Andreu Buenafuente and Berto Romero to Host Opening Gala at 72nd San Sebastian Festival in Spain
The 72nd edition of the San Sebastian Festival, one of Spain's premier film events, will open with a gala hosted by the popular Catalan comedians Andreu Buenafuente and Berto Romero on Friday, September 20th. Joining them on stage at the Kursaal Auditorium will be actress Bárbara Goenaga, with the event set to broadcast live on La 2 de TVE, RTVE Play, ETB1, eitb.eus, and the festival's website. The gala will precede the world premiere of "Emmanuelle," directed by Audrey Diwan. Additionally, actor Javier Bardem will finally receive his Donostia Award, which was delayed last year due to the actors’ strike. The prestigious FIPRESCI Grand Prix will also be presented to Yorgos Lanthimos for "Poor Things," and the members of the Official Jury will be introduced.
In anticipation of the closing gala on Saturday, September 28th, actors Itziar Ituño and Malcolm Treviño-Sitté will take over hosting duties. The event will conclude with the screening of John Crowley’s "We Live in Time," starring Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh. The closing ceremony will also be broadcast on the same channels as the opening.
The festival’s two Donostia Award galas will feature prominent international figures. On September 21st, Cate Blanchett will be honored, with actress Marta Etura presenting the award. Following the ceremony, Blanchett’s latest film, "Rumours," directed by Guy Maddin alongside Evan and Galen Johnson, will screen. Blanchett portrays a German chancellor navigating a G7 summit amidst a global crisis in the film. The ceremony will be broadcast live on ETB4 and eitb.eus, with delayed broadcasts on La 2 and RTVE Play.
The second Donostia Award of the festival will be bestowed upon acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar on Thursday, September 26th. The presentation, hosted by actor Eneko Sagardoy, will be followed by a screening of Almodóvar’s film "La habitación del al lado" ("The Room Next Door"), featuring Tilda Swinton. The ceremony will be televised on ETB4, eitb.eus, La 2, and RTVE Play.
El Terrat (The Mediapro Studio) will be responsible for directing and scripting all four major gala events, continuing its long-standing collaboration with the festival.
Tickets for the opening and closing galas, priced at €80, will be available for purchase starting tomorrow, September 3rd, through the festival’s website and Kutxabank. Tickets for the Donostia Award ceremonies will be sold for €50.
In addition to these major events, the Zinemaldia Plus+ program will screen tributes to the Donostia Award recipients at the Tabakalera shared screen. On September 7th, Richard Eyre’s "Notes on a Scandal" (2006), featuring Cate Blanchett and Judi Dench, will be shown, while a tribute to Almodóvar on September 14th will include screenings of three of his short films: "Extraña forma de vida" ("Strange Way of Life"), "La voz humana" ("The Human Voice"), and "La concejala antropófaga" ("The Cannibalistic Councillor").
Donostia Award Screenings:
- "Rumours" / Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, Galen Johnson / Canada, Germany
- "Notes on a Scandal" / Richard Eyre / UK, USA
- "Extraña forma de vida" ("Strange Way of Life") / Pedro Almodóvar / Spain
- "La voz humana" ("The Human Voice") / Pedro Almodóvar / Spain
- "La concejala antropófaga" ("The Cannibalistic Councillor") / Pedro Almodóvar / Spain