The Berlinale has long embraced the Spanish film industry, culminating in Carla Simon’s Golden Bear win for Alcarràs in 2022. This year, it is Ian de la Rosa’s turn to shine in Panorama with his first feature Iván & Hadoum, a love story between two farm workers set in southern Spain. It already tested the waters at the European Film Market in 2023 when it won the Eurimages co-production development award. Handled by France’s Indie Sales, the feature is produced by Avalon with Pecado Films and Vayolet Films in Spain, with Germany’s Port au Prince and Belgium’s Saga Film.
Also in Panorama is Narciso, an international co-production that brings together Spain’s BTeam Prods with La Babosa Cine (Paraguay), Esquina Filmes (Brazil), Pandora Film Produktion (Germany), Oublaum Filmes (Portugal), La Fábrica Nocturna Cinéma Productions (France), Bocacha Films and Guay Films (both Uruguay). Directed by Paraguay’s Marcelo Martinessi, the film is set in 1959 and follows a charismatic radio host who becomes a symbol of freedom under the country’s military regime. The cast includes Diro Romero and Nahuel Perez Biscayart.
Sad Girlz, screening in Generation 14plus, is the debut feature from Mexico’s Fernanda Tovar, whose short My Age, Yours, And The Age Of The World played at Cannes Critics’ Week in 2022. Sad Girlz follows two teenagers shaken by an incident at a party that puts their friendship to the test. Producers include Colectivo Colmena in Mexico, along with Potenza Producciones in Spain, Promenades Films in France, and Martini Shot Films and CTT Exp & Rentals in Mexico. Sales are handled by French outfit Alpha Violet.
On the menu
The fourth title is six-part series Ravalear: Not For Sale, directed by Pol Rodriguez and Isaki Lacuesta, which plays in Special Series. Inspired by Rodriguez’s family history, it centres on a family-run restaurant in Barcelona threatened by real-estate speculation. Filmax sells internationally, and the series is produced by Arcadia Motion Pictures with Supernova, 3Cat and Eter Pictures in Spain, alongside Belgium’s Umedia.
A wide array of Spanish projects have been selected for the Berlinale Co-Production Market. They include Eduardo Casanova’s third feature The Black Goat (El Gran Cabrón), an auteur spin on genre in the form of a horror-thriller set in a village gripped by superstition and fear of the other. Backed by Morena Films, the project is seeking international partners.
Other feature projects being pitched include Alvaro Gago’s second feature Porto Alegre; Lucia G Romero’s Cura Sana, produced by Filmax; and Guillermo Benet’s Yesterday I Will Love You, produced by Solita Films.
Beyond the Berlinale, several titles by high-profile Spanish filmmakers are in post-production. Pedro Almodovar’s Bitter Christmas is being released in Spain in early March. Also eyeing festival spots are Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beloved, Albert Serra’s Out Of This World and Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo’s The Black Ball.
Further along, cameras are poised to roll on some enticing features. The Bottom Of The Lake (El Fons Del Llac) is the next film from double San Sebastian Golden Shell winner Isaki Lacuesta, produced by Colosé Producciones and Apaches Entertainment, while Daniel Sanchez Arevalo’s Big Game (Caza Mayor) is being produced by Estela Films.
Florian Zeller’s English-language Bunker, starring Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Paul Dano and Stephen Graham, is now filming in Madrid and London as a co‑production between Spain’s MOD Producciones and the UK’s Blue Morning Pictures.
Another keenly awaited project comes from Elastica Films, the company behind Alcarràs. It is teaming with Mexico’s Pimienta Films on Galerna, directed by Mexico’s Tatiana Huezo, whose documentary The Echo was a Berlinale prize-winner in 2023.
International appeal
Boosted by enhanced tax incentives and a skilled production base, Spanish producers and service companies continue to reinforce the country’s international pull. In 2025, Spain hosted major incoming shoots including Marc Webb’s Lionsgate thriller Day Drinker, starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz; Guy Ritchie’s Prime Video series Young Sherlock; and Vince Gilligan’s Apple TV+ drama Pluribus.
Spain’s Film and Audiovisual Arts Institute (ICAA) recorded 349 Spanish-led shoots in 2025, while government figures also show the territory was Europe’s second-largest feature-film producer in 2024 with 376 titles.
In box-office terms, Spain ranked fifth in Europe in 2024 with revenues of $604m (€509m). In 2025, however, takings slipped to $537m (€453m), down 11% year on year.
February has brought renewed momentum to local cinemas, thanks to Mediapro Studio comedy Aída Y Vuelta, directed by Paco Leon, which delivered the strongest opening for a Spanish film in seven months after debuting on $1.9m (€1.6m).
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