Isabel Coixet, directing an adaptation of Sara Mesa’s rural drama Un amor, along with Juana Macías presenting El kindness, Patricia Font with The teacher who promised the sea, Jenifer Castañeda with Gleich, and Paloma Zapata’s La singla are among the Spanish-speaking directors contributing to a notably diverse lineup. The festival spotlights feature documentaries, a return of Captain Marvel, and Doraemon in a cosmic cat showcase.
‘One Love’
Seven Goya and 2020 National Cinematography Award recipient Isabel Coixet brings to the screen an adaptation of Sara Mesa’s rural drama Un amor. The film follows Nat, a thirty-something woman portrayed by Laia Costa, whose inner conflicts surface as she seeks a fresh start in a quiet town. Hidden wounds drive her to seek refuge in a place far from her prior life, setting the stage for a tense exploration of resilience and survival.
The new setting proves hostile. The rented house is dilapidated, and the landlord, played by Luis Bermejo, embodies a dismissive sexism that blocks real help. Neighbors present themselves with smiling faces but offer little sincerity, their kindness revealing itself as fragile and self-serving (cast includes Hugo Silva, Ingrid García-Jonsson, Francesco Lane). In a desperate moment, Nat agrees to an uncomfortable sexual proposition from Andreas (Hovik Keuchkerian), the sole contact she has in this fragile new world.
‘wonderful’
The Marvels, a sequel to Captain Marvel (2019), returns with Brie Larson in the lead, yet this time the focus is collective: a trio of women navigate a superhero universe that finally centers female strength. The project is directed by Nia DaCosta, who also wrote the screenplay, with Megan McDonnell and Elissa Karasik contributing to the script. The narrative is streamlined enough that audiences can enjoy it without needing exhaustive knowledge of the broader Marvel cosmos.
The film’s accessible premise lets the superhero genre breathe, offering a clear throughline about collaboration and empowerment within a world packed with extraordinary powers. The storytelling emphasizes character bond and shared purpose over solo heroics, inviting viewers to root for a practical, modern team dynamic.
‘Goodness’
Juana Macías, known for comedies such as Pregnant or Under the same roof, shifts to a topic that blends humor with family revelations in El Favor. The film digs into family secrets and social dynamics, using wit to expose class tensions and misunderstandings that resonate across generations.
The Gallardo family embodies privilege and status, vacationing at a luxurious farmhouse run with meticulous care by Amparito (Luisa Gavasa). Teresa (Inma Cuesta), Benja (Diego Martín), and Aura (Sara Sálamo) form a tight-knit trio whose lives are upended when news arrives of a death. They return to town to bid farewell and confront a history that will force them to reconsider loyalties, memory, and the price of keeping appearances intact.
‘The teacher who promised the sea’
Patricia Font uses a historical lens to tell the life of Antoni Benaiges, a Republican teacher executed in a Burgos town before the Civil War. His innovative pedagogy promised students the knowledge of the sea, a future-inspiring dream that becomes a beacon of resistance. The narrative follows Ariadna (Laia Costa) as she learns that her grandfather searched for his own past, guiding a journey to Burgos to exhume a mass grave and uncover the truth about those lost during the conflict. Through the rediscovered memory of Antoni Benaiges (Enric Auquer), the film explores education, memory, and the scars of history.
‘La Singla’
Paloma Zapata, acclaimed for documentaries like Peret, yo soy la rumba and work with Izal and Vestusta Morla, profiles a revolutionary flamenco dancer in La Singla. The documentary chronicles Antonia Singla, deemed one of the era’s greatest flamenco artists, whose nearly complete deafness did not silence her art. Born with a failing sense of hearing, Singla transformed the stage during the 1960s and vanished from performance just before she reached thirty. Her story is a vivid testament to resilience and artistic risk.
