Despite not yet having wrapped a stellar 2025 — crowned by a whopping 27 projects featured at Spain’s prestigious San Sebastián Film Festival — the Catalan film industry is already looking ahead.
If this year brought major festival hits such as Carla Simón’s “Romería,” Oliver Laxe’s “Sirāt,” and Eva Libertad’s “Deaf,” 2026 seems set to usher yet another significant wave of Catalan talent. “Pacifiction” director Albert Serra is readying to premiere “Out of This World,” his English-language debut starring Riley Keough, while renowned “Jokes and Cigarettes” director David Trueba tackles his very own novel with the unconventional romantic drama “Always Winter.” Spain’s favorite animated archaeologist returns for another adventure in the fourth instalment of Enrique Gato’s “Tadeo Jones” series, and “Sirāt” star Sergi López confronts death in Sylvère Petit’s poignant “The Whale.”
While there is plenty on offer when it comes to already established directors, the new year brings with it a crop of promising young talent. Feature debuts to watch include “Iván & Hadoum,” by “Veneno” co-writer Ian de la Rosa, and “Sealskin,” by Goya-winning director Irene Moray.
Below, Variety helps you keep track of the Catalan projects to watch in 2026:
“Out of This World,” dir. Albert Serra
(Andergraun Films, Arte France Cinéma)
The English-language debut of the biting “Pacifiction” director, “Out of This World” was one of the hot titles at this year’s Cannes Film Market and might make an appearance at the Croisette in 2026. Riley Keough replaced previously attached Kristen Stewart in the project, which follows an American delegation traveling to Russia during the Ukrainian war to try finding a solution to an economic dispute. While mainly in English, the film, which is currently in post-production, will also feature Russian dialogue.
“Always Winter” (“Siempre Invierno”), dir. David Trueba
(Ikiru Films, Atresmedia Cine, La Terraza Films, Blitz La Película AIE, Wrong Men)
For the first time in his lauded career, Goya-winning Trueba (“Jokes and Cigarettes”) is adapting one of his very own novels, and one of his best, the 2015 novella “Blitz.” “Always Winter” reunites the director with David Verdaguer, who plays a 30-something architect who unexpectedly falls in love with a 60-something volunteer played by Isabelle Renauld (“Eternity and a Day”) while on a work trip to Belgium. The film is currently in post-production. Film Factory handles sales.
“Iván & Hadoum,” dir. Ian de la Rosa
(Pecado Films, Vayolet, Port au Prince, Saga Film)
The highly anticipated feature debut of one of Spain’s top emerging talents, “Iván & Hadoum” follows the titular couple of trans man Iván and Spanish-Moroccan Hadoum, who fall in love at work and go against staunch opposition from friends and family. De la Rosa co-wrote HBO Max’s hit show “Veneno.” His short “Farrucas” was nominated for a Goya Award and won a Gaudí Award, making him the first trans filmmaker to win such a prize in Spain. The film is made in collaboration with RTVE, Canal Sur, and Movistar+.
“Sealskin” (“Piel de Foca”), dir. Irene Moray
(Lastor Media, Vilaüt Films)
Winner of the Goya Award for best short film for 2019’s “Watermelon Juice,” Moray is currently in production with her magical realist feature debut, “Sealskin.” After the loss of her grandmother, cleaner Flora connects deeply with a teacher who, little by little, is becoming transparent. With the help of a sensitive gardener, Flora sets out to take care of her friend and help her get out of a toxic relationship before she disappears for good. In collaboration with Filmin and Movistar Plus+.
“Sants” dir. Mikel Gurrea
(Lastor Media, Nocturna, Vilaüt Films)
Gurrea’s short films have played major festivals such as Venice and San Sebastián. His 2022 feature debut “Suro” won the Fipresci Award at the Basque festival and earned him a Gaudí nomination for best new director. The director’s sophomore feature, currently in pre-production, tells the story of a young woman struggling to care for her dying mother, who, in desperation, decides to join a dangerous band of thieves specializing in stealing religious figures.
“Tadeo Jones 4” (“Tad the Lost Explorer 4”), dir. Enrique Gato
(Telecinco Cinema, Lightbox Animation Studios, Ikiru Films, Anangu Grup, TadeoFilms)
Lauded animation designer Gato returns with another adventure starring his three-time Goya-winning character Tadeo Stones. A Paramount project, the film will see the archaeologist enter new territory: time-travelling. When Momia becomes jealous of Tad’s two-year-old daughter Olimpia, he travels back in time to try to stop the little girl from being born. The archaeologist and his wife then chase the clock to save their beloved little girl. Currently in production, it is a question of whether or not the project might be ready for an Annecy bow in 2026.
“The Good Daughter” (“La Buena Hija”), dir. Júlia de Paz
(Avalon, Krater Films, Astra Pictures)
One of Variety’s 2021 Spanish directors to track and Berlin Talents honoree, de Paz follows her Málaga-winning debut “Ama” with a family drama that first finds young Carmela and her mother moving to her grandmother’s house following her parents’ separation. The shadow of Carmela’s father, a plastic artist she idolizes, will send the three women on a vital journey of introspection to begin building the future they deserve. With the collaboration of RTVE and Movistar+.
“The Whale” (“La Balena”), dir. Sylvère Petit
(Les Films d’Ici Méditerranée, Imagic, Iota Production)
Starring “Sirāt” and “Pan’s Labyrinth” Cesar-winner Sergi López, “The Whale” is the fiction feature debut of documentarian and photographer Petit (“Vivant parmi les vivants”). Set in a Mediterranean town in the autumn of 1985, the film begins with a dead whale washed ashore. Wine grower Corbac makes it his mission to save the skeleton from a health threat, the film exploring the man’s — and his daughter’s — connection to nature, the ocean, and life. The film is currently shooting.
