The 2025 San Sebastián Film Festival, running from September 19-27 in the exquisite Basque resort city, is poised to be a landmark event, celebrating an exceptional year for Spanish cinema, particularly showcasing the robust strength of Catalan and Basque productions. Regarded as a European A-list festival, just below Berlin, Cannes, and Venice, San Sebastián, under director José Luis Rebordinos, presents a classic cinematic cocktail of acclaimed auteurs, exciting discoveries, and a strong industry focus.

Catalan cinema, in particular, has experienced a history-making year. For the first time, two Catalan films, Carla Simón’s “Romería” and Oliver Laxe’s “Sirât,” were selected for main competition in Cannes, alongside a significant presence of four films in official selection at Berlin. This momentum culminates at San Sebastián with an impressive 27 Catalan projects across all sections and sidebars. This includes acclaimed works like Eva Libertad’s Berlin audience winner “Deaf,” Belén Funes’s Málaga winner “The Exiles,” and Ana Cristina Barragán’s Venice Horizons winner “The Ivy.” Notable Catalan filmmakers such as Cesc Gay, presenting “My Friend Eva,” and José Luis Guerin, with his highly anticipated “Good Valley Stories,” are highlights of the program. Catalonia’s success is further bolstered by its burgeoning animation scene, exemplified by “The Treasure of Barracuda” from Adrià Garcia, building on the legacy of Oscar-nominated “Robot Dreams.” The region’s prestigious Pompeu Fabra University also contributes significantly, with debuts like “The Imminent Age” and “The Drunkmen’s Mallaise” showcasing its talent pipeline. This strong showing is a testament to years of continuous strategic investment, talent development, and international partnerships, supported by bodies like the Catalan Institute for the Cultural Companies (ICEC) and training centers such as ESCAC and Pompeu Fabra, solidifying Catalonia’s position as a powerful force in European arthouse cinema.

The festival itself promises a star-studded affair. Jennifer Lawrence is set to receive the career achievement Donostia Award, San Sebastián’s highest honor, and will present Lynne Ramsay’s “Die My Love.” Angelina Jolie is confirmed to attend for “Couture,” while Colin Farrell and Matt Dillon are also expected, alongside a host of international cinema royalty including Juliette Binoche, Richard Linklater, Olivier Assayas, and Walter Salles. Buzz titles in main competition include Arnaud Desplechin’s “Two Pianos,” Claire Denis’ “The Fence,” Xiaoyu Qin’s “Her Heart Beats in Its Cage,” Olmo Omerzu’s “Ungrateful Beings,” and Alice Winocour’s “Couture.”

Industry professionals will engage at the CAA Media Finance-backed Creative Investors’ Conference and the Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum. Discussions are expected to continue from last year, addressing opportunities and challenges for independent production, including the audience revolution and the need for U.S. producers to look to Europe amidst contracting U.S. studio investment and fixed union costs. Key attendees include Roeg Sutherland, Skye Optican, Christine Vachon, and Vincent Maraval.

José Luis Rebordinos proudly declares this period as