San Sebastian 2026: The First Ten Films in Competition

The 74th edition of the San Sebastian Festival is set to take place from September 18 to 26, 2026, in the picturesque Basque Country of Spain. As the festival approaches, the selection committee has announced the titles of seven international films vying for the prestigious Golden Shell, following the earlier reveal of three Spanish productions. This year’s competition is expected to feature around fifteen films, with more titles to be announced in the coming weeks.

Last year, the jury, led by Spanish director J.A. Bayona, awarded the Golden Shell to Les Dimanches by Alauda Ruiz De Azua, which premiered in French cinemas earlier in February. Many of the films competing at San Sebastian in 2025 had already been released in France, including Deux pianos by Arnaud Desplechin and Franz K. by Agnieszka Holland, alongside more recent entries like Nuremberg by James Vanderbilt.

In contrast to the Venice selection for 2026, the lineup for Donostia, the Basque name for San Sebastian, already includes three female directors. Among them are French filmmaker Nicole Garcia, who recently showcased her film Amants in Venice, and Turkish director Yesim Ustaoglu, who won the Golden Shell in 2008 with La Boîte de Pandore. Additionally, the festival welcomes back familiar faces from the European festival circuit.

Among the notable entrants is the renowned British director Mike Leigh, who has notably been overlooked by major festivals like Berlin, Cannes, and Venice in recent years. His previous film, Deux sœurs, was featured in Spain in 2024. Also participating is prolific Chilean director Pablo Larrain, whose recent works have been heavily associated with Netflix, despite the recent theatrical release of Maria, a biopic on Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie.

The 10 Films Competing at the 74th San Sebastian Festival

1. 5 minutos mas (Spain) by Javier Ruiz Caldera, starring Javier Cámara and Berto Romero, with no release date in France.
2. Artakalan (Turkey) by Yesim Ustaoglu, featuring Öykü Karayel and Metin Akdülger, with no release date in France.
3. Glaxo (Brazil) by Benjamin Naishtat, starring Lali Esposito and Marcelo Subiotto, with no release date in France.
4. El mal padre (Spain) by Roberto Bueso, featuring Eduard Fernandez and Adam Jezierski, with no release date in France.
5. Markens grøde (Norway) by Hans Petter Moland, starring Herbert Nordrum and Asta Kamma August, with no release date in France.
6. Milo (France) by Nicole Garcia, featuring Marion Cotillard and Théodore Pellerin, scheduled for release in France on January 20, 2027.
7. Mis muertos tristes (Argentina) by Pablo Larrain, starring Mercedes Morán and Dolores Fonzi, with no release date in France.
8. Muyou No Hito (Japan) by Maha Harada, featuring Yu Aoi and Issey Ogata, with no release date in France.
9. Sants (Spain) by Mikel Gurrea, starring Victoria Luengo and Ariadna Gil, with no release date in France.
10. Tender Loving Care (United Kingdom) by Mike Leigh, featuring Marion Bailey and Paul Jesson, with no release date in France.

As the festival draws nearer, anticipation builds for the diverse range of films that will highlight the event, reflecting both emerging talent and established filmmakers from around the globe.