Jose Alayón's "The Fight" Wins Three Awards at Argentina's BAFICI

The director returns from the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival with the Jury’s Special Prize in the International Competition

José Alayón, a filmmaker from the Canary Islands, collected the Jury’s Special Prize on Saturday, April 25, at the Buenos Aires International Independent Film Festival (BAFICI) for his feature La Lucha. It was the sole Spanish film in the International Competition of this prestigious festival, which concluded its 27th edition in the Argentine capital. In addition, the film—directed by Alayón and produced by El Viaje Films—won two more honors in the unofficial awards segment:

• Best Art Direction, awarded by the AADA (the national association of the sector) for the work of Canarian designer Silvia Navarro.
• Grand Signis Prize, granted by the local branch of the World Catholic Association for Communication.

“I’m very excited,” Alayón said while receiving the Jury’s Special Prize. He thanked the selection of La Lucha for the official BAFICI competition, calling the festival “a reference worldwide for auteur, courageous cinema,” and expressed gratitude for the jury’s decision.
“The screenings have been wonderful. When you make a film about themes so rooted in the Canary Islands, you wonder if anyone will be interested. Seeing the audience’s reaction, the emotion it generates is something very special.”

The Signis jury highlighted the film’s sensitivity in portraying the bond between a father and his daughter, both coping with grief. They noted that “their emotional distance finds a space for expression in a contact sport—Canarian wrestling”—and praised the film’s “sobriety, honesty, and the two‑plus‑year dedication to finding the protagonists, all professional wrestlers.”

Screenings and Upcoming Shows

• BAFICI: Presented in three screenings from April 23‑25 at the Cine Teatro Alvear and Cinépolis Plaza Houssay in Buenos Aires.
• Theatrical Release: Premiered in cinemas on January 30, attracting over 9,800 viewers.
• Future Appearances:
  • April 28 at the Las Palmas International Film Festival.
  • From May 15 at the Madrid Film Archive (Cineteca).

Festival Journey

Since its debut in the New Directors section of the San Sebastián Film Festival (September 2025), accompanied by a massive Canarian wrestling exhibition on Zurriola beach, La Lucha (92 min, 2025) has gathered numerous accolades:

• Honourable Mention from the Jury at the São Paulo International Film Festival (Brazil).
• Best Music at the Cinespaña Toulouse Festival (France).
• Best Film and Young Jury Award at the Efebo d’Oro Film Festival in Palermo (Italy).
• At the Punta del Este International Film Festival (Uruguay):
  • Best Director in the Ibero‑American Fiction Competition.
  • Best Film from the Uruguayan Association of Film Critics (ACCU).
• Selected for screenings at festivals in Thessaloniki (Greece), Vancouver (Canada), the FIFIB Independent Film Festival in Bordeaux (France), and Alice nella Città (Italy).

Synopsis

La Lucha stars Tomásín Padrón as Miguel, the father of Mariana (played by Yazmina Estupiñán). The film also features renowned Majorcan wrestler Inés Cano as Inés, Miguel’s sister, who narrates how Miguel and his daughter strive to move forward after the death of their wife and mother—a loss that leaves them adrift. Both seek refuge in Canarian wrestling to carve out a place in the world. As Miguel’s health declines, Mariana’s anger drives her to challenge conventions. With the championship final approaching, father and daughter race to reunite before it’s too late.

Production

The film is an international co‑production led by El Viaje Films, financed by:

• MEDIA (Creative Europe sub‑programme)
• ICAA (Spanish Ministry of Culture)
• Ibermedia
• Government of the Canary Islands
• Promotur
• Cabildo de Tenerife
• Televisión Canaria

Co‑production partner: Macaronesia Films.

Key crew members include:

• Mauro Herce – Director of Photography (shot on Super 16 mm)
• Samuel Delgado and Marina Alberti – Screenwriters
• Emma Tusell – Editor

“La Lucha” continues to garner international recognition, shining a spotlight on Canarian culture and the universal language of grief, resilience, and sport.