Spring brings an exciting energy back to the city. The sun is warmer, the days are longer and grass is greener. Although you may feel the desire to shake off that winter slumber and reacquaint yourself with an active outdoor schedule, consider taking a few hours to sit back and relax while enjoying some of the most cutting-edge cinema from around the world.
Barcelona boasts a wide variety of renowned film festivals each spring, and 2024 promises to be another spectacular edition. You'll discover festivals dedicated to fashion docs, films inspired by literature and history, astounding cinematic works that delve into the creativity, mystery and resilience of the human brain and films that explore the LGBTIQ+ experience. From premieres to classics, from established directors to up-and-coming artists and independent productions, each festival brings to Barcelona an in-depth look at places, ideas and themes that we might not otherwise have the opportunity to explore.
Film still from "Her Smell," Alex Ross Perry (USA, 2018). Image courtesy of Americana Film Festival.
Americana Film Festival
March 5-10, 2024
Started by a group of friends who wanted Barcelona audiences to be able to enjoy some of the best independent films from North America, Americana Film Festival features a diverse range of films directed by established prize-winners and break-out newbies, showcasing some of the best North American cinematic talent. This year the Festival celebrates its eleventh edition with special guest Sean Price Williams. Already a well-known director of photography for many of the best independent films of the past decade, he brings to the festival his directorial debut The Sweet East alongside a retrospective of his work, including, Alex Ross Perry's Her Smell, the Safdie brothers' Good Time, Nathan Silver's Thirst Street, Anaïs Volpé's Entre les vagues and Jessica Oreck's One Man Dies a Million Times.
Other films on this year's program include Noah Pritzker's Ex-Husbands (USA, 2023), a touching tale of missed opportunities, the impact of time on relationships, and how new connections can fill us with hope; D. Smith's Kokomo City (USA, 2023) a gritty documentary that tells the perilous and raw stories of four Black, transgender sex workers through intimate and candid interviews; and Mel Eslyn's Biosphere (USA, 2023) a dystopian comedy with surreal elements that promises to captivate audiences with its daring plot twists. Films are shown in original version with either Spanish or Catalan subtitles. Screenings take place in Cinemas Girona, Zumzeig Cine Cooperativa and Phenomena Experience cinemas as well as Filmoteca de Catalunya. See the event's website for tickets: americanafilmfest.com
Film still from "The Longest Goodbye," Ido Mizrahy (Isreal, Canada, 2023).
Brain Film Fest
March 13-17, 2024
As you guessed, the brain is the star of this festival. With a unique emphasis on cinema, neurology, psychiatry and technology, the Brain Film Fest includes screenings, lectures and workshops all aimed to encourage cinematic creation and raise awareness of the brain, its amazing capabilities and the diseases that threaten it.
Witness love and loss in Maite Alberdi's poignant documentary The Eternal Memory (Chile, USA, 2023), a moving film that tells the story of deep, sincere love and a 25-year relationship disrupted by an Alzheimer’s diagnosis; immerse yourself in a world where the thin line between health and obsession blurs in Jessica Hausner's Club Zero (France, UK, 2023); and dive into a dazzling narrative with The Longest Goodbye (Isreal, Canada, 2023), a captivating and original documentary directed by Ido Mizrahy that closely examines the challenges of mental health experienced by astronauts and serves as a thoughtful analysis of the psychological resilience necessary to face the harshness of outer space.
Co-organized by the Pasqual Maragall Foundation and Minimal Films production company, the festival features screenings of seventeen feature-length films and several short films from a variety of countries, all with an emphasis on the brain, the adversities it faces and its infinite capacities. Films are shown in original version. Screenings will take place at CCCB. The BFF film sessions are free of charge, but prior registration is required; tickets can be reserved through the festival’s website: brainfilmfest.com
Film still from "Coco Chanel Unbuttoned," Hannah Berryman (UK, 2023).
Moritz Feed Dog
March 20-24, 2024
A festival exclusively dedicated to fashion documentaries, Moritz Feed Dog offers some of the most niche content of this spring season. Featuring works about Coco Chanel, Patricia Field and everything in between, this is an event for fashion gurus and documentary fans alike. The festival strikes a balance between the glamor and hedonism surrounding fashion with themes that aim to reflect the other side of the coin. It explores aspects related to identity, gender, equality and how these concepts are treated both in fashion and in society.
The 2024 edition kicks off with Tilda Swinton. Le Geste et le Genre by Pierre-Paul Puljiz (France, 2023), digging into the life of the iconic Tilda Swinton: cult actress, media star, art activist, advocate for independent cinema and icon of a unique fashion language. But that’s not all. Explore the life of fashion legend Coco Chanel in Hannah Berryman's Coco Chanel Unbuttoned (UK, 2023), discover the brilliant designer behind the looks of Sex and the City and The Devil Wears Prada in Michael Selditch's Happy Clothes: A Film About Patricia Field (USA, 2023) and uncover the fascinating history of one of the first black supermodels to appear in Vogue in Nailah Jefferson's Donyale Luna: Supermodel (USA, 2023).
Hosted at Mooby Bosque Multicines, the festival offers a wide range of ticket packages varying from single tickets for €8 to six-show passes for €40. Almost all films are shown in their original version with subtitles in either Spanish or Catalan. moritz.feeddog.org
Film still from "L'Été dernier," Catherine Breillat (France, 2023).
