Julio Medem - Masterclass
Thursday 22nd of January 16:00 - 17:00
Julio Medem (San Sebastián, 1958), who holds a degree in Medicine from the University of the Basque Country, is one of Spain’s most renowned auteur filmmakers. As a screenwriter, director, and producer, he has made 12 feature films (11 fiction and 1 documentary), awarded at major national and international festivals.
His debut feature, Vacas (1992), won the Goya for Best New Director. The Red Squirrel (1993) was honored in Cannes, and Tierra (1996) competed in its official selection. Lovers of the Arctic Circle (1998) was nominated for the Golden Lion in Venice, and Sex and Lucía (2001) became an international hit, with 11 Goya nominations. His documentary Basque Ball (2003) broke audience records for Spanish documentary cinema.
Other highlights include Chaotic Ana (2007), Room in Rome (2010), ma ma (2015, starring Penélope Cruz), The Tree of Blood (2018), 8 (2025, Audience Award in Málaga and Best Screenplay in Malta) and the upcoming MINOTAURO. Picasso and the Women of Guernica (2026) - Currently in post-production.
As a producer, he founded Alicia Produce in 1997, through which he has developed both his own projects and international co-productions.
8 - Irish Premiere
Thursday 22nd of January 18:00 pm
Screening + Q&A Julio Medem - 8 Director
Year: 2025
Running time: 126 min.
Country: Spain
Director: Julio Medem
The 90 years of life of Octavio and Adela occur in 8 chapters, which are 8 moments, 8 sinuous planes in continuity in 8 decisive dates in the history of Spain, between 1931 and 2021. Octavio and Adela are born in two neighboring villages in a mountain range near Madrid at the very dawn of the proclamation of the Second Republic. Thus, from the first day, and without them knowing it, their destinies are connected, linked in the shape of an '8', two loops with a cross in the middle, while in the background Spain is passing by; the one that each one has to live through.
Miriam de Miguel - Industry Talk
Thursday 23nd of January 14:00 pm
Co-Producing with Spain
Miriam de Miguel Ezaguoi works as the Technical Advisor in the Subdirectorate General for Promotion and International Relations at the Spanish Institute for Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA) of the Ministry of Culture. With a solid background in cultural management, she is a civil servant of the Spanish Corps of Museum Curators and has held positions at The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation and the State Secretariat for Communication of the Presidency of the Government. She holds a B.A. in Art History from the Complutense University of Madrid and a master's degree in Museum Studies from New York University, where she studied on a Fulbright scholarship. Internationally, she has worked for the Visual Arts Department of the Americas Society in New York and at the Cultural Office of the Spanish Embassy in Washington DC. She currently combines her institutional work with a position as a Teaching Asistant at Syracuse University Madrid..
Romería/Pilgrimage
Friday 23rd of January 19:30 pm
Screening + Q&A Ana Pfaff - Romería Editor
Year: 2025
Running time:115 min.
Country: Spain
Director: Carla Simón
Marina travels to Vigo to meet the family of her biological father, who died of AIDS, like her mother, when she was very young. Through meetings with her uncles, aunts and grandparents, the young woman tries to reconstruct an account of her parents, but they are all too ashamed of the couple's drug conflicts, something Marina reminds them of with her presence. It will be the adolescent love story she lives with her cousin that allows her to reimagine her parents and connect with them. In this way, she invents a story, thanks to her mother's diary, which frees her from the stigma her family feels for them and fulfills the desire to understand the past... Film about family memory that closes the trilogy of its director composed by 'Verano 1993' and 'Alcarràs'.
Argentinian Short Block 1
Saturday 24th of January 11:00 pm
Screening + Music by Rocío Romero
The first session of this programme, dedicated to contemporary Argentine short films, invites us to reflect on the world and its many connections. In this selection, we will hear languages other than Spanish as spoken in Argentina. Encounters between people from different places, generations, and cultural backgrounds help us move closer to the beauty and diversity of our planet.
