PANAJI
Spain has been designated the Country of Honour at the upcoming 57th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), with a specially curated selection of four contemporary Spanish films set to be screened at the festival. The showcase will feature premieres at the world, Asian and Indian levels.
According to an official statement by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the selection promises to offer cinema lovers a glimpse into the vibrancy, creativity and evolving storytelling landscape of contemporary Spanish cinema.
The line-up includes Bitter Christmas (Amarga Navidad), Looking for Michael (Persiguiendo a Michael), The Bad Son (El Mal Hijo) and Trinidad.
Bitter Christmas (Amarga Navidad), the latest 2026 film by two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, explores the risks of using personal experiences and real-life events in filmmaking. It examines how much of a person’s life a filmmaker can reveal in the pursuit of an honest story. After being showcased at prestigious film festivals, including Cannes, Toronto and San Sebastian, the film is set to have its Indian premiere at IFFI.
Looking for Michael (Persiguiendo a Michael), directed by Juana Macias, tells the story of a young woman diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who decides not to give in to despair and instead live life differently. The comedy-drama is scheduled to have its world premiere at IFFI 2026.
Spanish actor-director Jaime Lorente’s directorial debut, The Bad Son (El Mal Hijo), will have its Asian premiere at the festival. The film explores intergenerational trauma and family relationships.
Trinidad (2025), directed by Laura Alvea and José Ortuño, 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 a group of female outlaws and embarks on an adventure filled with action, danger and revenge. The action film is set to have its world premiere at IFFI 2026.
