Islantilla Film Festival opens, longest in Spain, featuring 12 features and 100 shorts

The 19th Islantilla International Film Festival, renowned as Spain's longest-running film event, has officially commenced with its opening gala. This year's festival promises an extended cinematic experience, with screenings scheduled to run through July and August under the open sky.

During the inaugural ceremony, producer Manuela Ocón was honored with the 'Francisco Elías' Prize 2026, the festival's most prestigious honorary award. The gala, presented by actors Carmen Canivell and Selu Nieto, was attended by numerous film professionals, including producers Gervasio Iglesias and Rubén Coro, actresses Estefanía de los Santos, Mercedes Hoyos, Antonia Gómez, and Luichi Macías, and actors Antonio de la Torre, Jesús Carroza, and Antonio Dechent, among others.

A total of twelve feature films and one hundred short films, representing 27 nationalities, will compete for the 'Luna' awards in the Official Competition Section. The films will be screened in the courtyard of the Islantilla Active Center, with free admission for the public. The feature films hail from countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, India, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Puerto Rico. The selection of short films includes works from Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, China, South Korea, Croatia, Spain, the USA, France, Iran, Italy, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, and Uruguay.