San Sebastián’s Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, now in its fifteenth edition, will present the new projects from Ignacio Acconcia, Selma Cervantes, Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, Rachel Daisy Ellis, Giorgio Giampà, Tana Gilbert, Santiago Loza, Matías Mariani, Ernesto Martínez Bucio, Celina Murga, Christopher Murray, Ingrid Pokropek, Mariana Rondón, Felipe Solari Yrigoyen and Azul Vanni Núñez, coming from nine countries.

The event will run from 21-23 September and the projects will be presented by their representatives to potential partners with a view to completing their funding and improving their access to international markets. To celebrate the Forum’s 15th anniversary, the Best Project Award increases its prize money to 30,000 euros.

Eight of the proposals will be the first or second films from their directors: Cara sucia / Dirty Face, by Ignacio Acconcia; El último sonidero / Mourning Sound, by Selma Cervantes; El último crucero / The Last Cruise, by Rachel Daisy Ellis; Isabel Hernández, by Giorgio Giampà; Este es el recuerdo que me gustaría tener de mamá / This is the Memory I Would Like to Have of Mom, by Ernesto Martínez Bucio, former student at the Elías Querejeta Zine Eskola and winner of the Best Film Award from the Berlinale’s Perspective section in 2025 with El diablo fuma (y guarda las cabezas de los cerillos quemados en la misma caja) / The Devil Smokes (and Saves the Burnt Matches in the Same Box); Las ilusiones /The illusions, by Ingride Pokropek; Los inexpertos / The Amateurs, by Felipe Solari Yrigoyen; and La revolución de las sirenas modernas / Modern Mermaids Revolution, by Azul Vanni Núñez.

The Forum will also provide the framework for the presentation of new projects from filmmakers who have already competed at the Festival: Diario inconsciente, by Santiago Loza, whose last participation was with Amigas en un camino de campo / Friends on a Country Road (Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, 2022); Piedras gigantes / Giant Stones, by Christopher Murray; Los ensayos / The Rehearsals, by Celina Murga, whose last visit to San Sebastian was with El aroma del pasto recién cortado / The Freshly Cut Grass (Horizontes Latinos, 2024); Te vienen a quitar tus congos / They're Taking Your Congos Away, by Nelson Carlo de los Santos Arias, winner of the Silver Bear for Best Director in Berlin with Pepe (Zabaltegi-Tabakalera, 2024); and Buscando a Sam / Looking for Sam, by Mariana Rondón, Golden Shell for Best Film in 2013 for Pelo malo / Bad Hair.

Completing the section are nine proposals from directors participating in San Sebastián for the first time: Mamá ceniza / Ash Mother, by Tana Gilbert, who with Malqueridas (2023) carried off the Grand Prix at the Critics’ Week in Venice, and O estranho menino / Nature Boy, by Matias Mariani, selected for the Berlinale Panorama 2020 with Cidade Pássaro / Shine Your Eyes.

Since its creation in 2012, the Forum has selected 230 projects, 125 of which have been completed and commercially premiered at festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance, Locarno and San Sebastián. Thus, Narciso, by Marcelo Martinessi, won the FIPRESCI Prize at the Berlinale Panorama 2026 and has been selected for Horizontes Latinos; Seis meses en el edificio rosa con azul / Six Months in a Blue & Pink Building, by Bruno Santamaría, will also feature in Horizontes Latinos after having participated in this year’s Semaine de la Critique at the Cannes Festival; El mensaje / The Message by Iván Fund carried off the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the Berlinale 2025. Similarly, in 2025, participants in the Official Selection – Special screening were Karmele, by Asier Altuna; in Horizontes Latinos Cuerpo Celeste, by Nayra Ilic García and Un cabo suelto / A Loose End, by Daniel Hendler; and in Zabaltegi-Tabakalera Kota / Hen by György Pálfi.

For more information on the success stories of participants in this initiative, see this link.

Awards

Best Project Award, coming with 30,000 euros gross for the majority producer of the winning film.

DALE! Award (Latin America-Europe Development) given by the European Film Agency Directors (EFAD) and by the Conference of Ibero-American Audiovisual and Cinomatographic Authorities (CAACI). The Award comes with 10,000 euros for the majority producer of the winning project.  

ArteKino International Award, given by ARTE, coming with 6,000 euros gross for the majority producer of the winning project.

Casa Wabi-Escine Award, consisting of a 5-week artist residency at Casa Wabi (Puerto Escondido, Mexico) for a first or second feature film by a director selected for Ikusmira Berriak or the Forum.

Tanta Award, consisting of €5,000 gross going to the majority production company of a project selected for Ikusmira Berriak or the Forum. Opting for the award are projects with narratives featuring elements of ecological realism, inventiveness and creativity to imagine sustainable futures.

Contact

industria@sansebastianfestival.com
Tel.: +34 943 481217
www.sansebastianfestival.com