Catalan Cinema Thrives in 2025

The Berlinale serves as the starting point for a remarkable year for Catalan films, filmmakers, and companies. Several highly anticipated titles are currently in production or post-production, poised to make their debuts later this year, while others are embarking on promising festival runs.

Upcoming Premieres

* "Romería" by Carla Simon: A deeply personal exploration of a woman's journey to connect with her biological father's family after his passing.
* "Los Aitas" by Borja Cobeaga: An all-ages comedy following a group of middle-aged dads accompanying their daughters on an international gymnastics trip.
* "The Birthday Party" by Miguel Ángel Jiménez: A stylish dark comedy set in the 1970s, starring Willem Dafoe alongside renowned Spanish actors.
* "Sirat" by Oliver Laxe: A thrilling and atmospheric desert-set thriller that promises a festival tour de force.
* "Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake" by Irene Iborra Rizo: Catalonia's first-ever stop-motion feature film that has garnered attention at Annecy.
* "Emergency Exit" by Lluis Miñarro: A genre-bending film featuring characters trapped in a surreal bus journey.
* "Siempre es invierno" by David Trueba: An adaptation of his novel "Blitz," produced by a renowned team.
* "Strange River" by Jaume Claret Muxart: A coming-of-age story about a teenager's bike vacation with his parents.
* "Fed Up" by Júlia de Paz: A highly anticipated film currently in post-production, exploring themes of trauma and liberation.
* "Sleepless City" by Guillermo García Lopez: A social drama focusing on a Romani boy living in an illegal settlement.
* "Forestera" by Lucía Aleñar Iglesias: A Spanish-Italian-Swedish co-production that delves into a family's coping mechanisms after a traumatic event.
* "Join Me for Breakfast" by Iván Morales: A feature debut showcasing interconnected stories of individuals seeking redemption.

Films at the EFM

Several Catalan films are seeking distribution partners at the EFM market screenings this year, including:

* "Wolfgang" by Javier Ruiz Caldera: A heartwarming comedy about fatherhood and autism.
* "Only on Earth" by Robin Petré: A documentary exploring the relationship between humanity and nature.

Recent Festivals

Catalan films that have already premiered but are now hitting the festival circuit include:

* "The Portuguese House" by Avelina Prat
* "Fury" by Gemma Blasco
* "Away" by Gerard Oms
* "Deaf" by Eva Libertad (Berlinale Panorama world premiere)