- Shakti (Martín Rejtman, 2019)
- Ulysses’ Canoe (Diego Fió, 2016)
- Three Prayers for Argentina (Nele Wohlatz, 2016)
- The Credentials (Manuel Ferrari, 2020)
Ana Pfaff - Masterclass
Saturday 24th of January 14:00 - 15:00 pm
Ana graduated from the ESCAC with a Degree in Film Editing & a Master's Degree in Contemporary Audiovisual and Film Studies from the UPF.
Included among her work as a Film Editor, of particular note is the multiple award-winning Estiu 1993 (directed by Carla Simón), which was the Spanish selection for the Academy Awards, and winner at festivals such as the 67th Berlinale, in Malaga, and the BAFICI. She received the Gaudi Award for Best Editing for this film, and was nominated for the CEC, Fénix Platino, and Goya Awards. In recent years, she has edited films that have been shown widely at international film festivals, winning numerous awards with Hamada (directed by Eloy Dominguez Serén), which debuted at IDFA and won Best Spanish Film at FIXG and Best First Feature at Visions du Réel; Els dies que vindran (directed by Carlos Maruqes-Marcet), which won Biznaga de Oro in Malaga; Con el viento (directed by Meritxell Colell Aparicio) and Ainhoa: yo no soy esa (directed by Carolina Astudillo), which also won in Malaga, the last of which earning Ana Best Filmmaker in Alcances for her editing; Niñato (directed by Adrián Orr,), which won Best Picture at the BAFICI and Visiones du Réel; Trinta Lumes (directed by Diana Toucedo), which was awarded by the critics in the D’A, and short subject films such as Buenos días resistencia (directed by Adrián Orr), which was chosen Best Documentary at Curtas Vila do Conde, La Inquilina (directed by Mar Coll), or Suc de Sindria (directed by Irene Moray). In the field of video art, of particular note is her work together with artists Juan Carlos Bracho and Momu & No Es with whom she has worked on numerous projects.
She teaches in the Postgraduate Editing Programme at the UPF/BSM, in the ECIB, in the ESCAC Undergraduate Programme, in EQZE, and in the FRAME Master's Programme. In addition, she has led workshops and masterclasses at various centres and festivals such as DocsMontevideo, Altos de Chavón, l’Alternativa, and FIJR. In 2018, she was selected to be part of the Editing Station at Berlinale Talents.
Sorda/Def
Saturday 24th of January 16:00 pm
Screening + Talk Nevenka Fernandez
Year:2025
Running time: 99 min.
Country: Spain
Director: Eva Libertad
Angela, a deaf woman, is going to have a baby with Hector, her hearing partner. The pregnancy brings to the surface her fears about motherhood and how she will be able to communicate with her daughter. The arrival of the child generates a crisis in the couple and leads Angela to face the upbringing of her daughter in a world that is not made for her. Feature film based on the 2021 short film of the same name.
Sorda/Def ISL Synopsis
Saturday 24th of January 16:00 pm
Screening + Talk Nevenka Fernandez
Year:2025
Running time: 99 min.
Country: Spain
Director: Eva Libertad
Angela, a deaf woman, is going to have a baby with Hector, her hearing partner. The pregnancy brings to the surface her fears about motherhood and how she will be able to communicate with her daughter. The arrival of the child generates a crisis in the couple and leads Angela to face the upbringing of her daughter in a world that is not made for her. Feature film based on the 2021 short film of the same name.
Eloy De la Iglesia, Addicted to Cinema - International Premiere
Saturday 24th of January 19:30 pm
Screening + Q&A Gaizka Urresti - Eloy de la Iglesia Director
Year: 2025
Running time: 95 min
Country: Spain
Director: Gaizka Urresti
Followed by a Q&A with Gaizka Urresti
DOCUMENTARY: A dauntless film director, an enfant terrible in his early days, confrontational with censorship, always pushing the boundaries of freedom of expression, chronicler of the darkest corners of the transition, De la Iglesia will fall into the clutches of drug addiction, being forgotten and sometimes repudiated for more than a decade before eventually shaking off the ostracism to make films once again, that habit he could never kick.
