In his acceptance speach he speaks of meeting Pedro Almodovar forty years ago and then doing eight films with him. "Back in the eighties, just out of the dictatorship Pedro saw the world in new ways." 

He alludes to sitting in audiences of award shows as a nominee and not winning, (like being the bridesmaid and never the bride) hardly, Antonio won the Best Actor award in Cannes last May and is nominated for the Golden Globes on Sunday. This year he may win additional awards for his latest role.

Pedro's sensitivity to female characters, and sexuality, was apparent even in his earliest films. Antonio was eye-catching in the break-out film “Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down", from Miramax in the early days before Disney.

Antonio said. “it was a pleasure working with him for all these years."  

Banderas will do a 45 minute Q & A with Lead programmer David Ansen tomorrow after a screening of “Pain and Glory,”(Spain) one of the 10 short listed films selected for the Oscar Best International Films.

Previous films they collaborated on: