Mayalen Belloki has been appointed director of Spain’s San Sebastian Film Festival. Belloki has been one of the deputy directors of the San Sebastian Film Festival since 2016 and will succeed José Luis Rebordinos in January 2027.
Rebordinos has announced his intention to step down as San Sebastian’s manager at the end of this year, ending his 16-year tenure as San Sebastian’s manager, making him the club’s longest-serving manager. During that time, the Cannes Film Festival has experienced remarkable stability and growth in prestige, industry engagement and attendance, and international influence and partnerships, including the showcase of Projecta Projects at Ventana Sur, held in collaboration with the Cannes Film Festival Marche du Film.
Mr. Lebordinos’ resignation was known, but his successor was not. Bellochi was unanimously selected by San Sebastian’s Executive Committee following a public call for candidates that began on March 4th.
Beloki knows festivals inside and out. Her appointment most likely signals that, at least in the festival’s short term, Beloqui has been proactive in helping spearhead San Sebastian’s important initiatives, including its transformation from a one-off event in September to a year-round ecosystem, announced Monday. The festival is embodied in the Z365 initiative, which focuses on nurturing new talent (Ixmira Beliac’s residency program and Nest’s shorts showcase), education (Elias Shaw) and what the festival describes. Querejeta Zine Ezkola), the production of cinematic knowledge and critical thinking is embodied, for example, in the Artxiboa project.
A graduate of the University of Navarra, where he studied audiovisual communication, Belloki received his PhD (with honors) in the field of film theory, analysis and documentation from the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). She also serves on the academic committee of Elias Querejeta Gin Escola in San Sebastian, where she also lectures.
