We take great pride in recalling one of the most significant milestones in our professional career: winning the 2011 Goya Award for Best Makeup and Hair for our work on the film *Balada triste de trompeta* (The Last Circus).
The award recognized the work of José Quetglas, Pedro Rodríguez («Pedrati»), and Nieves Sánchez Torres, who were responsible for the production’s makeup and hair styling. The film received a total of 15 nominations at the 25th Goya Awards and won two statuettes: Best Makeup and Hair and Best Special Effects.
Written and directed by Álex de la Iglesia, *Balada triste de trompeta* stars Carlos Areces, Antonio de la Torre, and Carolina Bang. The story centers on the conflict between two clowns—Javier and Sergio—bound by their love for a trapeze artist and trapped in a spiral of violence, obsession, and revenge. The film blends dark comedy, drama, and horror, while incorporating references to various periods of Spain’s recent history.
Character makeup played a fundamental role in the film’s visual identity. As the story unfolds, the characters undergo a progressive physical and emotional deterioration that had to appear convincing on camera. Wounds, deformities, blood, skin alterations, and extreme transformations helped turn the protagonists’ faces into an extension of their psychological evolution.
The makeup work went beyond merely creating a striking visual impact. Each look had to integrate seamlessly with the actors’ performances, withstand the rigors of filming, and maintain continuity between scenes—all while preserving the grotesque, dark, and excessive tone envisioned by Álex de la Iglesia.
The film arrived at the Goya Awards following significant international acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, where Álex de la Iglesia won the Silver Lion for Best Director and the award for Best Screenplay. Receiving this Goya award represented recognition of the collective effort, the countless hours spent designing, preparing, and applying the makeup, and the work of all the professionals involved in the production.
We extend our gratitude to Álex de la Iglesia, the artistic and technical teams, the cast, and everyone who made *Balada triste de trompeta* possible.
Thank you to everyone who shared this project with us and helped make it a reality.