‘Gleich’
Canarian filmmaker Jennifer Castañeda adapts her own novel in Gleich, a feature debut that follows Kellen, a child who has not spoken since his mother died. The narrative threads a quiet, introspective journey—from Dresden, where his father lived, to the island of El Hierro—where he befriends Manuel, an elderly man with a developmental disability. Their bond crosses language barriers, forming a powerful, wordless companionship that anchors the film’s emotional core. The unspoken connection becomes the heart of a story about healing, friendship, and the solace found in unlikely relationships.
‘Seed of the Son’
The documentary Semilla del Son, directed by Juanma Villar, takes viewers on a road movie through the experiences of musician and composer Santiago Auserón. Debuting to cinema after a world premiere at the San Sebastián Festival, the film reflects on a pivotal visit to Cuba in 1984 that shaped Auserón’s musical trajectory. The documentary intertwines personal memory with the broader currents of musical history and cultural exchange.
‘The importance of being called Ernesto and the absurdity of being called Eric’
César Martínez Herrada directs a biographical portrait about Eric Jiménez, drummer of Los Planetas and Lagartija Nick. The film offers an intimate look at a singular artist on Spain’s vibrant music scene, tracing a career that spans influential movements and enduring collaborations. The storytelling highlights the quirks, passions, and eccentricities that define Jiménez as a cultural figure.
The memory of cinema: a film about Fernando Méndez-Leite
Moisés Salama directs a documentary honoring Fernando Méndez-Leite, a pivotal figure in the history of Spanish cinema. The biography weaves life stories with the larger evolution of Spanish cinema, linking personal memory to broader cultural shifts and political milestones that shaped the industry.
The filmography and memory presented in the documentary cover not only cinema but also the intertwined cultures, politics, and social changes that have defined the national screen industry over decades.
‘Rioja, the land of a thousand wines’
José Luis López-Linares shines a light on Rioja in a documentary exploring the region’s wine heritage. The film aims to capture the moment of wine-making’s evolution, highlighting the talents of new generations alongside renowned historic cellars. The narrative invites viewers to taste the terroir’s past and present through a cinematic lens, blending landscape, craft, and tradition.
‘God’s Bullet’
Nick Cassavetes, son of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, presents his latest feature, The Bullet of God. This dark thriller follows Detective Bob Hightower as he plunges into a dangerous cult in a bid to rescue his kidnapped daughter and avenge the murder of his wife. The cast includes Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jamie Foxx, and January Jones, delivering a high-stakes, vigilante-inflected suspense experience.
‘Tiger 3’
Maneesh Sharma directs Tiger 3, scripted by Aditya Chopra, reuniting Tiger (Salman Khan) and Zoya (Katrina Kaif) in a mission to safeguard the country and their family. Personal motives sharpen the action as vengeance intersects with duty, heightening the franchise’s signature blend of international intrigue and personal stakes.
‘Doraemon: Nobita’s New Dinosaur’
Kazuaki Imai directs the screenplay by Genki Kawamura for a modern take on a beloved manga franchise. In this reimagining of Doraemon, the iconic cosmic cat and his friends encounter a dinosaur exhibit where a mysterious fossil sparks adventure. Doraemon and the time scarf return the dinosaur eggs to their natural state, birthing two twin dinosaurs named Kyu and Myu, who join the journey.
‘Fauna’
Pau Faus juxtaposes the life of ailing shepherds living in a quiet forest near Barcelona with a high-tech laboratory researching animal vaccines. The documentary threads a stark contrast between traditional pastoral life and contemporary scientific pursuit, challenging the viewer to consider ethics, progress, and care in the modern world. A priest witnesses a fading tradition while scientists race toward breakthroughs in a post-pandemic era.
‘The return of the king’
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Return of the King, Warner Bros. is re-releasing The Lord of the Rings in Spain. Each film will arrive in the coming weeks, with The Fellowship of the Ring opening tomorrow through November 12; The Two Towers arriving November 17–19; and The Return of the King screening November 24–26. This retrospective invites new audiences to experience the trilogy’s enduring epic scale in a contemporary audiovisual landscape. (Citation: festival retrospective notes)