San Sebastian’s Basque Production Slate Mixes Global Auteurs, New Voices and Local Memory

Basque cinema is making its presence felt across San Sebastián this year. The festival’s 74th edition, running Sept. 18-26, features 31 titles with Basque production involvement, with 19 world premieres competing for the Irizar Basque Film Award. Spread across the Official Selection, New Directors, Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, Perlak, Zinemira, Made in Spain, the Velodrome and other strands, […] San Sebastian 2026 showcases 31 Basque-linked titles, from Daniel Monzón and Nanni Moretti to local voices and restored classics Basque cinema is making its presence felt across San Sebastián this year. The festival’s 74th edition, running Sept. 18-26, features 31 titles with Basque production involvement, with 19 world premieres competing for the Irizar Basque Film Award.

Spread across the Official Selection, New Directors, Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, Perlak, Zinemira, Made in Spain, the Velodrome and other strands, the lineup stretches from historical thrillers and intimate first features to animation, music documentaries and international auteur collaborations. Among the established names, David Pérez Sañudo brings period thriller “The Harvester” (“Sacamantecas”), starring Goya winners Patricia López Arnaiz and Antonio de la Torre, while Koldo Almandoz returns with funeral parlor comedy-drama “The Last Goodbye” (“Azken agurra”). “Cell 211” director Daniel Monzón heads back to the final years of Francoism with “Pray for Us” (“Ruega por nosotras”).