The Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival has announced that actress Amaia Salamanca will receive the Luz Award during its 52nd edition. The accolade will be presented at the festival's opening gala, which will be held from November 13 to 21.
The recognition comes at a particularly active time in Salamanca's career; in 2026, she has combined the release of new film and television projects with her debut as a film director, which further highlights the interest surrounding this tribute.
An award that recognizes a career
The Luz Award is supported by the Atlantic Copper Foundation and aims to distinguish film and television professionals each year who have a prominent presence within the audiovisual industry. With this presentation, the Huelva festival adds Amaia Salamanca to the list of performers recognized for their professional trajectory.
From youth television to major international projects
Salamanca began her acting career in the youth series SMS, sin miedo a soñar, although it was her role in Sin tetas no hay paraíso that catapulted her to popularity. Her leap to cinema came with Fuga de cerebros, directed by Fernando González, where she showcased her talent for comedy, a genre she explored again in Tensión sexual no resuelta, by Miguel Ángel Lamata.
On television, she starred in highly successful series such as Felipe y Letizia, Gran Hotel, Velvet, and Tiempos de guerra. In film, she has participated in titles across various genres, including Atraco, by Eduard Cortés; Nuestros amantes, by Miguel Ángel Lamata; Manual de principiantes para ser presidente, by Salim Nayar; the Argentine production Perdida, by Alejandro Montiel; ¿Qué te juegas?, by Inés de León; the family comedy A pesar de todo, by Gabriela Tagliavini; and Lo dejo cuando quiera, by Carlos Therón.
Also on stage
Her artistic career extends to the theater, with productions such as La marquesa de O, directed by Magüi Mira, and performances of La Orestiada and Prometeo at the Classical Theater of Mérida.
A 2026 marked by new professional challenges
In recent years, Salamanca has maintained intense activity between film and television. Her recent work includes the Movistar Plus series Todos mienten, the Netflix production Bienvenidos a Edén, and the English-language film The Man from Rome, directed by Sergio Dow.
In 2024, she filmed Siempre es invierno under the direction of David Trueba, an adaptation of the novel Blitz, and in 2025, she premiered the first season of the Movistar Plus comedy Muertos S.L.
In 2026, Amaia Salamanca premiered the series Pura sangre, alongside Ángela Molina, and the horror film La ahorcada, directed by Miguel Ángel Lamata. Among her upcoming projects is Hechos probados, a film and series for Prime Video with a theatrical release scheduled for November 13, coinciding with the start of the Huelva festival. She also has the comedy Menudas vacaciones, directed by Mar Olid, pending release for the summer of 2027.
Her first step behind the camera
In addition to her projects as an actress, Salamanca finished production in 2026 on her first work as a director: the short film Empatía, for which she also wrote the screenplay. This debut behind the camera marks a new chapter in a career previously focused on acting.
The Huelva Festival, a benchmark for Ibero-American cinema
The Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival is one of the leading events dedicated to cinema in Spanish and Portuguese, and each edition reserves a prominent space to recognize professional trajectories through awards such as the Luz. The opening gala, where Amaia Salamanca will receive the award, will mark the official start of this 52nd edition.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Luz Award of the Huelva Festival?
It is an award presented annually by the Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival, with the support of the Atlantic Copper Foundation, which recognizes the career of film and television professionals with an outstanding trajectory in the audiovisual industry.
When is the 52nd edition of the Huelva Festival held?
The 52nd edition of the Huelva Ibero-American Film Festival will be held from November 13 to 21, and the Luz Award for Amaia Salamanca will be presented during the opening gala.
What are Amaia Salamanca’s most recent projects?
In 2026, she premiered the series Pura sangre, alongside Ángela Molina, and the horror film La ahorcada. Coming soon is the release of Hechos probados, a film and series for Prime Video, and in 2027, the comedy Menudas vacaciones will arrive.
Has Amaia Salamanca ever directed?
Yes. In 2026, she finished production on Empatía, her first short film as a director, for which she is also the screenwriter.
With which role did Amaia Salamanca become popular?
She gained notoriety with her performance in the series Sin tetas no hay paraíso, after having debuted in the youth fiction SMS, sin miedo a soñar.