D'A Film Festival
April 4-14, 2024
Each spring, the D’A Film Festival offers an extensive review of current world cinema, screening an international panorama of the finest films in contemporary cinema. Featuring emerging talents alongside internationally established directors, the festival claims to be one of the Mediterranean’s best events of the spring. The large-scale event spreads across several locations in Barcelona and includes supplemental events such as panel discussions, workshops, musical performances and professional development.
This year's retrospective is dedicated to the brilliant and transgressive French director Catherine Breillat whose electric and evocative new film L'Été dernier (France, 2023) will be screened alongside with a selection of her films, including the incendiary À ma soeur!, the dark and disturbing Parfait amour!, and her most popular and controversial film, Romance X.
Other films on the agenda include Celia Giraldo's debut film Un lugar común (Spain, 2023) which tells the story of ordinary 50-year-old woman who, after a lifetime caring for others, asks herself: now who takes care of me?; Ali Ahmadzadeh's brutal road movie Critical Zone (Iran, Germany, 2023); and Paula Hernández's religious drama El viento que arrasa (Argentina, Uruguay, 2023).
Single ticket passes are €8, five ticket passes are €30 and the VIP pass for €80 includes access to all sessions at the CCCB, Aribau Multicines and Zumzeig (seat reservation required) and one invitation to the opening session and one to the closing session.
Participating venues include CCCB, Filmoteca de Catalunya, Zumzeig and Aribau Cinema. Most showings take place in original language with subtitles in either Catalan or Spanish, see the official website for details. dafilmfestival.com
Film still from "What Happens Later," Meg Ryan (USA, 2023).
BCN Film Fest
April 18-26, 2024
Film, history and literature, oh my! The Barcelona International Film Festival, or BCN Film Fest, boasts the highest quality films, with a goal to unite lovers of cinema, history and literature with a selection of more than 70 international films. In line with this criteria, featured films shown at Cines Verdi are often adaptations of literary works, productions related to historical events or biopics about well-known figures.
Films confirmed so far in the program include Meg Ryan's romantic comedy What Happens Later (USA, 2023); Vincent Perez's Une affaire d'honneur (The Edge of the Blade) (France, 2023), a vibrant film that mixes historical drama and adventure cinema; and Eric Toledano and Olivier Nakache will present the comedy Une année difficile (A Difficult Year) (France, 2023), with many more to come. In addition, this year the festival pays tribute to filmmaker Yasujirô Ozu with a retrospective his films.
Most of the movie screenings are in original language with subtitles and will take place at Cinemes Verdi. Other venues include the Institut Français, CaixaForum, Casa Seat, La Perla 22 and a number of civic centers in Barcelona. Tickets sales begin April 11, 2024. Please check the official program for details. bcnfilmfest.com
Image courtesy of DOCS Barcelona.
DOCS Barcelona
May 2-12, 2024
Now entering its 25th season, DocsBarcelona is a festival dedicated to documentary film. Each year, an international programing committee selects films for three different categories: Panorama, Latitude and What the Doc! These three groupings highlight the newest international documentaries, most daring and innovative documentaries and documentaries from the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. The festival is dedicated to bringing professional talent and productions closer to the audience through conferences and activities such as its Q&A sessions with directors and industry experts. This year's program is in the works and will soon be announced.
All films are shown in original version with subtitles in Catalan and English. docsbarcelona.com
Image courtesy of Wallay!
WALLAY!
June 6-16, 2024
Barcelona's African Film Festival is a unique and original journey to the diversity and creativity of the African continent narrated through its cinematographic language and its cultural expressions. Created in 2018, Wallay! offers viewers the opportunity see original independent films which would not otherwise reach Catalunya. In addition to enjoying the best African cinematography, Wallay! organizes round-table discussions, workshops, debates and many other activities parallel to the screenings. Films will be shown at Filmoteca de Catalunya and the Institut Français. This year's schedule has not yet been released, but check out the festival website for the details soon to be announced: festivalwallay.com
Film still from "Mars One," by Gabriel Martins (2022, Brazil), image courtesy of Mostra FIRE!!
Mostra FIRE!!
June 6-16, 2024
Celebrating another year with pride, the Mostra FIRE!! Film Festival showcases the best LGBTIQ+ films from across the world. Organized by Casal Lambda de Barcelona since 1995, it was the first LGBTIQ+ film festival in Spain. The festival aims to deal with diversity through a carefully curated selection of feature-length films, shorts and documentaries. For nearly two weeks, the Institut Français will host a wide range of films featuring stories and testimonies from individuals, creators who break down barriers, fight for human rights and help—through love—to build a fairer and freer world. While this year's program has yet to be announced, the festival's past editions hint that this year's FIRE!! will close the spring film festival season with a bang. mostrafire.com
Image courtesy of La Gran Pantalla.
La GRAN Pantalla
July 2-7, 2024
This festival does kick off the summer season, but we just had to squeeze it in for its unique focus. La GRAN Pantalla is an international film festival for the elderly, an inter-generational meeting space to promote cinema as a tool for dialogue, reflection and social transformation around the ideas that society perpetuates about people as they age.
Screening films that tackle issues that affect the elderly, the festival explores their plurality and combats the most pervasive stereotypes. It highlights the beauty of aging, reflects on what unites us and highlights what differentiates us from those around us. La GRAN Pantalla takes a long, lingering look at the older people we will become, if we are lucky. Films will be screened at Cinemes Girona, the program schedule will soon be available on the festival website: lagranpantallafestival.com
Updated April 23, 2024.