San Sebastian Film Festival 2025
The 73rd edition of the San Sebastian Film Festival took place from September 19th to 27th, and it was an event to remember. The festival saw the participation of numerous talented filmmakers and actors from around the world.
The Winners
The Golden Shell for the best film was awarded to Alauda Ruiz von Azúa’s "Sunday". This is Ruiz de Azúa’s second feature film, following her previous work "Lullaby", which was featured in the Berlinale Panorama. She is also the fifth woman to win the top award at the San Sebastian Film Festival.
The Special Jury Prize was awarded to José Luis Guerin’s "Good Valley Stories", a documentary set in a suburb of Barcelona. The Silver Shell for the best director was awarded to Joachim Lafosse for his film "Six Days in Spring", a family drama that also won the prize for the best script.
Acting Awards
The Silver Shell for the best leading performance was awarded ex-aequo to José Ramon Soroiz for his role in "Maspalome" and Zhao Xiaohong for her role in "Your Heart Beats in a Cage". The Silver Shell for the best supportive performance was awarded to Camala Teler for her role in "Belén".
Other Awards
The Jury Prize for the best cinematography was awarded to Pau Estévez for his work on "The Tigers". The Kutxabank-New Directors Award was given to Emilie Thalund for her film "Weightless". The Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Award was awarded to Lucile Hadzihalilovic for her film "The Ice Tower".
Audience Awards
The audience award, which comes with a €50,000 prize, was awarded to Kaouther Ben Hania’s "The Voice of Hind Rajab". The audience award for European film was awarded to "Little Amélie", directed by Mallde’s Witness and Lie-Cho Han.
Gaza: A Prominent Topic
Gaza was a prominent topic at the festival, with a demonstration taking place in the streets of the Basque City, attended by thousands of people, including the festival director José Luis Rebordinos and Spanish Cultural Minister Ernest Urtasun. The issue was also discussed at press conferences, with Jennifer Lawrence, recipient of the Honorary Donostia Award, stating that what happens in Gaza is "nothing less than a genocide and unacceptable".
Conclusion
The San Sebastian Film Festival 2025 was a successful event, showcasing a wide range of films and talents from around the world. The winners of the various awards were announced at the final ceremony, and the festival came to a close with the screening of Kasia Adamik’s "Winter of the Crow".
