French film ‘Les Intouchables’ wins Spanish film award

French actor Omar Sy poses when arriving for the Lumieres (Lights) ceremony where he received the trophy of best actor for his role in “Les Intouchables”, in Paris on January 13, 2012. This event is the French equivalent of the Golden Globes attributed by a jury of foreign journalists in France. Sy co-stars with French actor François Cluzet in this movie directed by French Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, which has sold 18 million tickets in France. AFP/ PATRICK KOVARIK

MADRID – The French blockbuster “Les Intouchables” won the best European film prize at the prestigious Spanish film awards, the Goyas, on Sunday, while Pablo Berger’s “Blancanieves” took the top film award.

“Les Intouchables”, directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, has become the second biggest box office hit in France and the biggest selling French film overseas of all time.

It is a story about the relationship between a quadriplegic millionaire and a caretaker he hires from a poor Parisian suburb.

Unlike last year’s European prize winner at the Goyas “The Artist”, the film cannot secure further glory at the US Oscars where it has not even been nominated in the foreign language category.

“Blancanieves,” which picked up 10 Goyas in all, is a retelling of the Snow White fairy tale.

The film’s lead Maribel Verdu won the best actress award while Jose Sacristan, was named best actor for his performance in “The Dead Man and Being Happy”.

Juan Antonio Bayona won best director for “The Impossible” which has already earned Naomi Watts a best actress nomination at the upcoming US Oscars.