Mike Leigh wins San Sebastián top prize with 'last film'
British filmmaker Mike Leigh, 83, has won the Golden Shell for best film at the San Sebastián festival for 'Tender Loving Care' — a film he has said will probably be his last.
British filmmaker Mike Leigh has won the top prize at the San Sebastián film festival for his latest social drama, Tender Loving Care — a film the 83-year-old has said will probably be his last.
The film, about social workers supporting vulnerable people, took the Golden Shell for best film at the festival in the northern Spanish city on Saturday. Leigh, who is suffering from an illness he has previously said is a medical condition affecting his muscles, was unable to attend in person.
“I’m so sorry I can’t be with you. What a great honour it is,” Leigh said in a video acceptance speech. “Thank you and love to everybody.”
Tender Loving Care also jointly won the best screenplay prize, while its actress Kate O’Flynn shared the Silver Shell for best performance. Swedish filmmaker Amanda Kernell won the best director award for Brace Your Heart.
Leigh previously won the top prize at the Cannes film festival in 1996 for Secrets and Lies and at Venice in 2004 for Vera Drake.
Sources
- Malay Mail (AFP) — “Filmmaker Mike Leigh wins top prize at Spain festival with ‘last film’” — https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2026/09/27/filmmaker-mike-leigh-wins-top-prize-at-spain-festival-with-last-film/236690
- Kuwait Times (AFP) — “Mike Leigh wins San Sebastian top prize with ‘last film’” — https://kuwaittimes.com/article/50483/lifestyle/movies-music/mike-leigh-wins-san-sebastian-top-prize-with-last-film/
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