June 10, she will sit down with writer and film expert Luis Alegre for an intimate public talk, where stories, insights, and reflections will be shared.
That evening, the tribute gala will take place at 10:00 PM at Teatro Olimpia. Alongside celebrating her work and her contribution to Spanish cinema, the event will include the screening of the documentary Me cuesta hablar de mí, which traces over 50 years of her life and career and more than 100 titles.
She now joins a prestigious list of past Luis Buñuel Award recipients, including Terry Gilliam, Bertrand Tavernier, Marisa Paredes, Stephen Frears, Carlos Saura, Ángela Molina, Jean-Claude Carrière, Costa-Gavras, Álex de la Iglesia, the Taviani brothers, Isabel Coixet, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, and most recently, Victoria Abril and Víctor Erice.
A BEACON IN THE TRANSITION OF SPANISH CINEMA
Charo López (Salamanca, October 28, 1943) discovered her vocation at the age of 17. While studying Philosophy and Literature in her hometown, she began performing with the Spanish University Theatre. During her time as a teacher, she met filmmaker Gonzalo Suárez, who offered her a role in Ditirambo (1967), marking the beginning of her film career. She went on to collaborate with Suárez on seven other feature films and has since worked in numerous productions alongside Spain’s most celebrated directors.
Spanish writer and journalist Manuel Vicent once described her as “a symbol of light at the end of Francoism’s tunnel.” On television, she portrayed Mauricia in Fortunata y Jacinta (1980), but it was her role as Clara Aldán in Los gozos y las sombras (1982) that made her a household name and propelled her into further success in cinema.
Her filmography includes titles such as The Hive by Mario Camus, Lost Paradises by Basilio Martín Patino, Time of Silence by Vicente Aranda, The Most Natural Thing by Josefina Molina, Kika by Pedro Almodóvar, Anima by Titus Leber, Plenilunio by Imanol Uribe, and more recently Baby by Juanma Bajo Ulloa.
López also gained recognition in Latin America, touring Argentine stages in the late ’80s with Una jornada particular and Hay que deshacer la casa. In Spain, her theatrical impact was significant with Let’s Have Sex in Peace (based on the work by Dario Fo) and her acclaimed monologue Ojos de agua, inspired by La Celestina.
In 1997, she dazzled audiences with her portrayal of María in Secrets of the Heart, directed by Montxo Armendáriz, which earned her the Goya Award for Best Supporting Actress and was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 70th Academy Awards. More recently, she has appeared in TV series, feature films such as Baby by Juanma Bajo Ulloa, and short films like Alas de tiniebla, which reunited her with Gonzalo Suárez and premiered at the Huesca International Film Festival.
Her accolades include the Honorary Spike from the Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci), the Ercilla Theatre Award, four Fotogramas de Plata, the Circle of Cinematographic Writers Medal, the Actors Union Award, the Sant Jordi Career Achievement Award, three TP de Oro awards, and the National Nacho Martínez Film Award from the Gijón International Film Festival.
