The San Sebastián Film Festival opens with a diverse lineup spanning September 18-26, drawing major international talent and marking significant developments in European and Spanish cinema production. The festival will feature appearances from actors including Brad Pitt, Penélope Cruz, and Naomi Watts, with Watts receiving the prestigious Donostia Award on September 19. Werner Herzog will receive his Donostia Award at the festival’s opening ceremony on September 18.
Spanish cinema has emerged as a major force in international film production. According to the European Audiovisual Observatory, global streamers invested €2.0 billion in Spain in 2024, significantly outpacing investment in France and Germany. Spain produced 423 feature films last year compared to France’s 228. Netflix Spain recently completed production on “Rafa,” noted as the first non-English language series to receive a Primetime Emmy nomination. Festival Director José Luis Rebordinos emphasized that Spanish cinema has reached unprecedented strength on the international stage.
The festival’s “Made in Spain” strand will expand to showcase 24 Spanish films, up from an average of 11 annually between 2018-2022. Titles include Pedro Almodóvar’s “Bitter Christmas” and Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s “The Beloved.” “La Bola Negra,” a Movistar Plus Original already screened at Cannes, represents the festival’s highest-profile title and is generating substantial ticket demand. Other major premieres include Fred Cavayé’s “Les Misérables” and Pablo Larraín’s “My Sad Dead.”
Spanish streaming platform Movistar Plus announced plans to double its original series production from 8 to 16 annually. The company has co-produced several festival entries, signaling increased investment in Spanish-language content with international appeal. Notably absent from main competition this year is any Basque film, a departure from previous years, though several notable Basque productions will screen in other sections, including “The Harvester” and works from emerging Basque directors.
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