Gaizka Urresti - Extended Q&A
Saturday 24th of January 21:10 pm
Gaizka is a film director, producer, and screenwriter with a long and distinguished career in Spanish cinema. As a producer, he has worked with some of Spain’s most renowned filmmakers, including Carlos Saura, Agustí Villaronga, and Santiago Tabernero, among others.
As a director, Urresti has made 17 short films and 8 feature films, seven of them documentaries. His work includes acclaimed titles such as El Último Guion: Buñuel en la Memoria (2008), Autorretrato (2019), and Couples Therapy(2024). His films have received numerous awards, including the Goya Award for Best Short Film for Abstenerse Agencias (2014), and both the Goya Award and the Forqué Award for Best Documentary Feature for Labordeta, A Man Without More (2023).
This year, Gaizka Urresti presents Eloy de la Iglesia: Addicted to Cinema (2025), a documentary exploring the life and legacy of the provocative and influential Spanish filmmaker Eloy de la Iglesia. The film premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and has been screened at festivals such as Sitges Film Festival, among others. It is currently nominated for the Forqué Awards.
Buffalo Kids
Sunday 25th of January 11:00 pm
Screening + Kids Workshop
Year: 2024
Running time: 82 min.
Country: Spain
Director : Pedro Solís García, Juan Jesús García Galocha
Two Irish orphans travel to New York and embark on an exciting train journey to meet their uncle and claim his inheritance. While befriending a governess who is supervising another group of orphans, they must face an attack by bandits.
Paul Urkijo Alijo Masterclass
Sunday 25th of January 17:00 - 18:00 pm
Directing Fantasy
PAUL URKIJO ALIJO, screenwriter and film director
(1984, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country)
A passionate filmmaker with a deep interest in fantasy cinema, he is also an avid reader of mythology and traditional folk tales.
He graduated in Fine Arts in 2008 and began writing and directing his own fiction and animated short films. In 2016, he wrote, produced, and directed his first feature film, ERREMENTARI (The Blacksmith and the Devil), a fantasy film based on the Basque folklore tale Patxi Errementaria. The film is currently available on Netflix.
In 2023, he released his second feature film of fantasy and medieval mythology, IRATI, which became the most-watched Basque-language film in cinemas to date.
In 2025, he completed his third feature film, GAUA, which premiered in the Official Competition of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival 2025 and has been selected for the Official Selection of the International Film Festival Rotterdam 2026.
The films he has written and directed have received more than 130 national and international awards and over 400 selections worldwide, along with outstanding critical and audience acclaim from international media and viewers.
Feature Films:
GAUA (2025)
IRATI (2022)
ERREMENTARI (2018)
Short Films:
Dar-Dar (2020)
Naara (2015)
The Black Forest (2013)
Monsters Do Not Exist (2011)
Ohe azpiko Zera (2010)
Playing with Death (2010)
Director’s Reel:
Irati
Sunday 25th of January 19:30 pm
Screening + Q&A Paul Urkijo Alijo - Irati Director
Year: 2022
Running time: 111 min.
Country: Spain
Director: Paul Urkijo Alijo
The story follows Irati, a young girl who will guide a group of christian and muslim warriors through a journey in an ancient mythological world where everything that has a name exists, in an attempt to recover a lost treasure.
Argentinian Shorts Block 2
- Monday 26th of January 18:30 pm
The second session of this programme, dedicated to short films made in Argentina in recent years, is a tribute to cinephilia. Across these four works, we encounter narrative shifts towards observational documentary, the dreamlike worlds of surrealism, dialogues with other films, and deeply personal, first-person storytelling.
