The film, directed by Pavel Giroud, is a quirky, surprising coming-of-age film about Samuel who has just arrived in town with his recently divorced mother. After taking up residence in the house of his eccentric grandmother, Samuel is introduced to a new, mysterious world where he finds himself an adult in comparison to his child-like mother.

La Edad de La Peseta, named after a common Cuban phrase that refers to the period right before entering adolescence, had tough competitors including XXY, by Argentine director Lucia Puenzo (which won over the Cuban film at the Goya Awards); No por acaso, by Brazilian Phillipe Barcinski with Rodrigo Santoro; and the Spanish-Mexican co-production 3:19, by director Danny Saadia. Other winning films and artists at Santa Barbara were Amal by Canadian director Richie Mehta (Spirit Prize for the Best Independent Production); Angelina Jolie and Tommy Lee Jones (Best Lead Actor and Actress); Javier Bardem (Best Supporting Actor) and Naomi Watts (Virtuosos Award), reported Granma newspaper. The Santa Barbara Festival also gave an honorary award for acting to Cate Blanchett. Source:

(ACN)