Cinema lovers attending the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) are in for a special treat as the festival celebrates the richness and diversity of Spanish cinema. With Spain designated as the Country of Honour, IFFI will present a specially curated selection of four contemporary Spanish films, featuring premieres at the World, Asian and Indian levels. The showcase promises to offer audiences a compelling glimpse into the vibrancy, creativity and evolving storytelling landscape of contemporary Spanish cinema.
The exciting line-up of the Spanish films at IFFI this year will include:
Bitter Christmas (Amarga Navidad)
Two-time Oscar winning film maker Pedro Almodóvar’s recent 2026 film explores the risks of using personal experiences and real events in filmmaking, asking how much of someone’s life a film maker can reveal in the search for an honest story. The story centres around a cult film maker Raul who is struggling to find ideas for next film, and then as the story progresses, he uses his experienced tragedy as inspiration for a new script.
The film was showcased in prestigious film festivals like Cannes, Toronto and San Sebastian this year, and is up for its India Premiere in IFFI.
Looking For Michael (Persiguiendo a Michael)
This 2026 film directed by Juana Macias, tells the story of a young woman diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. She bravely decides not to give in to the sadness life her thrown to her, and rather live life differently. With the support of her music therapy group, whose members have the same disease, she sets out to meet the renowned actor Michael J. Fox, who is known to live with Parkinson’s. This comedy drama genre film is set to mark its World Premiere at IFFI 2026.
The Bad Son (El Mal Hijo)
Spanish actor-director Jaime Lorente’s directorial debut El Mal Hijo will make its Asia Premiere in IFFI 2026. The film is a poignant exploration of intergenerational trauma and family relationships. Earlier showcased at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, it follows a man abandoned by his father at the age of 11, who moves in with a grandmother he barely knows. As he confronts painful memories and unravels his family’s troubled past, he attempts to break the cycle of emotional wounds passed down through generations.
Trinidad
Directed by Laura Alvea and José Ortuño, the 2025 film Trinidad follows the adventures of a young Spanish woman in the late 19th century who escapes to the Wild West. Wrongly accused of a crime, she joins forces with a band of female outlaws, embarking on an adventure marked by action, danger and revenge. The action movie is set to make its World Premiere at IFFI 2026.
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