In a kind of philosophical dialogue, Doctor Augustin Masset and renowned writer Fabrice Toussaint discuss life and death... A whirlwind of encounters in which the doctor is the guide and the writer, his passenger, led to confront his own fears and anxieties... A poetic ballet, where each patient is a tome of emotions, laughter and tears... A journey to the throbbing heart of our lives.

On Falling tells the story of Aurora, a Portuguese warehouse picker working in a vast fulfilment centre in Scotland. Trapped between the confines of her workplace and the solitude of her flat-share, Aurora seeks to resist the loneliness, alienation and ensuing small talk which begin to threaten her sense of self. Set against a landscape dominated by an algorithm-driven gig economy, designed to keep us apart, On Falling explores the silent, vital struggle to find meaning and connection.

In the year 2000, Nevenka Fernández, the Finance Councillor of Ponferrada Town Council, is relentlessly hounded by the mayor, a man used to getting his way both politically and personally. Nevenka decides to report him, knowing that it will cost her dearly. A story based on true events turning its lead character into a forerunner of the #metoo movement due to being the first person to take an influential politician to court for sexual and labour harassment.

After Gülizar is sexually assaulted, her future husband Emre does not report the incident, but later decides to go after the attacker himself. Gülizar's wedding preparations slowly turn into a claustrophobic, silent journey as she fears that her attacker will be exposed. Her flame of silence burns not only herself, but also the love she feels for Emre.

Two tales of migration between city and countryside. In the first part, after a tailings dam disaster floods her hometown, rural worker Joana moves to São Paulo to find her sister Tania, who lives with her grandson Jaime. Joana struggles to thrive in the working city. In the second part, after the death of her estranged father, Flavia moves to his farm with her wife Mara. The nature forces the two women to face frustrations and cope with old memories and ghosts.

Yoseli has a tattoo of the Eiffel Tower on her back and has always wanted to travel, but she was arrested at the airport for drug trafficking. Nacho is a trans man who was busted for fraud and formed a rock band in jail. Gentle or tough, blond or shaven, cis or trans, old-timers or new arrivals: in this hybrid musical everybody recreates their life in a Buenos Aires prison.

After a cartel gunman from a small Mexican town is murdered, Sujo, his beloved four-year-old son, is left an orphan and in danger. Sujo narrowly escapes death with the help of his aunt who raises him in the isolated countryside amidst hardship, poverty, and the constant peril associated with his identity. When he enters his teens a rebelliousness awakens in him, and like a rite of passage, he joins the local cartel. As a young man, Sujo attempts to make his life anew, away from the violence of his hometown. however, when his father’s legacy catches up with him, he will come face-to-face with what seems to be his destiny.

Brazil, 1971. A country in the tightening grip of a military dictatorship. A mother is forced to reinvent herself when her family’s life is shattered by an act of arbitrary violence.

Aware of the inequalities and power dynamics in the industry, the associations of women filmmakers, together with the San Sebastian Film Festival, promote new practices in audiovisual production placing priority on care, the prevention of abuse and intersectional inclusion with the aim of achieving a significant change that considers the integral wellbeing of all participants in production. This Film Talk will therefore explore the challenges of these changes and the importance of care policies to ensure a safe and respectful environment and share approaches to implementing intersectional practices that value diversity. This exchange of ideas aims to highlight current challenges and inspire concrete actions towards a more inclusive and equitable audiovisual industry for all, regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation or other characteristics.

A talk focused on the representation of transmasculinity in Ibero-American cinema, aiming to share opinions and ideas on how to build a safe and inclusive film industry. Taking the experiences of professionals from the Ibero-American industry as a starting point, the conversation will centre on the strategies and changes underway today to create more inclusive and fluid perspectives. It will explore how cinematic narratives offer new viewpoints, revisiting the past and exploring new references to imagine a more inclusive future.

This conversation will address the importance of diverse and equal representation both on- and off- screen. The discussion will focus on the importance of including people with disabilities in films, creating compelling stories and characters and will attempt to answer questions such as: What are the most common mistakes when hiring a person with a disability? How to make film sets more accessible?  In addition, it will examine how diversity in production, directing and screenwriting roles is crucial to ensure a more inclusive film industry. With this session, organised in collaboration with the British Film Institute, the Festival wants to turn the spotlight on the fact that greater inclusion not only enriches the stories told, but also has a positive impact on society by reflecting and validating human diversity.

Laura Carreira is a Portuguese filmmaker who, after successfully releasing several short films such as Red Hill (2019), nominated for Best Short Film at the BAFTA Scotland Awards and The Shift (2020), which competed at the Venice Festival, presents her feature film debut in the Official Selection of the San Sebastian Festival, On Falling. This film talk will seek to learn first-hand about the process of making the film, as well as the possibilities that cinema has to promote change, shake consciences and foster stories that can change the way society responds to crises.

*The session includes the screening of On Falling and the subsequent talk.

This conversation will explore how contemporary cinema addresses the climate crisis, not just as an apocalyptic backdrop, but as a central element shaping stories and characters. The discussion will focus on how women filmmakers are redefining traditional narratives to reflect environmental urgencies, creating a new genre or sub-genre that combines human drama with ecology. In this context, these new voices seek to move away from sensationalism and catastrophism, opting for more nuanced approaches that include stories of resilience, adaptation and the search for solutions.