Official Competition

On his 80th birthday, Humberto Suárez, an ageing multi-millionaire, wonders about his legacy and considers financing the construction of a bridge. Instead, he decides to finance a film so that people will look fondly upon his legacy. He selects the reclusive Palme d'Or laureate Lola Cuevas to be the director, with the screenplay being adapted from a Nobel Prize-winning novel titled Rivalry about a man who is unable to forgive his brother for killing their parents in a drunk-driving incident. The two brothers are to be played by acclaimed stage actor Iván Torres and celebrity actor Félix Rivero; Iván is a method actor who has extensively prepared his character's past, while Félix is a more mainstream Hollywood actor who finds Iván's methods pointless.

Lola proves herself to be a highly eccentric director who makes extensive notes and requires increasingly bizarre exercises of her actors, such as forcing them to repeat single lines or words until she believes they are convincing enough, refusing to show up at rehearsals, and at one point dangling a large (fake) boulder over the heads of Iván and Félix via a crane to emulate the tension of the scene they are rehearsing. One session involves Iván and Félix being tied to chairs and forced to watch as Lola crushes their various awards in an industrial shredder, including a handmade one that was given to Iván by disabled students at a school where he once taught.

One day during rehearsals, Félix tells Lola and Iván that he has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is on palliative care, hoping that Rivalry will be his final masterpiece. Iván privately suggests to Lola that he could double up in order to play both brothers if Félix ends up unable to complete the project. Felix later confesses to them both that his diagnosis was a lie that he used in order to prove to the pair that he could fool them with his acting. Iván commends his performance and tells him that he believes Félix to be a better actor than he is, before revealing that this too was a lie as payback.

Eventually, they reach the final scene of the film, where Félix's character murders Iván's and takes over his brother's life. At a party held by Humberto to commemorate the film starting shooting, Félix overhears Iván describe him as the worst actor he has ever worked with. Félix confronts him on a mezzanine floor within the building. Iván attempts to punch Félix who dodges the blow, causing Ivan to fall from the mezzanine level to a hard floor below. He looks dead but has been rendered comatose. Iván's wife, assuming that he must have jumped, is comforted by Félix. Lola seems to recognize that Félix is merely acting.

There is a montage of what everyone ends up doing next. The film proceeds to shooting, with both roles played by Félix. At a post-screening Q&A, Lola bluntly denies any perceived meaning that the critics read into her film and gives one-word answers. In the final scenes narrated by Lola who directly addresses the audience, Suárez decides to finance a bridge, Félix returns to Hollywood projects and Iván wakes from his coma and curses Félix's name.

{{Cast listing|

• Penélope Cruz as Lola Cuevas
• Antonio Banderas as Félix Rivero
• Oscar Martínez as Iván Torres
• José Luis Gómez as Humberto Suárez
• Manolo Solo as Matías{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/penelope-cruz-and-antonia-banderas-in-official-competition-competencia-oficial-film-review-venice-2021-1235008541/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title=Penélope Cruz and Antonio Banderas in 'Official Competition' ('Competencia Oficial'): Film Review {{!}} Venice 2021|date=4 September 2021|first=Lovia|last=Gyarkye}}
• {{ill|Nagore Aranburu|es}} as Julia
• Irene Escolar as Diana Suárez{{Cite web|url=https://www.makma.net/oscar-martinez-la-inseguridad-es-una-patologia-universal-de-los-actores/|website=Makma|language=es|title=Oscar Martínez: "La inseguridad es una patología universal de los actores"|first=Salva|last=Torres|date=25 February 2022}}
• Pilar Castro as Violeta{{Cite web|url=https://www.ccma.cat/tv3/estrena-als-cinemes-de-competencia-oficial/noticia/3144205/|publisher=Corporació Catalana de Mitjans Audiovisuals|language=es|date=7 February 2022|title=Estrena als cinemes de "Competència oficial"}}
• Koldo Olabarri as Darío
• {{ill|Juan Grandinetti|es}} as Ariel

