2024 MPA Awards Go Global, Recognizing Spain’s Vibrant Film and TV Industry
Director Juan Antonio Bayona Receives MPA Creator Award, European Investment Bank Group President Nadia Calviño Receives MPA Industry Champion Award, Spanish National Police Receives Inaugural MPA Creative Protector Award
June 28, 2024
MADRID – The Motion Picture Association today presented its 2024 MPA Awards to leaders from Spain’s creative, policy and law enforcement communities – all of them key pillars in strengthening the country’s vibrant creative sector and defending the global film, TV and streaming industry.
Leading off the event was Juan Antonio Bayona, the award-winning film and TV director, who received the MPA Creator Award for his stellar career delivering stunning creative masterpieces to audiences worldwide.
Nadia Calviño, former First Vice President of Spain and current president of the European Investment Bank Group, received the MPA Industry Champion Award for her leadership in the development and implementation of Spain’s “Audiovisual Hub.”
For the first time, the MPA presented the Creative Protector Award to honor an individual or organization whose work has been vital to combating digital piracy. The 2024 MPA Creative Protector Award went to the Spanish National Police; Francisco Pardo, the police force’s Director-General, accepted the award on their behalf.
Reflecting the industry’s global reach, the MPA Awards ceremony took place for the first time outside the United States. All three honorees attended the ceremony, held at the Byne House in Madrid. The event was co-hosted by MPA Chairman and CEO Charles Rivkin and U.S. Ambassador to Spain Julissa Reynoso.
“This year’s MPA Awards pay tribute to a fundamental truth about cinema: our industry is global in its reach and impact, and its champions in Spain exemplify what it means to promote film, protect the rights of storytellers, and inspire audiences worldwide,” said Rivkin. “I could not be prouder to honor three leaders who are making Spain a prime destination for production, a pathbreaking pioneer in advancing the rule of law, and a key source of extraordinary storytelling.”
Reynoso said the U.S. Embassy is delighted to partner with the MPA and Spanish authorities to support an industry that “creates jobs, strengthens businesses, and enriches communities in both our countries.”
“The MPA Awards celebrate Spain as a society that appreciates the power of cinema and welcomes local and global filmmakers to its shores,” she said. “We have the honor tonight of recognizing a few of our Spanish partners who are outstanding representatives of the dedication we see across the country to continue to build this economically critical industry. It is important that our governments support this industry for the positive economic impact it brings to our countries.”
Last year’s honorees were MPA Creator Award winner Gina Prince-Bythewood and MPA Industry Champion Award winners Claudia Sheinbaum, the newly elected President of Mexico, and U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
One of Spain’s most acclaimed filmmakers, Bayona’s debut film The Orphanage premiered at the Festival de Cannes in 2007. His 2012 film The Impossible won five Goya Awards, including Best Director. In 2016 he directed A Monster Calls, followed by Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. His latest film, the Oscar-nominated Society of the Snow, won 12 Goya Awards and is widely celebrated for its deep humanism and technical prowess.
“I want to thank the MPA for recognizing my creative work, which I hope stirs new ideas that cause people to think and feel differently. As filmmakers, we try to tell stories that matter, stories that can make a real difference in the world,” said Bayona. “I’ve devoted my career to creating films that make a real difference, and I deeply appreciate the MPA for honoring my efforts.”
Calviño consistently promoted policies in Spain that support the film, television, and streaming industry through her efforts as First Vice President and Minister of Economy and Digital Transformation to promote the Spain Audiovisual Hub and establish the nation as a leading international destination for investment and global production and shows the Spanish government’s strategic vision and commitment with film, TV and streaming industry.
Reports show international production shoots brought 196 million Euros in investment to Spain in 2023, creating more than 10,000 jobs and generating 55.5 million Euros in wages. Additionally, employment in the audiovisual sector has surged, with film production generating 62,000 roles in the last quarter of 2023. The Hub’s data shows 37% growth over the past year), positioning Spain as a leader in audiovisual production in Europe.
“I’m really honored to be recognized by the MPA for my unwavering support to the audiovisual industry. It is a key sector with strong value added to our economy, our society and culture,” Calviño said. “The MPA Award shows the importance of championing the arts, and I look forward to continuing to support talent, innovation and diversity in my new position as President of the EIB.”
The Spanish National Police has effectively combatted piracy for decades and has been a pioneer in the prosecution of intellectual property infringement in Europe. The police force created its first specialized IP protection group in the 1980s. Today, the force has more people investigating IP crime than any other European nation, and they are currently partnering with the MPA on multiple anti-piracy operations across Spain.
“As we celebrate our 200th anniversary, the Spanish National Police continues to expand our ability to combat the evolving menace of digital piracy, which drains Spain’s economy, endangers our citizens and poses an existential threat to our creative community,” said Pardo. “We are proud of our successful efforts on this front, and we thank the MPA for recognizing this important work.”
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About The Motion Picture Association
The Motion Picture Association (MPA) serves as the leading voice and advocate of the motion picture, home video, and television industries. It works in every corner of the globe to advance the creative industry, protect its members’ content across all screens, defend the creative and artistic freedoms of storytellers, and support innovative distribution models that bring an expansion of viewing choices to audiences around the world. Its member studios are: Netflix, Paramount Global, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, The Walt Disney Studios, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Charles Rivkin is Chairman and CEO.
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