“In our call to action today, we echo the numerous demands worldwide to halt the ongoing genocide, such as the one occurring in Gaza,” stated Fariba Sheikhan and Mariona Terés during their introductory speech at the San Sebastián Film Festival.
“We also express our solidarity with Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, directors of the film Naza, who have faced threats from the Israeli government,” they continued. Their statement was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience gathered in the Kursaal auditorium of the festival.
Reflecting a common stance among Spain’s political and cultural forums, the San Sebastián Film Festival has been vocal about the violent actions in Gaza by Israel. In the previous year, the festival publicly demanded an “immediate ceasefire” and denounced the “unimaginable massacres” inflicted on the Palestinian people by Benjamin Netanyahu’s government following the terrorist act by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
This political undertone marked the entirety of this year’s opening ceremony, which will continue through September 26.
The festival commenced tonight with the screening of Fatih Akin’s fantasy drama Ghost Song, competing in the festival. Other notable entries include Jesse Eisenberg’s The Debut featuring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti; Pablo Larraín’s Netflix horror series My Sad Dead (Mis muertos tristes); the global debut of Fred Cavayé’s version of Les Misérables; Mike Leigh’s Tender Loving Care; Ah Biao’s first Chinese-language film Border; and Nicole Garcia’s Milo starring Marion Cotillard. The event will conclude with Michaël R. Roskam’s Le Faux Soir.
This year, Werner Herzog and Naomi Watts were honored with the festival’s prestigious awards. Herzog received his accolade during the opening night, presented by Orlando Bloom, his co-star in Bucking Fastard. Bloom praised Herzog’s enduring ability to “surprise and inspire audiences globally” through his innovative filmmaking.
“The ingenuity and boldness in his approach to filmmaking, his readiness to explore unanticipated paths, have been his trademark for decades,” Bloom remarked.
“He consistently delves into extreme natural environments, the unusual facets of human behavior, or the thin lines between reality and fiction. Werner has continually treated filmmaking as an explorative journey. What I particularly respect is his persistent quest behind every film project,” he added.
Upon accepting his award, Herzog recognized Bloom as a “living legend” and shared his deep connection to the Basque region, inspired by his 1972 film Aguirre, the Wrath of God, which portrayed Basque soldier Lope de Aguirre.
“This region feels like home to me; it’s a land rich in poetry and poets, and I am deeply honored to receive this recognition from such a vibrant cultural community,” Herzog expressed.
The festival also paid heartfelt tributes to José Luis Rebordinos, the outgoing festival director, who is concluding his tenure after 17 years.
Carlos Prada, Senior Vice President of Local Productions at Warner Bros. Spain, took the stage to commend Rebordinos for his pivotal role in enhancing the festival’s stature as a major international film festival and a cultural landmark.
Following Rebordinos, Maialen Beloki, his deputy, will assume the directorship in January 2027. “With her extensive experience and profound understanding of the festival over the last seventeen years, Maialen is exceptionally well-prepared to lead,” Rebordinos shared with Deadline in a recent interview.
The interview with Rebordinos can be found here.
The San Sebastián Film Festival will wrap up on September 26.
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