Spanish film Deaf wins as Cork-filmed drama Christy misses out on European film prize
Christy missed out on the 2026 LUX Audience Award, with Spanish drama Deaf taking the win.
the film with Cork's Northside at its heart, has missed out on this year’s LUX Audience Award.
The film, directed by Brendan Canty and written by Alan O'Gorman, tells the story of 17-year-old Christy (Danny Power of ) who moves in with his estranged brother Shane (Diarmuid Noyes of ) in Knocknaheeny after a fractious exit from his foster family.
The drama, which follows its eponymous anti-herofrom Ballincollig to his old stomping ground on the Northside, was one of five films shortlisted for the LUX Audience Award, a film prize that engages audiences across Europe to vote for their favourite film from a shortlist of socially and culturally significant movies.
Spanish drama was announced the winner of the 2026 LUX Audience Award at a recent ceremony in the European Parliament hemicycle in Brussels.
Directed by Spanish director Eva Libertad, tells the story of Ángela, a deaf woman expecting a child with her hearing partner. Her fears about motherhood and her ability to communicate and interact with her daughter mount as she confronts the reality of raising a baby in a world not built for her.
Speaking about the film, Libertad said: “I hope that this award will help to focus on the deaf community, and the diversity of people in Europe, and to promote inclusion policies that improve their living conditions. I am also confident that it will contribute to society changing its view of diversity, that it will no longer be seen as a problem and that it will be perceived as human wealth.”
The films shortlisted for the award were the winning film along with by Brendan Canty, by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, by French director Anna Cazenave Cambet and by Norwegian director Joachim Trier.
led the nominations for the 2026 IFTA Awards, receiving 14 nominations across various categories, winning Best Film and Best Director.
won Best International Feature Film at this year’s Academy Awards and was nominated in eight other categories. The film about two sisters reconnecting with their estranged father also won Best Film Not in the English Language at the BAFTA Awards, and collected wins at the Golden Globes, European Film Awards, Cannes Film Festival, and Astra Film Awards.
was nominated for a Golden Globe, Academy Award and BAFTA, and was nominated for six awards, including Cannes Film Festival, and was the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival 2025 winner.
The LUX Audience Award was introduced in 2020 by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, in partnership with the European Commission and Europa Cinemas, with a goal to strengthen the connection between European citizens and politics through cinema.
Speaking about the importance of the awards, European Parliament vice-president Sabine Verheyen said: “The LUX Audience Award shines a light on films that open our eyes to experiences beyond our own. This year’s winner, does exactly that – with courage, warmth, and rare authenticity.
“Director Eva Libertad gives us an unforgettable window into the life of a deaf woman navigating motherhood in a world not built for her. Led by a stunning performance from deaf actress Miriam Garlo, the film challenges us to listen differently and to build a Europe where no one is left unheard.”
The winning film was chosen by combining a public vote and a vote by MEPs, each weighted at 50%.
Sitting down with the in August 2025, O’Gorman and Canty said they were in the early stages of planning a TV series set in the world of Christy.
