Brad Pitt, Big Goodbyes and a Record Year at San Sebastián
San Sebastián is giving its long-serving festival director a starry send-off.
The 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival, which runs from 18 to 26 September 2026, is the last edition under José Luis Rebordinos, who has led the event since 2011, according to Variety. Brad Pitt, Penélope Cruz and Naomi Watts were among the big names flagged ahead of the opening, Variety reported.
Pitt did not come alone. He appeared in San Sebastián for David Ayer’s survival drama The Heart of the Beast, produced by Plan B, and attended the festival alongside Ayer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The film follows a former soldier stranded in the wilderness with his dog. Pitt’s walk on the Kursaal carpet gave the week its loudest flashbulb moment.
Spanish film-makers Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, known as Los Javis, arrived with momentum. Their film La Bola Negra had just won the People’s Choice Award, the audience vote for best film, at the Toronto International Film Festival before San Sebastián, according to Variety. In San Sebastián, Cannes delegate general Thierry Frémaux handed them an extra copy of their Cannes best director prize so each director could keep a trophy.
There was Hollywood succession talk too. Jesse Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, said Jeremy Strong will be “amazing” taking over the role in Aaron Sorkin’s planned sequel, according to Variety. Eisenberg was in town to present new work as a director. His comment quickly travelled beyond the festival halls.
Off screen, Spanish industry news set the tone. The Spain Film Commission announced that film and television production in Spain reached €5.68 billion ($6.6 billion) in 2025, an all-time high, according to Variety. Spain also picked up five International Emmy Award nominations during the festival week.
In the main competition, the Golden Shell race stayed wide open. Variety listed Yesim Ustaoglu’s What Remains, Maha Harada’s In My Father’s Room, Saints and Border among the most well-received entries. Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care topped the Spanish critics’ poll published in El Diario Vasco.
What makes this stand out is the blend of farewell and forward push. Rebordinos leaves after 15 editions. The record production figure and a strong home crowd suggest plenty for his successor to build on.
