The Icelandic drama The Love That Remains, directed by Hlynur Pálmason, has been awarded the Latin American Critics’ Award for European Films, presented by EFP European Film Promotion in cooperation with the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG). Now in its third edition, the award continues to spotlight outstanding European cinema and its relevance for Latin American audiences.
Yesterday's announcement of the winning film is during the ongoing Guadalajara International Film Festival, which runs until 25 April.
Lead actor Sverrir Gudnason accepted the award on behalf of Hlynur Pálmason and the entire film team, saying: “We are deeply honoured to receive the Latin American Critics’ Award for The Love That Remains. Our sincere thanks go to the jury, to European Film Promotion for supporting European films in this way, and to the Guadalajara International Film Festival. It means a great deal to us that the film is being recognised and given the chance to connect with new audiences across Latin America.”
The Love That Remains follows a family over the course of a year as the parents navigate separation, shared memories and the fragile ties that continue to bind them together. Through playful, tender and quietly devastating moments, the film captures the bittersweet afterlife of love and the shifting emotional dynamics within a family trying to find a new balance. Set against the rhythm of the changing seasons, it is a subtle and deeply human reflection on intimacy, loss, miscommunication and the enduring bonds that remain even as relationships are transformed.
An Icelandic-French-Danish-Swedish co-production, the film was produced by STILL VIVID and Snowglobe with co-production partners from France, Denmark and Sweden. It celebrated its World Premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, with world sales handled by New Europe Film Sales. The project also reflects EFP’s long-standing talent network, bringing together the five former Producers on the Move Anton Máni Svansson, Didar Domehri, Mikkel Jersin, Nima Yousefi and Eva Jacobsen as well as former European Shooting Star Ingvar Sigurdsson from Iceland.
“We warmly congratulate Hlynur Pálmason, Sverrir Gudnason and the entire team behind The Love That Remains on winning this year’s Latin American Critics’ Award for European Films”, says Jo Mühlberger, EFP's Deputy Managing Director. “With great emotional precision, warmth and cinematic confidence, the film captures how bonds endure even as relationships change. Our sincere thanks also go to the 35 critics from 13 Latin American countries whose engagement and commitment give this award its strength and relevance, and to our valued partner, the Guadalajara International Film Festival, for once again hosting this important initiative.”
Estrella Araiza, General Director of the Guadalajara International Film Festival, adds: “This award reflects the vital role film critics play in connecting remarkable cinema with audiences across borders. At a time when the ways we watch, discuss and discover films continue to evolve, critical dialogue remains essential. We are proud that Guadalajara provides a home for this exchange and for a growing conversation between European cinema and Latin America.”
Launched in 2024, the Latin American Critics’ Award for European Films was created to strengthen the visibility and circulation of European cinema across Latin America while underlining the key role of critics and cultural journalists in championing arthouse film and fostering dialogue across borders. Previous winners include Eva Libertad’s Deaf in 2025 and İlker Çatak’s The Teachers’ Lounge in 2024.
The Latin American Critics’ Award is organised in cooperation with the Guadalajara International Film Festival and is made possible through the support of Creative Europe – the MEDIA Programme of the European Union – and the participating national film institutes. Media partners are Cineuropa and LatAm cinema.
About the Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG)
The Guadalajara International Film Festival has played a key role in the reinvention and international positioning of Mexican cinema. Today, it stands as one of the most important film events in Latin America, bringing together filmmakers, industry professionals and audiences from across the region. With its strong programme and professional platform, FICG continues to foster cinematic exchange and audience development throughout the Ibero-American world.
