Antonio Banderas awarded “Goya of Honor” for 2015

Spanish screen star Antonio Banderas is to be awarded the 2015 Goya of Honor in commemoration of a brilliant and versatile acting career, Spain’s Academy of Cinema announced on Monday.

The Academy’s Board of Directors agreed unanimously to honor the distinguished actor, director and producer for his career “as an actor, which has reflected on him as a filmmaker,” as well as his accomplishments “in the field of production, supporting national values.”

Antonio Banderas was born in Malaga in 1960. At the most recent edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival last month, he presented his newest production, “Automata,” which he starred in and produced under the direction of Gabe Ibanez.

On October 9, the international actor received the Grand Honorary Award for his career during Fantastic Film Festival at Sitges, in northeastern Spain.

“He acts, directs, produces, sings and has paved his way into Hollywood, where he became a star,” is how the Academy sums up Banderas’ career.

The Academy considered that Banderas’ career arc is “marked by risk and commitment,” and considers that sufficient reason to award him the Goya of Honor for 2015.

The statuette will be presented to Banderas on February 8, at the 29th edition of Spanish cinema’s prestigious awards gala.

The Academy noted that, since his debut in “Laberinto de pasiones” in 1982, the first of his collaborations with Pedro Almodovar, up to the latest addition to his filmography, “Automata,” Banderas has been credited in more than 90 films throughout his career.

He directed “Crazy in Alabama” and “El camino de los ingleses,” and has also triumphed on Broadway with the production “Nine.”