The Spanish film Sorda, directed by Eva Libertad, has obtained the LUX 2026 Audience Award, the award promoted by the European Parliament that recognizes the best European cinema based on the joint vote of citizens from across the European Union and also MEPs.
The award, organized in collaboration with the European Film Academy, the European Commission and the Europa Cinemas network, has consolidated itself as one of the main platforms for the dissemination of contemporary European cinema, focused on works that address common values such as inclusion, equality or human dignity.
Deaf, an intimate story that has connected with Europe
Deaf is a Spanish production from 2025 that tells the story of a deaf mother who faces the challenges of raising her child in an environment that is not adapted to her needs.
The film, which was already recognized at the Berlin Festival and at the Malaga Festival, has been awarded for its human approach and its ability to address functional diversity from an emotional and social perspective.
The film has competed alongside four other European productions selected for their artistic quality and thematic relevance, in an edition attended by around 1,200 attendees and which has once again placed cinema as a tool for reflection on the great social debates of the continent.
A prize decided by the European public
The LUX Prize is distinguished by its open voting system. The final result depends as much on the public's vote as on that of the MEPs, which turns the process into an exercise in cultural participation on a European scale.
The screenings of the nominated films are being held in the 27 Member States, in free sessions organized by the European Parliament, and for the first time all the works have subtitles in the 24 official languages of the EU, with the aim of guaranteeing universal access.
The citizens have been able to rate the films through the platform luxaward.eu, directly contributing to the choice of the winner.
European cinema as a mirror of common values
Since its creation, the LUX Prize has established itself as an initiative to promote the dissemination of quality European cinema and give visibility to stories that reflect the foundational values of the European Union, such as democracy, equality, justice, or inclusion.
In the 2026 edition, the strong presence of social dramas and intimate stories reinforces that editorial line, in which Deaf has managed to position itself as one of the most outstanding proposals.
And in that sense, the victory of Sorda represents a new impulse for Spanish cinema within the European panorama that consolidates its presence in a competition that each year gains greater relevance and citizen participation.