Actor Johnny Depp will receive the Donostia Award from the San Sebastian Film Festival on September 22. The award awards his prolific career as an actor, but in the midst of the controversy, Depp receives the highest award from the gala in which he has participated. Her former wife, Amber Heard, has reportedly suffered mistreatment by the actress since 2016.

At the San Sebastian 2020 Film Festival, Depp received the Crock of Gold Special Award for Referees: A Few Rounds with Shane MacGowan, who this year comes to the red carpet without rolling any film. For allegations of ill-treatment, Disney and Warner have rescinded with Depp the contract that united them for a number of films. Following the decision taken by the San Sebastian Film Festival, several agents of the Spanish State and the Basque Country have shown their rejection of Hoolywood.

The director of the association of women filmmakers from the Basque Country, Lara Izagirre, has been "indignant and sad" in an interview with Euskadi Irratia. “The Film Festival is a place to generate hope, generate references, award prizes not only to good actors, but also to people who can be referents in society.” Therefore, Izagirre said that the decision seemed incomprehensible to him: when the selection was made, the Festival knew that the courts had accepted the allegations of ill-treatment against Depp.

Cima, the association of women filmmakers and audiovisual media, has also opposed the award of the Deppi Prize. The CIMA, aware of the impact that the event has on the world level, has pointed out that, in addition to what the actors show on the screen, there are more elements to consider. In his opinion, art “is not above good and evil”, but in the audiovisual industry they have pointed out that “economic interests” are very strong. In 2018, the organizers of the event signed a letter in favor of parity and the inclusion of women, but after recognizing it, the CIMA has considered that they do little for equality.

The San Sebastian Festival ratifies its decision

As soon as the criticism is received, the director of the Festival, José Luis Rebordinos, has ratified the decision to award the Donostia Prize to Depp. In addition, it was against the argument put forward by the women’s filmmaking associations: “The function of the festival is not to judge the behavior of members of the film industry.” Rebordinos has insisted that we have to differentiate what is done on the screen from what is happening in private life.