}}

In January 2020 casting was announced featuring Antonio Banderas, Penélope Cruz, Oscar Martínez, Pilar Castro, Irene Escolar, Carlos Hipólito, José Luis Gómez, Nagore Aranburu, Koldo Olabarri and Juan Grandinetti with Gastón Duprat & Mariano Cohn directing from a screenplay penned alongside {{ill|Andrés Duprat|es}}.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/global/penelope-cruz-antonio-banderas-co-star-in-competencia-oficial-1203487354/|title=Penélope Cruz, Antonio Banderas to Co-Star in 'Competencia Oficial'|work=Variety|first=Jamie|last=Lang|date=30 January 2020|access-date=2 March 2020}} Cruz and Banderas had only shared onscreen time before during two minutes of Pedro Almodóvar's 2013 film I'm So Excited!.

The film was produced by The Mediapro Studio, with the participation of RTVE, TV3, and Orange España.{{Cite web|url=https://www.audiovisual451.com/competencia-oficial-llegara-a-los-cines-bajo-distribucion-de-buena-vista-international/|date=29 June 2021|title='Competencia Oficial' llegará a los cines bajo distribución de Buena Vista International|website=Audiovisual451|access-date=23 October 2021|language=es}}

Principal photography began in February 2020.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/02/antonio-banderas-penelope-cruz-comedy-official-competition-protagonist-pictures-1202860067/|title=Hot Berlin Project: Antonio Banderas & Penelope Cruz Comedy 'Official Competition' Boarded By Protagonist Pictures|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Tom|last=Grater|date=14 February 2020|access-date=2 March 2020}} In March 2020, production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/coronavirus-penelope-cruz-antonio-banderas-film-suspends-production-1284468|title=Coronavirus: Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas Film 'Official Competition' Suspends Production|work=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Scott|last=Roxborough|date=13 March 2020|access-date=10 August 2020}} Shooting resumed in September 2020 and the wrap was announced in October 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a34380660/competencia-oficial-penelope-cruz-antonio-banderas-fin-rodaje/|work=Fotogramas|date=15 October 2020|access-date=23 October 2021|first=Juan|last=Silvestre|title=Penélope Cruz y Antonio Banderas finalizan el rodaje de 'Competencia oficial'|language=es}} Filming took place in the Spanish cities of Madrid, San Lorenzo de El Escorial and Ávila.{{cite web|url=https://madridfilmoffice.com/en/official-competition-finishes-filming-in-madrid-locations/|title="Competencia oficial" culmina su rodaje en localizaciones de Madrid|publisher=Madrid Film Office|date=20 November 2020|access-date=28 November 2022}}

Official Competition had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on 4 September 2021.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/venice-film-festival-2021-lineup-1235027083/|title=Venice Film Festival Full Lineup Unveiled – Live Updates|work=Variety|first=Nick|last=Vivarelli|date=July 26, 2021|access-date=July 26, 2021}} It also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in mid-September 2021.{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=2021-07-20|title=Toronto Film Festival Lineup Adds 'Dear Evan Hansen,' 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' and 'Clifford the Big Red Dog'|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/toronto-film-festival-dear-evan-hansen-1235023598/|access-date=2021-07-20|work=Variety}} Buena Vista International released the film in Spain on 25 February 2022. Protagonist Pictures handled the international distribution rights.

Star Distribution (formerly known as the Latin American branch of Buena Vista International) acquired distribution rights for Latin America.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/news/penelope-cruz-antonio-banderas-official-competition-1235025357/|title=Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas Comedy 'Official Competition' Drops First Teaser Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)|work=Variety|first=John|last=Hopewell|date=22 July 2021|access-date=26 July 2021}} In the case of Argentina, the film was released on 17 March 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202112/579552-competencia-oficial-de-cohn-y-duprat-abre-el-jose-ignacio-international-film-fest.html|archivedate=2023-02-08|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20230208081445/https://www.telam.com.ar/notas/202112/579552-competencia-oficial-de-cohn-y-duprat-abre-el-jose-ignacio-international-film-fest.html|publisher=Télam|language=es|title="Competencia Oficial", de Cohn y Duprat, abre el José Ignacio International Film Fest|date=30 December 2021}} IFC Films purchased the theatrical release rights for the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/penelope-cruz-antonio-banderas-official-competition-ifc-films-1235094639/|work=Variety|title=Penelope Cruz-Antonio Banderas Starrer 'Official Competition' Scooped by IFC Films (EXCLUSIVE)|date=21 October 2021|first=Elsa|last=Keslassy|first2=K.J.|last2=Yossman}}

