Film still from "Boy in the Pool," directed by Ryu Yeon-su (South Korea, 2024).
As summer draws to a close, September eases us into autumn with some of Catalunya's most interesting and eclectic film festivals. From a focus on South Korean action movies and independent films, to heartfelt stories of acceptance and transformation, to a festival dedicated to promoting sometimes wild—and often downright hilarious—B movies, you’re sure to find something that suits your cinematic taste.
Korean Film Festival Barcelona
September 3-7, 2025, Cinemes Girona Girona, Barcelona
Now in its fifth year, the Korean Film Festival Barcelona (KFFB) brings the best South Korean cinema to Barcelona through films ranging from independent auteur works to blockbuster hits. This year’s festival opens with Ryu Yeon-su's debut film Boy in the Pool, a moving film that portrays the universal struggles of teenagers grappling with their identities but with a rare physical deformity as an additional challenge. Other arthouse films include director Yoon Eunkyoung’s The Tenants; otaku-inspired LGBTIQ+ romantic drama 404 Still Remain directed by Uhm Ha-neul; and the story of a middle-aged woman's plight and relationship with her mother in Hwang Seulgi’s Red Nails. Blockbusters that have not been previously released in Spain will premiere at the festival, including one of the most anticipated releases based on a hit K-drama, Love in the Big City; the family comedy filled with plot twists About Family; the powerful thriller Nocturnal; and the horror flick The Ghost Game.
Alongside stellar films, you can enjoy parallel activities like hangul writing, Korean gastronomy, workshops, exhibitions and games that bring you even closer to Korean culture. All films are screened in original version and subtitled in Catalan or Spanish. General admission for films is €8.00, and tickets can be purchased on the Cinemes Girona official website. koreanfilmfestivalbcn.com
Transhumant Film Festival.
Transhumant Film Festival
September 12-November 30, 2025, sessions are held in various towns in Girona and Barcelona Provinces
Formerly known as the Terra Gollut Film Festival for the long-gone "dwarves" of Golluts de Ribes in acknowledgment of a people who were maligned for looking different, the Transhumant Film Festival highlights cinema that strives for social change. Cinema is a powerful tool that can transform consciousness, habits and attitudes. With this in mind, the festival includes activities that delve deep into the films' topics to help viewers get a greater understanding of them, including testimonials, discussion boards, forums and educational workshops. transhumant.com
Festival u22.
Festival u22
September 16-21, 2025, Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona
The u22 Barcelona Young Film Festival showcases the finest up-and-coming filmmakers on the Catalan film scene. This year, u22 festival celebrates its seventh edition with a week packed with screenings, panel discussions, open-air sessions, talks and much more. The Official Section showcases 20 short films made by filmmakers under the age of 22, with the year's best young productions, both local and international, including six world premieres and four Catalan premieres. In addition to giving voice to new, yet-to-be-discovered perspectives, the Official Section presents new works by filmmakers such as Víctor Soho (2023 L'Alternativa National Award) and Emilio Hupe (2025 Un Impulso Colectivo Curtmetrages Award at D'A). Tickets range from €4.50 to €8.00 per session and can be purchased on the festival’s website. festivalu22.com
Film still from "Chainsaws Were Singing," directed by Sander Maran (Estonia, 2024).
B-Retina: B-Film Festival in Cornellà
September 18-21, 2025, Auditori Biblioteca Sant Ildefons, Cornellà de Llobregat
Dedicated to promoting B movies in Catalunya, B-Retina is all about championing the work of emerging talent in the industry, which otherwise would never make it to the big screen. In celebration of its tenth anniversary, this edition turns up the volume with a program of musical cinema that unleashes chaos and fun in an explosion of irreverence and outrageousness. Under the slogan "The ultimate party! It will be B-RUTAL! It will be B-ESTIAL!", this anniversary will be a grand celebration of wildly over-the-top productions. Films on the agenda include: Chainsaws Were Singing (2024), a re-imagining of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as a gory musical; Wild Zero (1999), a Japanese punk romp featuring zombies, aliens, electric guitars and an unlikely love story; Chispita y sus gorilas (1982), a Spanish children's classic from the 1980s that has achieved cult status for its delirious naiveté; and Vegas in Space (1991), the first science fiction comedy starring exclusively drag queens.
British actress Caroline Munro, Bond girl and icon of fantasy and horror cinema, is this year's star guest at the festival. Best known for her role as a Bond girl in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and for starring in genre classics like Maniac (1980) and Starcrash (1978), Munro will receive the Golden Ticket Award in recognition of her extensive and distinguished career.
In addition to film screenings, the program features prestigious guests and all kinds of parallel activities. All tickets must be purchased in advance online, with all-day tickets starting at €8 and full-access tickets starting at €32. Located just outside of Barcelona, the festival is easily accessible by metro (L5) and by train (R1, R4). b-retina.cat
October Film Festivals in and around Barcelona
October’s calendar is packed with an impressive list of film festivals in and around the city. Check out our article October Film Festivals in and around Barcelona where you'll find gritty investigative documentaries, hair-raising fantasy and horror flicks and everything in between!