San Sebastian Film Festival begins search for next director

Spain’s San Sebastian International Film Festival has called for public applications for the role of festival director.

Applications have been opened today (Wednesday, March 4), by the festival’s executive board, comprised of the San Sebastian city council, the provincial council of Gipuzkoa, the Basque government and the Spanish government’s ministry of culture.

The successful candidate will succeed long-time director Jose Luis Rebordinos on January 1, 2027. Rebordinos has served as festival director since 2011.

Applicants must have a university degree, a high level of English, and the ability to communicate in Basque and Spanish, with knowledge of French an advantage, according to the application.

The call comes at a time when the role of festival director is in the spotlight, especially in Berlin, where Berlinale organising body KBB is holding a meeting on the future direction of the festival today.

Festival director Tricia Tuttle said yesterday she wishes to remain in her role, having considered a “mutual resignation” with German culture minister Wolfram Weimer last week after a politically turbulent 76^th edition of the festival.

Yesterday, 32 festival directors and programmers, including Rebordinos, signed a statement in support of Tuttle and of festivals as spaces of “freedom of expression”.

Venice Film Festival director Alberto Barbera agreed a two-year extension to his tenure, also yesterday.

The 2026 San Sebastian International Film Festival will run from September 18-26, and will be Rebordinos’s final edition in post.

• Tricia Tuttle details position before Berlinale meeting, saying support has “renewed my own clarity”