Goya Winner ‘Maspalomas’ Probes the Return to the Closet in Later Life
By Callum Mclennan
Published on April 14, 2026.
The film "Maspalomas" by Basque directors Jose Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi, which premiered at the 73rd San Sebastián Film Festival and won nine Goya nominations including a best actor win for José Ramón Soroiz at the 40th Goya Awards. The film, which is part of the inaugural “And the Goya Goes To… New Spanish Films” showcase in New York, is set to air on April 16-19 at Village East and will be followed by a Q&A with co-star Nagore Aranburu, who plays Vicente’s estranged daughter. The project began in 2016 with a trip to Maspaloma, the gay enclave on Gran Canaria, and a news article about LGBTQ+ elders returning to the closet upon entering residential care. The filmmakers believe the film's portrayal of Vicente, played by Soroizo, reflects the ongoing struggle of late-life desire and the struggle of older adults to live openly in the closet.
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