It is, without a doubt, a wonderful opportunity to immerse ourselves in the pure beauty of cinema.
Programme
Duration: 63 minutes
A Recurring Dream (Santiago Esteves, 2013)
I Killed Antoine Doinel (Nicolás Prividera, 2019)
The Forces (Paola Buontempo, 2018)
Imperfect Present (Iair Said, 2016)
Notes:Free admission until full capacity is reached.
Venue: Instituto Cervantes Dublin – Auditorium
Lincoln House, 6–16 Lincoln Place
D02 VH29
Ireland
Additional Information
Festival Presenter
Festival Presenter
Festival Presenter
Brian Nolan is a much-loved tour guide and storyteller in Galway, known for his warmth, humour, and deep knowledge of the city’s history and culture.
A natural communicator with a genuine love for people and place, Brian brings energy, generosity, and a strong sense of connection to every audience he meets. His presence as a presenter adds a welcoming Galway spirit to the festival, helping audiences feel at home while guiding them through the programme with ease and enthusiasm.
Live Music
Festival Presenter
Festival Presenter
Rocío Romero Grau is a musician and visual artist established in Galway since 2015. She developed amusical career in Catalonia as a pianist, singer, and composer. After finishing her classical studies (Madrid - Girona, 1997), she extended her education in modern music, contemporary notation, and voice (Girona,
2000-2005). With more than 20 years working in the creative industries as a performer and composer, she has successfully released four albums, each exploring a diverse range of musical styles including, classical, traditional, jazz, and pop-rock. As a performer she has delivered hundreds of concerts as a leading singer and pianist in different projects. Her musical career brought her to work with other artistic disciplines, such as musical theatre or audiovisual installations.
Special Guest
Festival Presenter
Special Guest
Nevenka Fernández is a highly valued member of the Spanish Film Festival Ireland board and a key voice within the festival’s commitment to socially engaged cinema. Her presence brings ethical clarity, courage, and a deep understanding of the personal and institutional consequences of speaking truth to power. Her life story is the subject of I Am Nevenka, directed by Icíar Bollaín. The film offers a sensitive and powerful portrayal of Nevenka’s decision, as a young councillor in Spain, to report sexual harassment by a senior political figure, an act that came at great personal cost and marked a turning point in public conversations around institutional abuse and accountability. As part of the festival, Nevenka will take part in a public talk, offering audiences the opportunity to engage directly with her reflections on justice, resilience, and the role of cinema in giving voice to lived experience. Her contribution is both human and essential to the spirit and values of the festival.
Venue 1
About Galway
Special Guest
Galway Arts Centre, located on Nuns Island in Galway city, is a well-established cultural venue dedicated to contemporary visual arts, film, and creative practice. With a strong focus on independent work and public engagement, it offers a welcoming and intimate space for screenings, talks, and cultural events.
Its central location and long-standing commitment to artistic excellence make Galway Arts Centre an ideal venue for festival activities.
Venue 2
About Galway
About Galway
The auditorium at the Instituto Cervantes Dublin is a modern and welcoming cultural space located at Lincoln House in the heart of Dublin. Designed to host film screenings, talks, and cultural events, it offers an intimate setting that encourages dialogue and engagement between artists and audiences. As a key venue for cultural exchange, the Instituto Cervantes auditorium provides an ideal environment for showcasing Spanish and international cinema within an educational and cultural context.
About Galway
About Galway
About Galway
Galway is a vibrant coastal city on Ireland’s west coast, internationally recognised for its rich cultural life and strong artistic community. Designated a UNESCO City of Film, Galway has a deep and longstanding relationship with cinema, storytelling, and screen culture.
Known for its welcoming atmosphere and close-knit creative scene, the city offers the perfect setting for a warm, intimate film festival. Compact, lively, and rich in cultural exchange, Galway brings together filmmakers and audiences in a way that feels both personal and internationally connected.
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