Sebastian Award is a prize delivered in September, since 2000, to a film or documentary screened during San Sebastián International Film Festival that best reflects the values and reality of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people. The selection of the winner film is carried out between all sections that make up the Festival: Official Section, Zabaltegi, Horizontes Latinos, Made Spain, etc.
History
In 2000, the idea was raised of creating a gay and lesbianfilm award in the frame of San Sebastián Film Festival. This idea came up among Gehitu members, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender association from the Basque Country. The goal intended, as it was already happening from 1987 on with the Teddy Award in the Berlinale, was that the prize would help gay-theme movies have more relevance in movies theatres as well as in mass media. Krámpack, from the film directorCesc Gay, was the first film awarded with Sebastiane Prize. The film reflected the sexual awakening of two teenagers, as one comes to terms with his homosexuality and the other with his heterosexuality. The jury of this edition was made up by the writer Luis G. Martin, film critic Begoña del Teso, Angel Retamar from ZERO magazine, Gehitu members, Patricia García and David Montero. The name given to the Award, "Sebastiane", honoured the film with the same name directed in 1976 by British Derek Jarman. It was his first film, in which he portrayed introspectively the Roman soldier Sebastian, martyr of Christianity, later a Middle Age Saint and eventually turned into a homoerotic icon. Saint Sebastian, patron saint of San Sebastián, is a root symbol of the city itself, venue of the Festival, but likewise it is too a symbol the homosexual culture itself. That serves a perfect picture to represent the Sebastiane Prize.
Award
The Prize figurine was designed by Enrique Rojas. It represents the silhouette in metal of the image that traditionally has pictured San Sebastián martyr: a half naked body, which torso is pierced by arrows.
In 2013, Sebastiane Latino becomes the second LGBT award given by Gehitu association during the San Sebastián Film Festival. This award tries to promote the LGBT values in the Latin Community. This is born thanks to the close relationship that the San Sebastián Film Festival has with Latin America. Sebastiane Latino Winners:
