Goya 2024 nominations: the favorite has already repaid the 1.7 million it cost

In the nominations for the 38th edition of the Goya Awards, four films are competing for the majority of the statuettes, as was announced this Thursday. But, without a doubt, ‘20,000 species of bees’ is the one that has the title of great favorite, with no less than 15 nominations. Directed by Estibaliz Urresola, its budget is estimated at slightly more than the 1.7 million euros that the Ministry of Culture managed in 2021. At the box office, so far it has raised 895,440.75 euros, with a total of 156,939 spectators. That is to say, it has practically covered the investment, since the project has public aid of 680,000 euros.

This is a significant milestone, taking into account that Spanish cinema has a historical deficit in terms of return on investment. A debt that, as a result of the pandemic, worsened to the point that in 2021 alone it lost 45% of its box office income. Last year, the figures improved, but one of the worst collection figures so far this century was recorded, with just 77 million euros in total, according to the Ministry of Culture.

This usually means that many films end up investing more than they make. Like, for example, another of the great favorites, ‘Close your eyes’, by Victor Erice, which has earned 440,503 euros in Spain and has had a budget of more than 3 million euros. The case of ‘They know that’, the story of the brilliant Eugenio, which has raised 715,000 euros since its premiere at the beginning of November, and which had a higher budget. It remains to be seen the reception of ‘The Snow Society’, which premieres on December 15.

‘Campeonex’ and ‘Summer Vacation’, the queens… at the box office

It may not be among this year’s Goya favorites (although it has two nominations, Brianaitor for Newcomer Actor and Best Sound) but, without a doubt, the big winner at the box office in 2023 is ‘Campeonex’, with no less than 11.8 million euros. A team that abandons basketball to mistakenly enter the fascinating world of athletics with the help of a rookie coach.

Just behind, ‘Summer Vacation’, by Santiago Segura, is the second highest-grossing film of the year… although it will not be among the Goya nominees. Of course, it has managed to raise 7.4 million euros. On the last step of this particular podium is ‘Mummies’, with 5.9 million euros at the box office.

Returning to the Goya, ‘20,000 species of bees’, Estíbaliz Urresola’s debut film that talks about trans childhood, with 15 nominations, will fight with ‘The Snow Society’ by Juan Antonio Bayona, which has 13, to get the greatest number of statuettes. Hot on its heels are ‘Saben aquell’, by David Trueba, and ‘Cerrar los ojos’, by Víctor Erice, both with 11 nominations, and ‘Un amor’, by Isabel Coixet, with seven. The Goya awards will be presented in Valladolid on February 10 at a gala presented by the directors and screenwriters Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi along with Ana Belén.