The Spanish highlights at the 2026 San Sebastian Film Festival

“When looking at the Spanish selection, there are two factors we have to take into account more and more often,” says Jose Luis Rebor­dinos, festival director of San Sebastian International Film Festival.  

“The first is how our industry has drawn international attention. This year, three of the most highly anticipated Spanish features were in Cannes Competition — Pedro Almo­dovar’s Bitter Christmas, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s The Beloved and Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi’s La Bola Negra. In 2025 it was two — Carla Simón’s Romería and Oliver Laxe’s Sirât. This is an excellent sign and the result of the talent and hard work that has gone into raising the profile of our industry.” 

He continues: “The second aspect is that San Sebastian has worked closely with Malaga Film Festival to co-ordinate the launch of Spanish films, to avoid too many theatrical releases in the second half of the year, and to give films more box-office breathing space. But Spanish cinema has talent enough for everyone.” 

Diverse picks 

This year’s official selection of Spanish productions ranges from festival veterans such as Isaki Lacuesta, Fernando Trueba and JA Bayona to emerging voices like Elena Martin Gimeno. There are three Spanish world premieres in competition: Javier Ruiz Caldera’s dark comedy 5 More Minutes, Roberto Bueso’s drama El Mal Padre starring Eduard Fernandez, and Mikel Gurrea’s Saints. 

Ruiz Caldera and Bueso are established directors embarking on more ambitious productions, while for Gurrea — a Screen International Spain Star of Tomorrow in 2022 — the festival marks a homecoming after his debut feature Cork was in official selection in 2022. Elsewhere, Saints star Victoria Luengo appeared in both Bitter Christmas and The Beloved. 

Out of competition, Movistar Plus series The Castle (El Castillo) is a six-part thriller about a prostitution network and human trafficking. It has an impressive film pedigree in Elena Martin Gimeno — an award winner in Directors’ Fortnight at Cannes 2023 with Creatura — who shares directing duties with Sandra Romero. The series was written by Isabel Peña, Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s longtime collaborator and co-writer of The Beasts and The Beloved. 

Further Spanish titles screening out of competition include Koldo Almandoz’s Basque- 
language The Last Goodbye and David Perez Sañudo’s The Harvester, a period thriller inspired by the case of Spain’s first documented serial killer.  

Also screening are Trueba’s flamenco music documentary Bajañí, Daniel Monzon’s Pray For Us and Bayona and Carlos Torres’ non-fiction series Beyond Society, about the survivors of the 1972 Andes plane crash that inspired Bayona’s Oscar-nominated feature  Society Of The Snow. 

La Bola Negra screens in the Perlak section following its premiere at Cannes, where Calvo and Ambrossi won the best director award. Inspired by Federico Garcia Lorca’s legacy, it stars newcomers Guitarricadelafuente and Carlos Gonzalez alongside Penelope Cruz and a cameo by Glenn Close. The film sold around the world, including to Netflix for the US, and opens in Spain via Elastica on September 25.  

Meritxell Colell Aparicio’s Locarno premiere Far From The Trees has been selected for Zabaltegi-­Tabakalera, the festival section dedicated to experimental cinema that also hosts flamenco-inspired Flamenco Sketches (Jaleos) by two-time Golden Shell winner Lacuesta.  

Spain special 2026: digital edition