Spanish film producer and director Gerardo Herrero has been named winner of the Premio Elías Querejeta 2026, an honor awarded by Spain's Academia de Cine (Spanish Film Academy). The prize will be presented on September 22 during the San Sebastián Film Festival.
Herrero said he received the news as an honor and said it filled him with joy and pride to carry the name of his personal friend Elías Querejeta. He also stressed how demanding and ever changing the filmmaking profession remains.
On What Makes a Good Production
In a statement, Herrero said he did not know what the perfect production looked like, and did not believe such a thing existed, because there is always room for improvement. He said what does exist are well produced films, ones that tell the best possible stories and leave the people behind them feeling proud.
Herrero also addressed the difficulties facing Spain's independent film sector, describing it as a profitable business for very few. He said that today independent producers survive rather than profit, fighting not to lose ground and simply to stay afloat rather than to make money.
Who Was Elías Querejeta
The award is named after Elías Querejeta, an influential Spanish film producer who ran his own production company and backed some of the most acclaimed films to come out of Spain during the late twentieth century, working with directors including Carlos Saura and Víctor Erice. He died in 2013, and the Academia de Cine created the prize in his memory to honor figures who have shaped Spanish cinema through their production work.
The San Sebastián Film Festival, where the award will be presented, is one of the oldest film festivals in the world and one of the most prestigious events on the European film calendar, held every September in the Basque coastal city since 1953.
A Career Spanning More Than 180 Films
Herrero is the founder of the production company Tornasol Films and has produced more than 180 feature films over the course of his career. His credits include "El secreto de sus ojos," which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, as well as "El hijo de la novia," "Martín (Hache)," "Tierra y libertad," "Balada triste de trompeta" and "El reino."
Born in Madrid, Herrero also served as president of the Academia de Cine in 1994, taking over the role following the death of actor Fernando Rey, who had been the Academy's first president and was known internationally for his work with director Luis Buñuel.
Now in its fourth edition, the Premio Elías Querejeta recognizes Herrero's work developing co-productions between Spain and Latin America.
