Sirat, the film by Oliver Laxe inspired by the rave culture, has received the coveted nomination for Best International Film and Best Sound at the 2026 Oscars, as reported by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the streaming announcement of the films that will compete on March 15 for the famous golden statuettes.
At the Movistar Space on Gran Vía in Madrid, the euphoria of Oliver Laxe and his team could be felt, as they followed the nominations alongside a group of journalists. A happiness that culminated in shouts, applause, and hugs upon learning the two categories in which the Spanish film will compete in the 98th edition of the Oscars.
However, Laxe missed out on one of the categories where he was a favorite: Best Original Score. "Many have told us that our soundtrack was the best of the year, and we are not nominated," he lamented. They also did not receive nominations in the new category of Best Casting, created this year, nor in Best Cinematography.
Surprisingly, Oliver Laxe remained overwhelmingly calm at all times. In the minutes leading up to the nominations, during them - even laughing at the categories where he was not ultimately chosen - and afterwards, with the joy of the good outcome. The calmness of someone who, nominated or not, already considered himself a winner was palpable: "When you try to make an honest film, you already win. Today is a great day, no matter what happens," he had said minutes before the nominations were announced.
Oliver Laxe: "It's our fault that young people don't go to the movies. We've given them white bread, and their palate is no longer accustomed to pure grain bread."
Sirat: Mad Lax or the most desolate and enthusiastic cinema revelation (****)
The Movistar Space was a real celebration, something that worried the organization in the days leading up to it. "What if we set all this up and then we are not nominated for anything?" was the concern that gnawed at the Galician, as his colleagues confessed. But the insecurities dissipated at the moment of truth, and Laxe emerged as the proud father of Sirat: "If we have called you here, it's because we believed we could celebrate something, but we also knew we could leave empty-handed," began Oliver Laxe at his press conference, now as a double nominee. "But we told ourselves that doesn't exist, leaving empty-handed. In art, there are no winners or losers. Making our film, sharing it, is already a success."
He kept his good humor: "It's funny because as the nominations come out in alphabetical order, Sirat was always the last. We are here for the show," he joked.
The two nominations for Sirat at the major film awards are undoubtedly a reason for celebration for all of Spanish cinema. Referring to the archives, Sirat is accompanied by Mar Adentro, Dolor y gloria, and La sociedad de la nieve, each with two nominations. Controversial to say the least, the film already holds the title of the most talked-about in recent months.
"We wanted to extend this celebration to all of Spanish cinema. Things are being done well on many levels. There is a lot of maturity, and it is being recognized abroad. Hopefully, all our colleagues consider this a success because it is," he stated. "From now on, the same, let's continue to enjoy. It's so difficult to share your film... Being here already showcases our work, showcases Spanish cinema, and that is a success."
"Sirat is a film that doesn't take hostages. It's radical, it's bold, and for a film like this to have made it here is very commendable. Being one of the five non-English language films there, and in a year with so much competition... it's incredible," he acknowledged. "Furthermore, the sound is a feat. Do you know the budget of the films we are competing against?" he commented incredulously.
Laxe and his team celebrate the two Oscar nominationsÁngel Navarrete
"Above all, I am excited about the excitement of the people, both in the Spanish film industry, all the colleagues who identify with this film. My neighbors from Ancares, my family, they will be thrilled. The rest is fun, but that's it," he confessed, before answering a question in Galician and announcing that on Sunday, he will return to Pontevedra to face the "and now what?"
The nomination for Best Sound for Sirat also marks a historic milestone: it is the first time that an all-female team has been nominated in this category: Laia Casanovas, Amanda Villavieja, and Yasmina Praderas led the sound in a film where sound was almost the protagonist. "It's fortunate to find women in the mixing room. Little by little, we see female teams, and it's a luxury to combine forces and sensitivity," they emphasized. "It was about time. It shouldn't be so rare to see three women nominated, sometimes the Oscars surpass science fiction."
Before the announcement of the nominations for the 2026 Oscars, Sirat had already made history. Never before had a Spanish film achieved a simultaneous preselection in five categories, as reported by Efe. In addition to aspiring to the nomination for Best International Film, competing against titles like the Brazilian El Agente Secreto, the Norwegian Valor Sentimental, the French Un simple accidente, or the Tunisian La Voz de Hind, Laxe was also vying to be a finalist for Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Sound, and Best Casting.
Sirat was also the non-American film present in the mostshortlists, as the film that snatched the victory for Best Film at the European Film Awards, Valor sentimental, was in three, just like the German Sound of Falling.
"Sirat is a film that doesn't take hostages. It's radical, it's bold, and for a film like this to have made it here is very commendable," he said.
One of the keys to Oliver Laxe's success is that his film had strong industry support. The production was handled by El Deseo, the company of the Almodóvar brothers, while its distribution in Hollywood is in the hands of Neon, responsible for the campaign that propelled Parasite to stardom. "I found it very healthy," confessed Laxe. "You have to share the film, but there is something guild-like, artisanal, linked to the campaign itself. You are sharing the film with people who are craftsmen and who know about cinema."
"There is some activism, they want a certain film to win," he emphasized. "There is enthusiasm, love, there is affection that you can feel. A lot of camaraderie, a lot of recognition."
Sirat's path to conquering Hollywood began on a strong note, backed by two Golden Globe nominations. Although it came away empty-handed, the film made a significant impact at the European Film Awards (EFA) held last weekend, where Oliver Laxe won in five technical categories.
But Laxe did not have it all his own way, because despite this brilliant start in the race for the most coveted film awards, and the strategic support of the distributor Neon, Sirat lost momentum in the latest predictions by the specialist press. Current predictions by media outlets such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter reflected a division of opinion, although both kept the Spanish film in the running for best international film, best sound and best casting until the last moment.
In the latter category, Sirat stood out for its cast, which combines the experience of renowned actors such as Sergi López with new faces such as Stefania Gadda and Jade Oukid.
Specialised critics have praised Sirat as a film that offers a 'sensory experience' and innovative 'shock therapy' that seems to have appealed to Hollywood. All this, together with a narrative that fuses spiritual quest with rave culture in desert settings, gives it a unique identity compared to other competitors.