Larraín, Leigh, Naishtat films to compete for San Sebastián's Golden Shell

The San Sebastián Film Festival has unveiled a new wave of contenders for its prestigious Golden Shell award, featuring acclaimed directors like Chile's Pablo Larraín, Britain's Mike Leigh, and Argentina's Benjamín Naishtat. The organization announced Tuesday that their latest works will vie for the top prize.

This latest announcement adds seven international films to the competition roster, joining three Spanish productions previously revealed. Among the international entries are Nicole Garcia's 'Ce Matin-Là,' Maha Harada's 'In my father's room,' Hans Petter Moland's 'Growth of the Soil,' and Yesim Ustaoglu's 'What remains.'

Pablo Larraín returns to the festival with 'Mis muertos tristes,' a feature-length adaptation of four horror stories by Argentine writer Mariana Enríquez. The film centers on Ema, a character who can perceive the dead. This marks Larraín's first time competing in the main section at San Sebastián, though he has previously participated in the Horizontes Latinos section with films like 'Tony Manero' and 'El club.'

British director Mike Leigh, who presented 'Hard Truths' in 2024, is back with 'Tender Loving Care,' starring Marion Bailey and Paul Jesson. The film continues Leigh's signature exploration of contemporary life. Meanwhile, Argentine filmmaker Benjamín Naishtat enters the competition with 'Glaxo,' based on Hernán Ronsino's novel. Set in a quiet Argentine town in 1957, the story follows the disruption caused by the arrival of a sinister ex-police chief and his wife on the lives of four inseparable youths.

Naishtat has a history of success at the festival, having won the Silver Shell for Best Director in 2018 for 'Rojo.' His film 'Puan' in 2023 earned him a Best Screenplay award and a Best Actor award for Marcelo Subiotto. French director Nicole Garcia will premiere '7:40 ce matin-là,' starring Marion Cotillard, about a woman starting a new life after prison.

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Glaxo