Sightlines · reception

How Deaf was received

2025 · Eva Libertad · Deaf on Sightlines

The arc

It premiered quietly in Berlinale's Panorama sidebar in February 2025 and left with the Audience Award, then snowballed through 2025 into a Spanish awards juggernaut — seven Goya nominations and three wins, including Best New Director for Eva Libertad.

What’s debated

Among Spanish cinephiles it became the sentimental favorite in the 2025 'which film should represent Spain' conversation, with plenty arguing it was robbed of the Oscar slot.

Its footprint

Miriam Garlo's Goya acceptance speech, delivered partly in sign language — 'deaf people are not mute' — became the defining clip of the 40th Goya Awards and a rallying moment for deaf visibility in Spain.

Where it stands

A fast canon-climber: already the touchstone title for deaf representation in Spanish cinema and a word-of-mouth Letterboxd favorite from the 2025 festival circuit.

Did you know? Star Miriam Garlo is director Eva Libertad's real-life sister and is deaf herself; the feature grew out of Libertad's earlier Goya-nominated short of the same name, and Garlo went on to win the Goya for Best New Actress — accepting it in sign language.