The Canary Islands return this year to the San Sebastián Film Festival, the most important in Spain and one of the most prestigious in Europe. It will take place from 19th to 27th September. In fact, the opening day will feature the premiere of the island film, ‘La Lucha’, by José Alayón and Viaje Films. It has been selected within the New Directors section, which is supported by grants from the Government of the Canary Islands (Development and Production). Additionally, there will be screenings of six other films linked to the islands and a networking event, showcasing ‘success stories’ of island companies that have become minority co-producers in major national and international productions. The Canary Islands will feature seven films related to the islands at the San Sebastián Film Festival.
This professional meeting has been organised by the autonomous government through ICDC and Proexca under the umbrella brand Canary Islands Film. It will focus particularly on one of its latest support lines for the sector, known as the Minority Co-Production Fund. This allows island companies to participate as ‘minority co-owners’ in high-budget productions taking place in other parts of the world.
The Director General of Cultural Innovation and Industries, Cristóbal de la Rosa, stated that “this year’s aim is to bring together industry stakeholders attending the professional market linked to the Festival. To present them with the opportunities this tool opens up if they are seeking partners for their upcoming productions. It will be an event where they can also hear directly from two Canary companies that have succeeded by accessing these funds.”
This meeting, traditionally known as ‘Canarias en foco’, will take place on Tuesday 23rd at 19:30 in the Kursaal press room. As part of the Industry area, the market section of the festival where contacts are established and deals are made in this industry, it will feature the participation of Migdalia Machín, Councillor for Universities, Science, Innovation and Culture; Pablo Martín Carbajal, CEO of Proexca; and Cristóbal de la Rosa, Director General of Innovation and Cultural Industries.
Representing the Canary companies sharing their experiences with these funds will be Jairo López from El Viaje Films, who will discuss his experience as a minority co-producer on the project ‘Magallanes’. This film was selected at the last edition of the Cannes Film Festival and will be presented for the 2026 Oscars on behalf of the Philippines. Elena López from Mararía Films, who similarly participated in the project ‘Ameba’, selected at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, will also share her experience throughout the process.
‘La Lucha’
Seven titles linked to the Canary Islands will be part of this year’s edition of the San Sebastián Festival. Notably, ‘La Lucha’, the new feature film by José Alayón, will compete in the New Directors section, dedicated to the first and second works of filmmakers with a distinctive proposal. This project has also accessed several funding tools from the Government’s Culture department, including grants for Development in 2020 and Production in 2021, with its premiere scheduled for Friday 19th at 22:30.
Filmed entirely in Fuerteventura, the film delves into the universe of Canarian wrestling. It follows the characters of Miguel and his daughter Mariana as they cope with the loss of their mother in a context defined by this traditional sport. Featuring non-professional actors with genuine ties to wrestling, the film offers an intimate look at grief, generational transmission, and collective identity.
Directed by Canarian filmmaker José Alayón, known for ‘Slimane’ and as a producer of titles such as ‘Dead Slow Ahead’ or ‘El mar nos mira de lejos’, the screenplay was penned by Marina Alberti and Samuel M. Delgado, with cinematography by Mauro Herce and editing by Emma Tusell. The film is a co-production between El Viaje Films (Spain) and Blond Indian Films (Colombia), supported by Ibermedia, MEDIA Creative Europe, ICAA, the Government of the Canary Islands, the Cabildo of Tenerife, and Televisión Canaria, alongside the collaboration of Macaronesia Films, the Canarian Federation of Canarian Wrestling, and various local councils and clubs on the island.
Other films linked to the Canary Islands at San Sebastián
In the official section, the feature film shot in the Canary Islands, ‘Maspalomas’, directed by Jose Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi, will compete for the Golden Shell. Set in the Gran Canarian locality that lends it its title, the film explores identity conflicts, social silences, and emotional wounds through the character Vicente, played by Jose Ramon Soroiz. The production companies involved are Irusoin, Moriarti, and Maspalomas Pelikula AIE.
In the Made in Spain section, the documentary short ‘Abril, hoy no es invierno’, directed by Mabel Lozano, produced by Videoreport Canarias and Mafalda Entertainment, filmed in the Canary Islands and Málaga, highlights a true story of sexual violence against a young woman with cerebral palsy who managed to call for help through alternative communication methods.
Also featured is ‘En silencio’, a documentary directed by Canarian Sara Sálamo, detailing the recovery of her husband, footballer Isco Alarcón, after a fibula injury leading to two surgeries. The production was handled by Montauk Canarias. The feature film ‘Todo lo que no sé’ by Ana Lambarri, from the Canarian producer Naif Films, explores life decisions that can shake one’s environment, and ‘Fragmentos’ by Horacio Alcála, from the Canarian La Noria Producciones, filmed on the islands, delves into conflicts in romantic relationships.
Additionally, in the Culinary Zinema section, ‘Uno de los nuestros: Legado Joan Roca’, directed by Jorge Fernández Mayoral and Virginia Jönas Urigüen, produced by the island company La Caña Sisters, will be screened; and in the Children’s section, the animated film ‘Heidi, el rescate del lince’ by the Canarian 3 Doubles Producciones team.
Towards the Other Shore
Furthermore, the Canary Islands have been invited to participate in a professional co-production meeting with Uruguay, Brazil, Colombia, and the Dominican Republic, organised by the ACAU – Agency for Film and Audiovisual of Uruguay. This island participation follows Canary Islands Film’s presence at the Ventana Sur market, the most important in Latin America, held in the Uruguayan capital in 2024, where this contact and mutual interest between producers from both shores was established. The Canary Islands have become a key partner for co-production, exemplified by this professional meeting to which they have been invited.
The Canary Islands at the San Sebastián Film Festival with seven films linked to the islands
