Mike Leigh has won the Golden Shell, the top prize at the San Sebastián Film Festival, for “Tender Loving Care,” a film the 83-year-old director has called likely his last. The jury, chaired by American filmmaker Ira Sachs, handed down the award at Friday’s closing ceremony, capping a 74th edition that drew new work from Pablo Larraín, Nicole Garcia and Fatih Akin.
Leigh’s film also took home the prize for best screenplay, and lead actress Kate O’Flynn shared the Silver Shell for best performance with Asta Kamma August, honored for her role in Hans Petter Moland’s “Growth of the Soil.” Neither Leigh nor O’Flynn traveled to Spain for the ceremony. Leigh sent a video message instead, thanking the jury and organizers: “I’m so sorry I can’t be with you. What a great honour it is.” His co-stars Paul Jesson and Alice Bailey Johnson accepted the awards on stage.
The director has attributed his likely retirement to myositis, an autoimmune condition that attacks muscle tissue and has made the physical demands of directing increasingly difficult. Speaking at a press conference earlier in the week, Leigh described stepping away as “a practical matter to do with my medical condition.”
“Tender Loving Care” follows two longtime friends, both social workers, played by O’Flynn and Bailey Johnson, as they navigate romantic setbacks and aging parents while contending with the strain on Britain’s care system. The film premiered at Telluride before screening at Venice, Toronto and San Sebastián, marking Leigh’s second competition appearance at the Spanish festival following 2024’s “Hard Truths.”
Other honors handed out Friday included the Special Jury Prize for Ah Biao’s “Border,” the Silver Shell for best director to Amanda Kernell for “Brace Your Heart,” and a supporting-performance award for Javier Cámara in “5 More Minutes.” The audience prize went to “La Bola Negra,” from directors Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo, which Spain has already selected as its Oscar submission for international feature.
Leigh’s career includes a Palme d’Or for “Secrets & Lies,” a Golden Lion for “Vera Drake” and seven Academy Award nominations across five decades of filmmaking.
