Spanish Film 'Sorda' by Eva Libertad Wins Audience Award at Berlin, Multiple Goya Prizes

The Spanish film 'Sorda' ('Deaf'), directed by Eva Libertad, has won the Audience Award in the Panorama section at the Berlin International Film Festival and received multiple Goya Awards in 2026, Spain's top film honors. The film follows Angela, a deaf potter, and her hearing partner Hector as they navigate pregnancy and parenthood. Angela communicates through lip-reading and sign language, and her hands are described as her 'voice.' The role is played by Miriam Garlo, Libertad's sister, who is also deaf in real life but not a mother; the two collaborated to create a character with 'a different timbre of voice.' The film explores themes of inclusion, difference, and the challenges of raising a hearing child as a deaf parent, including concerns about hearing the baby cry and communicating in sign language. The birth scene is noted for its visceral depiction of the hearing world's insensitivity. The film features a warm, reassuring setting with a sunlit garden, a dog named Luka, and chickens. It includes subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing and will be available with audio description. The cast includes Álvaro Cervantes as Hector. The film originated as a short and is the first sign-language work nominated for a Goya. It was released in French theaters on April 29, 2026.