The nineteenth edition of the film festival unfolded over four days from october 3 to october 6, drawing a total audience of 1,291,799 viewers according to provisional figures reported by the comscore consultancy. The event stood as a major cultural milestone, presenting a wide slate of premieres and industry gatherings that attracted film lovers from across the country and beyond. The scale of attendance signals a robust rebound in post pandemic cinema activity and underscores the festival’s role as a key barometer for audience appetite during the fall season.
The reported figures indicate an 82.2 percent increase compared with the previously held edition in may, which registered 704,927 attendees during three days of programming in spring when turnout tends to dip before the autumn surge. However, when compared with the october 2019 edition, the last pre covid year, the festival experienced a 44 percent decline in total attendance. This juxtaposition highlights a strong recovery trajectory since the reopening of cultural events, while also reflecting lingering shifts in audience behavior and scheduling preferences that tend to favor autumn months for large-scale cinema events.
For fece, the main federation representing cinema participants, the results are described as very positive. The organization notes that after the may edition, the festival is showing healthy growth and a steady return to pre pandemic benchmarks. FECE officials emphasize that continued momentum in future editions is essential to stabilize attendance levels and to reinforce the event’s role as a platform for industry networking, film discovery, and regional cultural impact.
The lineup featured a diverse mix of genres and high-profile titles. The most watched film was the horror sensation Smile, followed by a high-profile re-enactment of Avatar and a gripping thriller set in a Spanish prison, Model 77, directed by Parker Finn. Other notable screenings included Avengers-style spectacle Avatar Again, Olivia Wilde’s Don’t Worry Dear, the Spanish animated adventure Tadeo Jones 3: The Emerald Tablet, and the romantic comedy Journey to Heaven featuring Julia Roberts and George Clooney. Spanish comedy La Vida Padre, starring Karra Elejalde and Enric Auquer, also drew significant crowds. In a surprising early surge, Oriol Paulo’s Los renglones torcidos de dios entered the rankings despite its four-day window, underscoring the festival’s ability to spotlight strong performers across a crowded slate. Meanwhile, Train with Brad Pitt and Wild Girl added international appeal to the week, reinforcing the festival as a nexus for global cinema fans and local audiences alike.
The festival began on monday, october 3, with a turnout of 201,013 attendees and showed a steady rise through the week. Tuesday welcomed 282,864 visitors, while Wednesday saw 408,776 attendees. The final day on Thursday, october 6, brought the total to 399,146 participants in theaters across the region, signaling a sustained level of engagement that exceeded many expectations for a post pandemic edition and laying a strong foundation for continued growth in forthcoming editions. The data reflect not only audience interest but also the successful coordination of festival programming, venue operations, and audience services that together create a cohesive cinematic experience for diverse moviegoers.