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 96% of 156 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Its premise may resonate most with hardcore film fans, but Official Competition{{'}}s tight focus and sharp humor have a universal appeal."{{cite web|title=Official Competition|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/official_competition|access-date=1 November 2023|website=Rotten Tomatoes}} {{Metacritic film prose|79|33|access-date=March 29, 2025}}{{Cite Metacritic |title=Official Competition |id=official-competition |type=movie |access-date=March 29, 2025}}

At the 2021 Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival, it won the award for Outstanding International Feature.{{cite web|last=Macdonald|first=Donald|url=https://www.thesudburystar.com/entertainment/local-arts/sudbury-entertainment-briefs-new-novel-cinefest-awards|title=Sudbury entertainment briefs: New novel; Cinefest awards|work=Sudbury Star|date=3 October 2021}} At the 2021 Vancouver International Film Festival, it won the Audience Award for most popular film in the Galas and Special Presentations program.{{cite web|last=Newton|first=Steve|url=https://www.straight.com/movies/vancouver-international-film-fest-announces-award-winners|title=Vancouver International Film Fest announces award winners|work=The Georgia Straight|date=13 October 2021}}

{{Awards table|5}}

|-

| align = "center" | 2022 || 30th Actors and Actresses Union Awards || Best Actress in an International Production || Penélope Cruz || {{nom}} || {{Cite web|url=https://www.fotogramas.es/noticias-cine/a38998412/union-de-actores-2022-nominaciones/|work=Fotogramas|language=es|title=Premios Unión de Actores 2022: 'El buen patrón' arrasa entre los premiados|date=15 March 2022|first=María|last=Aller}}

|-

| rowspan = "3" align = "center" | 2023 || rowspan = "1" | 10th Feroz Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Comedy Film || {{won}} || rowspan = "1" | {{Cite web|url=https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/famosos/2023-01-29/premios-feroz-2023-directo-alfombra-roja-premiados_3565881/|website=Vanitatis|via=El Confidencial|title=Premios Feroz, en directo: los premiados a mejor película, mejor serie y mejor actriz y actor protagonistas|date=29 January 2023|first=Lucía|last=Gualda}}

|-

| 37th Goya Awards || Best Cinematography || Arnau Valls Colomer || {{Nominated}} || {{Cite web|url=https://www.20minutos.es/cinemania/noticias/goya-2023-nominaciones-premios-cine-espanol-5081299/|website=Cinemanía|via=20minutos.es|date=1 December 2022|title='As bestas' es la favorita de los Premios Goya del relevo generacional: listado de nominaciones}}

|-

| 10th Platino Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Ibero-American Comedy Film || {{won}} || {{Cite web|url=https://www.infobae.com/america/agencias/2023/04/22/competencia-oficial-premio-platino-a-la-mejor-comedia-iberoamericana/|website=Infobae|title="Competencia oficial", Premio Platino a la mejor comedia iberoamericana|date=22 April 2023}}

|}

• List of Spanish films of 2022

{{Reflist}}

• [https://infoicaa.mecd.es/CatalogoICAA/Peliculas/Detalle?Pelicula=21620 Official Competition] at ICAA's Catálogo de Cinespañol
• {{IMDb title}}
• {{Metacritic movie}}

{{Feroz Award for Best Comedy Film}}

Category:2021 films

Category:2021 black comedy films

Category:2021 comedy-drama films

Category:2020s Argentine films

Category:2020s Spanish films

Category:2020s Spanish-language films

Category:Argentine black comedy films

Category:Argentine comedy-drama films

Category:Buena Vista International films

Category:Film productions suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Category:Films about actors

Category:Films about film directors and producers

Category:Films directed by Gastón Duprat and Mariano Cohn

Category:Films shot in Madrid

Category:Films shot in the province of Ávila

Category:Spanish black comedy films

Category:Spanish comedy-drama films

Category:Spanish-language black comedy films

Category:Spanish-language comedy-drama films