In 2023, Spanish cinema reflected a year of reunions, bold returns, and striking variety. The year showcased fantasy animations, post‑war horror, underrated comedians, and a wry sense of black humor, with contributions that reached beyond pure genre into surprising western inflections. This season highlighted a robust landscape where both established names and fresh voices contributed to a rich national conversation about film and identity.
The Fantastic Golem Tale by Burnin’ Percebes
What unfolds when a man slips from a balcony and literally shatters into clay-like fragments? The duo Burnin’ Percebes explores this myth through a contemporary lens, drawing on the legend of the Jewish Golem to craft a narrative that blends whimsy with a sharp meditation on fragility and creation. The film invites viewers to consider how myths survive in modern life and how memory shapes what we fear and desire, offering a visually inventive and emotionally resonant experience. (Fuente: festival reviews)
They Know It, David Trueba
Following a deep dive into the intimate workings of the Pujol Ferrusola family in a miniseries, David Trueba shifts toward a biography of comedian Eugenio. The portrait, rooted in Catalan cultural history, balances warmth and scrutiny, acknowledging his significant achievements while openly examining the darker corners of a life in the public eye. The work functions as a meditation on fame, memory, and the complex legacy left by a performer who helped shape a generation. (Fuente: critical roundups)
Ruta Rescue by Marc Recha
A Balkans tragedy casts a long shadow over a small cast of characters: a dead woman, two gangsters, and a fragile plane. Marc Recha returns with a film famed for its visual richness, shot across the rugged landscapes of Cerdanya. By weaving thriller elements with a Western sensibility, the film builds a mood of suspense and moral ambiguity, inviting audiences to consider how past wounds echo through present choices. (Fuente: festival coverage)
Arrival (At the Entrance) by Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez
The feature “On Entry,” directed by two first‑time filmmakers, follows a Barcelona‑born couple and a Venezuelan counterpart as they face an immigration inquiry at a New York airport. The film traces themes of displacement, belonging, and the quiet courage required to navigate borderlands both literal and emotional. A debut that signals strong voices stepping into a complex, global conversation. (Fuente: critic notes)
Snow Society by JA Bayona
Juan Antonio Bayona revisits the 1972 Andes air tragedy with a distinct approach, differentiating this project through its tonal choices and a more pronounced emphasis on the deceased rather than solely the survivors. The cinematic shift offers a reflective, somber lens on catastrophe and memory, presenting a narrative that respects the real people at its heart while crafting a powerful, cinematic mood. (Fuente: cinema journals)
Sister Death by Paco Plaza
Horror cinema meets the nun’s world in a fresh, provocative way. Paco Plaza crafts a story about a novice endowed with powers who undertakes teaching at a girls’ school in the post‑war period. The film examines faith, fear, and the pressures of tradition, delivering a chilling atmosphere that’s tempered by thoughtful character study. (Fuente: genre analyses)
Robot Dreams by Pablo Berger
Pablo Berger, a filmmaker known for his restless experimentation, revisits a whimsical spirit with an animated tale set between a New York dog and his robot companion. The movie blends playful humor, imaginative visuals, and a touch of nostalgia to explore friendship across unlikely boundaries in a way that appeals to both younger audiences and seasoned cinephiles. (Fuente: animation spotlights)
Creatura by Elena Martín
Elena Martín returns with a second feature that follows a single character across three life stages: childhood, adolescence, and maturity. The film probes the inner landscape of a woman seeking to understand why desire can feel elusive, using a non‑linear structure and intimate performances to chart a personal journey toward self‑discovery. (Fuente: interview excerpts)
The Strange Lifestyle of Pedro Almodóvar
After a period of short‑form work, Pedro Almodóvar revisits the concise, concentrated mode that suits his storytelling. Inspired by Cocteau, and following The Human Voice, this project imagines a Western‑tinged scenario in which two men find themselves emotionally reunited. The result is compact, evocative, and richly scenic, revealing a filmmaker who remains deft at blending emotion with visual flair. (Fuente: director statements)
Especially at Night, Víctor Iriarte
The film creates a tense atmosphere through an epistolary structure, weaving absurd humor with varied visual styles around a heavy, time‑sensitive theme: missing children. A boy and his two mothers, longtime companions in his life, embark on a shared journey that becomes a voyage beyond ordinary perception. The performance by Lola Dueñas and Ana Torrent highlights a moment of narrative shift, marking this as Iriarte’s most storytelling‑forward work to date. (Fuente: Basque cinema notes)
The list of standout Spanish films of the year was compiled with votes from Quim Casas, Desirée de Fez, Juan Manuel Freire, Nando Salvà, and Rafael Tapounet. (Fuente: critics’ circle)