Spain will take centre stage as the Country of Honour at the 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), with a special selection of four contemporary Spanish films scheduled for screening in Goa. The showcase will feature premieres at the world, Asian and Indian levels, offering Indian audiences an opportunity to explore the diversity of modern Spanish filmmaking.
The festival, scheduled from November 20 to 28, 2026, will present films spanning drama, comedy and action, highlighting different approaches to storytelling and contemporary cinematic themes.
Pedro Almodóvar’s Bitter Christmas to Have India Premiere
One of the major attractions in the Spanish selection is Bitter Christmas (Amarga Navidad), the 2026 film by two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar.
The film explores the relationship between personal experiences and filmmaking, examining how much of an individual’s life a director can reveal while trying to create an honest story.
Its narrative follows Raúl, a cult filmmaker struggling to find inspiration for his next project. As the story unfolds, he draws on a personal tragedy to develop a new screenplay.
After being showcased at major film festivals in Cannes, Toronto and San Sebastián, the film will have its India premiere at IFFI 2026.
Looking For Michael to Make World Premiere
Directed by Juana Macías, Looking For Michael (Persiguiendo a Michael) is a 2026 comedy-drama about a young woman diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Rather than surrendering to the challenges of her condition, she decides to approach life differently with the support of fellow members in her music therapy group, who are also living with the disease.
Together, they set out to meet actor Michael J. Fox, who has publicly lived with Parkinson’s disease. The film is scheduled to have its world premiere at IFFI 2026.
The Bad Son Explores Family Trauma Across Generations
Spanish actor-director Jaime Lorente will make his directorial debut with The Bad Son (El Mal Hijo), which is set to receive its Asia premiere at the festival.
The film examines intergenerational trauma and complicated family relationships. Its story follows a man whose father abandoned him when he was 11. He later moves in with a grandmother he barely knows, where he begins confronting painful memories and uncovering his family’s troubled past.
As he attempts to understand the emotional wounds passed down through generations, he also faces the challenge of breaking that cycle. The film was previously showcased at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Trinidad Brings a Western Adventure to IFFI
The fourth selection, Trinidad, is a 2025 action film directed by Laura Alvea and José Ortuño.
Set in the late 19th century, the film follows a young Spanish woman who escapes to the Wild West after being wrongly accused of a crime. She joins a group of female outlaws and becomes part of an adventure involving danger, action and revenge.
The film is scheduled to make its world premiere at IFFI 2026.
Through its Country of Honour selection, IFFI 2026 will offer a platform for contemporary Spanish filmmakers to reach Indian audiences. The four-film programme brings together established director Pedro Almodóvar and emerging directorial voices, presenting a range of themes and cinematic styles.
The showcase forms part of the festival’s broader effort to encourage international cultural exchange and introduce audiences to filmmaking traditions from across the world.
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