San Sebastian Film Festival Unveils New Directors Program
The San Sebastian Film Festival has announced the roster of filmmakers who will be showcasing their work in the New Directors segment of this year’s event, scheduled from September 18 to 26. Scroll down for the complete lineup.
Emerging filmmakers from a wide array of countries including Bulgaria, Chile, Germany, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, the UK, and Ukraine will be presenting their first or second feature films in this section.
The Bad Son (El mal hijo), directed by Jaime Lorente, will inaugurate the segment. According to the film’s description, the story begins with the mysterious disappearance of 11-year-old Ruben’s father, forcing him to live with his scarcely known grandmother in a timeless rural environment. Here, Ruben discovers that familial scars are inherited and seeks ways to mend them as he matures.
The program will conclude with Florid, the first film by Billy Lumby. This narrative follows Jamal, a young man diagnosed with schizophrenia, as he attempts to juggle his musical aspirations with his mental health struggles, medication, and drug use. Stopping his medication exacerbates his condition, intensifying the voices he hears. His relationship with Kyla, another resident, grows as he grapples with distinguishing reality from his troubled past.
Earlier this week, San Sebastian also revealed additional selections for its official competition. Notable entries include Mike Leigh’s latest film Tender Loving Care and My Sad Dead, a new series by Chilean director Pablo Larraín.
My Sad Dead will be shown in a feature-length format at the festival, featuring stars such as Mercedes Morán, Dolores Fonzi, and Carolina Álvarez. The narrative is based on four short stories by Mariana Enríquez and centers on Ema, a woman who can communicate with the dead.
Leigh’s Tender Loving Care will be presented at San Sebastian following its screening at TIFF. The film stars Marion Bailey, Paul Jesson, Kate O’Flynn, and Alice Bailey Johnson, and is described by San Sebastian as an “insightful exploration of the contemporary world,” though no detailed synopsis is provided.
The 2026 New Directors Lineup:
El mal hijo / The Bad Son
Jaime Lorente (Spain)
Country(ies) of production: Spain. Cast: Miguel Ángel Puro, Susi Sanchéz, Hugo Arbués, Óscar de la Fuente, Abel de la Fuente
Opening Film
When 11-year-old Ruben’s father mysteriously disappears, the boy has to move in with his grandmother, a woman he barely knows. In a rural setting where time seems to have stood still, the child will learn that family wounds are passed down from one generation to another, and will try to find a way to heal them as he grows.
Florid
Billy Lumby (United Kingdom)
Country(ies) of production: United Kingdom – Sweden. Cast: Jonathan Jules, Saskia Chana, Unknown T
Closing Film
Jamal, diagnosed with schizophrenia, lives in a supported housing block. Frustrated by his medication’s side effects, he stops taking it, causing the voices he hears to become more frequent and extreme. As his mood shifts unpredictably, Jamal befriends Kyla, another resident. As the voices intensify, Jamal struggles to distinguish between reality and his troubled past.
Bloques erráticos / Erratics
Thomas Woodroffe (Chile)
Country(ies) of production: Chile – France – Argentina. Cast: Denis Lavant, Daniel Muñoz
A ghost freed from a century-long entrapment in a glacier roams a futuristic Patagonia, where technological advancement clashes with forgotten tales. Eager to have his cinematic legacy acknowledged, he traverses a world that has erased him from memory, seeking both historical recognition and an audience for his lost works.
And many more films spanning diverse genres and styles from around the world, each offering a unique glimpse into the creative visions of up-and-coming filmmakers.
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