Over the past decade, Basque cinema has carved an impressive niche at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and beyond, largely propelled by auteur-driven narratives and substantial regional backing. This year, the Sitges Film Festival will showcase four distinctive Basque films that span a variety of genres—from animation to folk horror and cutting-edge sci-fi—all deeply entrenched in the genre tradition.
Four Films, Four Directions
Sitges audiences will get their first taste of Paul Urkijo’s “Gaua,” marking his third venture in Basque-language features, following the acclaimed “Errementari” and the successful “Irati.” Developed by Irusoin, Ikusgarri Films, and Vilaüt Films, this film immerses viewers in a world of nocturnal folklore and 17th-century superstitions, as Kattalin, portrayed by Yune Nogueiras, navigates a forest teeming with mythical entities. Xabi Berzosa from Irusoin emphasized to Variety that, “With ‘Gaua,’ we continue a line of work we started years ago: producing in Basque, with strong genre elements, yet envisioning the film as having the potential to transcend borders.”
Alberto Vázquez returns to Sitges with “Decorado,” following his Goya award-winning film “Unicorn Wars.” This film is a Spanish-Portuguese collaborative effort, produced by Abano Produccions, Uniko Estudio Creativo, Glow Animation, Sardinha Em Lata, and María y Arnold AIE. This adult animated feature explores existential themes through its protagonist Arnold, a middle-aged mouse who discovers that the world he inhabits feels staged and artificial. As Arnold grapples with mounting crises—emotional, professional, and romantic—his paranoia leads him on a deep quest to uncover the truth behind the illusions surrounding him.
Ion de Sosa is set to present the Spanish premiere of “Balearic” in the Official Fantastic competition at Sitges, after its world premiere at Locarno. The film, produced by Umbracle Cine, Apellaniz y de Sosa, and Jaibo Films in collaboration with La Fabrica Nocturna Cinema, features a poolside gathering that spirals into terror as a group of young revelers finds themselves trapped in a swimming pool, surrounded by a pack of menacing black dogs while a St. John’s Eve party rages just beyond the walls. Blending elements of survival thriller and social commentary, the director expressed to Variety earlier this year that the film’s inception arose from his reflections on intergenerational communication, coupled with self-critique regarding his contributions to improving the world.
Lastly, “Singular,” directed by Alberto Gastesi and produced by White Leaf Producciones and Vidania Films, features Patricia López Arnaiz and Javier Rey in a tense narrative where an AI specialist confronts a figure eerily resembling her deceased son. This film intricately weaves themes of grief with speculative science fiction, probing into the pressing and current inquiries about technology’s trajectory.
Why Basque Filmmakers Are Turning to Genre
According to Berzosa, the shift towards genre filmmaking can be attributed to the directors themselves. “I don’t think producers have played a decisive role in launching these projects. It has predominantly been the directors and their attraction to genre that has led the way. Fortunately, genre is in high demand right now, which is exciting for producers, allowing us to be part of that movement,” he stated.
One compelling example of this shift is Paul Urkijo, a key player among Spain’s emerging genre auteurs. “Paul is truly remarkable. He is an absolute aficionado of genre films, yet his creativity is deeply intertwined with Basque cultural elements. That distinctive combination is rare, which makes his films stand out,” Berzosa noted.
The financing for “Gaua” showcases the international endeavors of Basque production. “We were fortunate to assemble a team with Irusoin, Ikusgarri, and Vilaüt, with Filmax being involved from the outset, providing the film with an international perspective well before filming began,” Berzosa added.
Iván Miñambres, an executive producer at UniKo, echoes this sentiment, underscoring both tradition and market potential as catalysts for the current genre trend. “In the Basque Country, there exists a profound storytelling tradition deeply rooted in mythology, which naturally lends itself to the genre. At the same time, a new generation of filmmakers is willing to experiment across visual and thematic boundaries, aiming to resonate with international audiences through universal themes framed within genre or surreal narratives. Strong institutional backing and well-developed co-production networks have equipped these projects with the resources necessary to compete on an international scale,” he explained to Variety.
Miñambres believes the trend is just beginning, stating, “The global market is increasingly open to unique and courageous cinematic voices. As producers, it is our responsibility to capitalize on this moment. I foresee a surge in productions from our region, fueled by this worldwide receptivity and the increasingly ambitious and connected local talent. Genre is proving to be an invaluable medium for addressing contemporary fears, complexities, and identities through a distinct and unique lens.”
When compared to the standout Basque festival entries of the last decade, such as Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren’s debut “20000 Species of Bees” or David Pérez Sañudo’s “Ane Is Missing,” which are narrative dramas marked by localized specificity, these new films echo louder, darker tones, exuding a certain quirkiness. Yet, they inherently share the same DNA of bold aesthetics and deep cultural awareness.
“While we draw from very local, distinctly Basque mythology, it resonates with the storytelling approaches of other cultures. Every nation possesses its own narrative traditions, but we can all connect through story at its core—it ultimately returns to drama and character,” Berzosa emphasized.
Sitges has historically served as Europe’s leading platform for fantastic cinema, offering not just visibility but also an entry point into a network of buyers and fans who commit to treating genre films as legitimate works of art. The inclusion of these four films underscores the ongoing evolution and diversification of Basque cinema, with genre increasingly serving as a strong calling card for its international engagement.
