Iranian filmmaker, Filipino peace mediator win Spain's Casa Asia awards

Casa Asia in Spain has honored Iranian filmmaker Saeed Nouri and Filipino academic and peace mediator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer with its annual awards. The ceremony, held in Barcelona, recognizes individuals and institutions that significantly strengthen ties between Spain and the Asia-Pacific region.

Nouri, a recipient in the Culture category, is known for his documentaries and fiction films that delve into Iran's cinematic legacy, including works like 'Tehran,' 'An Unfinished History,' and 'Women According to Men.' The jury lauded his contribution to independent cinema and his role in projecting Iranian film internationally through documentaries focused on cultural memory and historical reflection.

Coronel-Ferrer, awarded in the Politics and Society category, was recognized for her leadership in peace-building efforts and her pivotal role in the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, which concluded a long-standing conflict between the Philippine government and an Islamist guerrilla group in 2014. The awards also celebrated the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) for fostering scientific cooperation between Spain and Asia, particularly Japan, in areas like supercomputing and artificial intelligence. Engineer and researcher Claudio Feijóo received an award for his decisive role in creating links between Spanish and Chinese innovation ecosystems.