San Sebastián International Film Festival 2025: Highlights You Can’t Miss
- Hugo Gonzalez
- Sep 28
- 3 min read
Every September, San Sebastián (Spain) transforms into the beating heart of international cinema. The 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival (SSIFF) once again brought together star power, daring premieres, and cinematic buzz that had film lovers talking from the Kursaal to the seaside pintxo bars. With roughly 200 films across Official Selection, New Directors, Horizontes Latinos, Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, Perlak, Nest, and special sections like Culinary Zinema and Klasikoak, the festival
proved why it’s a cornerstone of the global film calendar.
The award ceremonies were unforgettable this year. The standout moment came when Jennifer Lawrence received the most important award of the night, the Donostia Award, becoming the youngest recipient in history. The honor was presented by J.A. Bayona, the acclaimed Spanish director of movies like The Impossible, A Monster Calls, and The Society of the Snow, adding a homegrown touch to an international celebration. That same night, Lawrence also screened her new film called Die, My Love, a hunting psychological drama about postpartum psychosis. The screening underscored the festival’s appetite for risk-taking, emotionally charged performances.
Álvarez. Retrieved from Getty Images.
This edition also celebrated Spanish cinema icons. Marisa Paredes, muse of the renowned director Pedro Almodóvar and a longstanding figure in the national cinematic landscape, was honored, reminding audiences that the festival is
much about local pride as international recognition.
Beyond Lawrence and Paredes, the festival saw Angelina Jolie make her first
appearance in Donostia, presenting Couture, directed by Alice Winocour. The film follows a filmmaker navigating a breast cancer diagnosis during Paris Fashion Week. Jolie’s presence brought glamour, vulnerability, and a politically aware voice, and her appearance on the rain-drenched red carpet alongside co-stars Louis Garrel and Garance Marillier became one of the festival’s most memorable moments.
Must-See Films of the SSIFF 2025 Edition
While stars and awards grabbed headlines, the films themselves delivered the emotional core. Among the must-sees:
Die, My Love – Jennifer Lawrence gives a gripping performance in Lynne Ramsay’s adaptation of Ariana Harwicz’s novel. Its raw intensity and psychological depth made it a festival highlight.
Couture – Angelina Jolie shines in a stylish yet deeply human film, blending the worlds of art, fashion, and personal struggle.
Sirāt – Óliver Laxe’s meditative desert journey about a father and son searching for a missing daughter captivated audiences with its visual poetry and quiet emotional power.
The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo – Diego Céspedes’ debut mixes identity, illness, and queer narratives in a Chilean mining town, combining symbolism and emotional resonance.
The Message (El Mensaje) – An Argentine-Spanish road drama that balances lyrical pacing with intimate reflections, offering a contemplative cinematic experience.
Closing the Curtain
San Sebastián is never just about films; it’s about place. Screening spills into the night, discussions migrate from theaters to local bars, and the Basque coast itself becomes part of the storytelling. This year, themes of transformation like motherhood, illness, artistic reinvention, and political consciousness penetrated the programming. The fact that a Spanish director like J.A. Bayona presented the Donostia Award to Lawrence added symbolic resonance: a bridge between local pride and global recognition.
Initiatives like free tickets for unemployed locals and audience-voted awards emphasized the festival’s democratic and inclusive spirit. The Perlak section,
showcasing films that already impressed at other festivals, allowed audiences to engage with celebrated works in an intimate setting. Culinary Zinema tributes
gastronomy, local culture, and cinema into a festival experience that is both high-profile and warmly communal.
In short, the 73rd edition of the SSIFF managed the delicate balance between glamour, star power, and cinematic depth. It reminded everyone that cinema is alive, evolving, and best experienced in a community that values both discovery and shared celebration.
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