Despite not yet wrapping the 2025 star, crowned by a whopping 27 projects featured at Spain’s prestigious San Sebastian Film Festival, Catalonian film industry is already looking ahead.
If this year marks major festival hits like Carla Simon’s “Romelia,” Oliver Lacus’s “Silato,” and Eva Libertado’s “The Deaf,” 2026 appears to be set to lead another important wave of Catalan talent. “Pacifiction” director Albert Cera is preparing to premiere his English debut, “Out Out Of This World,” starring director Jokes and Cigarettes, while David Truba, director of “Jokes and Cigarettes,” works on his own novel in the unconventional romantic drama Always Winter. Spain’s favorite animated archaeologist has returned to another adventure with the fourth installment of Enrique Gato’s “Tadeo Jones” series.
There is plenty to offer when it comes to already established directors, but the New Year brings it a promising young talent crop. There are “Iván & Hadoum” by “Veneno” co-writer Ian de La Rosa, and “Iván & Hadoum” and “Sealskin” by director Irene Moray, who beat Goya.
Below you will find useful in tracking Catalonian projects to watch in 2026.
Director “Outside of This World.” Albert Serra
(Andergraun Films, Arte France Cinéma)
The English debut of Biting “Pacifiction” director “Out Out Of This World” is one of the hot titles in the Cannes film market this year, and may appear in Croisette in 2026. Riley Keow has replaced Kristen Stewart, previously attached in the previously attached project. The film, which is currently in post-production, is also characterized by Russian dialogue.
“Always Winter” (“Siempre Invierno”), dir. David Truba
(Ikiru Films, Atresmedia Cine, La Terraza Films, Blitz LaPelículaAie, the wrong man)
For the first time in his acclaimed career, Goya Award-winning Truba (“Jokes and Cigarettes”) has adapted one of his own novels and one of his best, the 2015 novel “Blitz.” “Always Winter” reunites the director with David Verdagger, who plays a 60s volunteer played by Isabelle Renauld (Eternity and a Day) and an architect in his 30s who unexpectedly fall in love with him during a job trip to Belgium. The film is currently in post-production. Film Factory handles sales.
“Iván & Hadoum”, dir. Ian de la Rosa
(Pecado Films, Vayolet, Port Au Prince, Saga Film)
The highly anticipated feature debut of “Ivan & Hadoum”, one of Spain’s top emerging talents, follows the honorable couple of Transman Ivan and Spain and Morocco. De Rasa co-written the hit HBO Max show “Veneno.” His brief “Falkas” was nominated for the Goya Award, won a Gaudi Award and became the first trans filmmaker to win such an award in Spain. The film is made in collaboration with RTVE, Canal Sur and Movistar+.
“Sealskin” (“Piel de Foca”), dir. Irene Morey
(Lastor Media, Vilaüt Films)
Moray, who won the Goya Award for her 2019 Best Short Film for Watermelon Juice, is currently working on her magical realist feature debut, “Sealskin.” After my grandmother passes away, cleaner flora gradually connects with the teacher who is becoming more transparent. With the help of a sensitive gardener, Flora takes care of her friends and tries to help her get out of a toxic relationship before she disappears forever. Collaboration with Filmin and Movistar Plus+.
“Santz” dir. Mikel Galea
(Lastor Media, Nocturna, Vilaüt Films)
Galea’s short films have performed at major festivals such as Venice and San Sebastian. His 2022 feature debut, “Slo,” won the Fiplesi Award at the Basque Festival and was awarded a Gaudi nomination for Best New Director. The director’s sophomore characterised by a sophomore currently in pre-production tells the story of a young woman struggling to look after her dying mother.
“Tadeo Jones 4” (Tad the Lost Explorer 4); dir. Enrique Gat
(Telecinco Cinema, Lightbox Animation Studios, Ikiru Films, Anangu Grup, Tadeofilms)
A praised animation designer, Gato returns in another adventure starring Tadeo Stones, the character who won three Goyas. In this film, the Paramount Project, you will see archaeologists enter into a new territory, Time Traveling. When Momia jealous of Tad’s two-year-old daughter Olimpia, he travels back in time to try and stop the little girl from being born. The archaeologist and his wife chase the clock to save a beloved girl. The current production project is a question of whether the project is ready for Annecy bow in 2026.
“Good daughter” (“La Buena hija”), dir. Julia de Paz
(Avalon, Krater Films, Astra Pictures)
Following one of the Spanish directors in 2021 and winning the Berlin Talent Honorary Award, DePaz follows her debut, “AMA,” which won the Malaga victory in the family drama where young Carmela and her mother first found themselves moving to her grandmother’s house following the separation of her parents. The shadow of Carmela’s father, a plastic artist she idolatrously worships, sends the three women on a critical introspection journey to begin building the future they deserve. Through a collaboration between RTVE and Movistar+.
“Whale” (“Labarena”), dir. Sylver Petit
(Les Films D’Ici Méditerranée, Imagic, Iota Production)
“The Whale,” starring “Silato” and “Labyrinth of Pan,” Cesar winner Sergi Lopez, is the fictional feature debut of documentary and photographer Petit (Vivan Palmi les Vivanz). Set in a Mediterranean town in the fall of 1985, the film begins with the washed land of a dead whale. Wine grower Kobak is missioned to save skeletons from the threat of health, and the film is a film that explores connections with nature, the ocean and life. The film is currently being filmed.
