Spain's premiere film event, the San Sebastian International Film Festival has unveiled the first titles in its official competition line-up for the 49th edition which runs from Sept 20-29.

Three Spanish films will compete for the festival's top prize, the Golden Shell (Concha de Oro) award. They include: Vicente Aranda's Juana La Loca, (pictured) a period tale based on the destructive relationship between 16th century Spanish royals Juana de Castilla and Felipe el Hermoso; 1986 Golden Shell winner Manuel Gutierrez Aragon's Visionaries (Visionarios), a story set against a small Basque town in the tumultuous 1930's; and Jose Luis Guerin's In Construction (En Construccion), a pseudo-documentary about the construction of a building in one of Barcelona's oldest neighbourhoods.

Director Carlos Molinero's first feature film, Savages (Salvajes), starring Marisa Paredes and Imanol Arias, will compete for the New Director's Award in the festival's Open Zone (Zabaltegi) section.

The early announcement of Spanish competition entries is in keeping with tradition for the festival. Further titles should be announced by mid-August.

This year's edition will be the first under new festival director Mikel Olaciregui, who replaced long-time chief Diego Galan in January.