Catalonia takes the spotlight at San Sebastián

Catalonia is taking a large share of the Spanish lineup at the San Sebastián Film Festival, which runs 18 to 26 September 2026. Some 150 Catalan companies will be present, and Catalonia accounts for a very significant chunk of the Spanish films playing, according to Variety.

Two Catalan titles are in Main Competition, the festival's top prize strand. They are "5 More Minutes" directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera and "Saints" ("Sants") directed by Mikel Gurrea, as listed in Variety's roundup of Catalan titles to track.

"Saints" stars Victoria Luengo, and sales company M-Appeal has picked up the film for international sales, Variety reported on 15 September. The festival's own site lists 'Sants / Saints' in its 2026 Official Selection and credits Gurrea as director, per the San Sebastián Film Festival. Gurrea made his feature debut with 'Suro' in 2022, which won the FIPRESCI Award, a prize voted by international film critics, after his short films played at Venice and San Sebastián.

In Special Screenings, a non-competitive strand for high-profile presentations, Catalonia is represented by "Pray for Us" directed by Daniel Monzón, according to Variety. Albert Serra will open the Made in Spain section, dedicated to Spanish cinema, with 'Seize moments de ma vie / Sixteen Moments of My Life', the festival announced on 5 August.

The Catalan presence stretches beyond fiction features. 'Gènesi', directed by David Pujol, focuses on traditional Catalan cooking, haute cuisine in Catalonia, local produce and the landscape, according to the festival programme. The festival also notes 'Cura Sana' (2024), which earned more than 140 selections and 30 international awards and was nominated for Best Short Film at the Catalan Film Academy Awards, per the festival site.

Behind the screens, Catalan Films lists Industria – San Sebastián 2026 as an international-scope market event in San Sebastián covering animation, technology, documentary, fiction, short films and television, as shown on Catalan Films. That includes the Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, a professional platform held within the festival framework, according to Catalan Films.

For fans following from home, the roundup is a short guide to where to look first. Competition brings the spotlight. The market meetings decide how far each title travels next.