THE RED CARPET IS BACK

The excitement has arrived in town. We are immersed in a sea of art, stars, and glamour: elegant gowns, giant billboards, and the iconic red carpet take over San Sebastián. Yes, Zinemaldia is back.

With September comes the 73rd edition of the San Sebastián International Film Festival, running from the 19th to the 27th. It’s clear the end of summer comes with a bang here: after the vibrant celebrations of La Bandera de la Concha, Euskal Jaiak, or the Boga Boga Festibala, the spotlight of world cinema shines on our city.

This is a festival of unquestionable national and international prestige: since its very first edition in 1953, it has hosted historic moments in film, and it holds the highest category recognition from the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.

This year, 254 films from 56 countries will be screened across San Sebastián’s stunning venues. Among them, the Kursaal Palace and the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, both just a five-minute walk from Hotel Parma. In the Official Section, competing for the ‘Concha de Oro’, we’ll see Goya prize winner Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s Los domingos, the drama Maspalomas by Jose Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi, and Winter of the Crow  by Polish director Kasia Adamik, which will close the festival. At the same time, the spotlight is not only on international names—the promotion of Basque cinema remains one of the pillars of the Zinemira section.

And who wouldn’t love to walk the very same red carpet as their idols? This year, the city will welcome international stars such as Angelina Jolie, Juliette Binoche, Paul Dano, Harris Dickinson, Colin Farrell, Denis Lavant, Ron Perlman, Charlotte Rampling, Renate Reinsve, and Stellan Skarsgård. Two outstanding women, Esther García and Jennifer Lawrence, will also receive the ‘Premio Donostia’ for their remarkable contributions to cinema.

It’s that special time of year when you might cross paths with your favorite artists—or enjoy a world premiere in the presence of its creators. Can you hear the applause? From Hotel Parma, with its unbeatable location, you’ll experience the festival with all your senses.

Long live cinema! We’re waiting for you.