The 37th San Sebastian Fantasy and Horror Film Festival will take place from 30 October to 6 November
On Friday 30 October, the Basque production Salitre (2026), directed by Norma Vila, will open the 37th San Sebastian Fantasy and Horror Film Festival at the Teatro Principal. The British film Pinocchio Unstrung (2026), directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield, will close the festival at the same venue on 6 November.
Salitre
Between these two dates, a selection of the year’s best fantasy films, including feature films and shorts, will be screened, alongside a range of complementary activities. Films such as Bloody Tennis (2026), by Nikias Chryssos, Crawlers (2026), directed by Ángel Gómez Hernández, the Indonesian production Ghost in the Cell (2026), and the French film Sanguine (2026) will be screened at the Teatro Principal during the Festival.
This year, a total of 32 feature films, 33 short films and 6 TV episodes will be screened.
This year, a total of 32 feature films, 33 short films and 6 TV episodes will be screened.
The third edition of Animedon, a parallel section dedicated to Japanese animated films, will return to the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, where most of its programme will take place. Three feature films will be screened, along with a family screening, Nire izena da Shin chan, featuring three classic episodes of the series and a tribute to voice actress Nekane Sarobe, who voiced Shin chan in more than 500 episodes broadcast on EITB.
This year, Animedon will also feature the exhibition Hyakki yagyō: The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons and a live recording of the podcast Flop Kultura: Maritxuetik Songokura gure identitatea sortzen.
This year, a special focus will be placed on Hong Kong cinema, with screenings of two recent films at the Teatro Principal (Back to the Past and Ultimate Revenge, both from 2025) and two classics of the genre at Tabakalera: The Black Magic with Buddha (1983) and Hard Boiled (1992).
The Teatro Principal will be the Festival’s main venue, hosting the entire official feature film selection, comprising 20 films.
This year, Animedon will also feature the exhibition Hyakki yagyō: The Night Parade of One Hundred Demons and a live recording of the podcast Flop Kultura: Maritxuetik Songokura gure identitatea sortzen.
This year, a special focus will be placed on Hong Kong cinema, with screenings of two recent films at the Teatro Principal (Back to the Past and Ultimate Revenge, both from 2025) and two classics of the genre at Tabakalera: The Black Magic with Buddha (1983) and Hard Boiled (1992).
The Teatro Principal will be the Festival’s main venue, hosting the entire official feature film selection, comprising 20 films.
L’estranea
The Victoria Eugenia Theatre will host Animedon’s film screenings, the Basque short film marathon and a preview screening of the series Izaki pixkat gardenak, with three episodes to be shown before their release on Primeran.
This year, Tabakalera will also screen El cebo (1958), a classic of Spanish fantasy cinema directed by Ladislao Vajda.
Samantha Hudson, the star of this year’s Festival poster, will give her first concert in San Sebastian. Samantha Hudson Live Showcase will take place at Intxarrondo Kultur Etxea on 29 October.
In addition to the exhibition already mentioned, three other exhibitions feature in this year’s programme: Cabinet of Curiosities, Monsters and Machines at Okendo Kultur Etxea, Tribute to Mai Egurza at the Central Library, and Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’, by Stéphane Levallois at the CBA (Carlos Blanco Aguinaga Kultur Gunea) in Irun.
Other activities will round off the programme, including the 11th edition of the traditional Fanzine War, as well as a variety of talks and meetings.
This year, Tabakalera will also screen El cebo (1958), a classic of Spanish fantasy cinema directed by Ladislao Vajda.
Samantha Hudson, the star of this year’s Festival poster, will give her first concert in San Sebastian. Samantha Hudson Live Showcase will take place at Intxarrondo Kultur Etxea on 29 October.
In addition to the exhibition already mentioned, three other exhibitions feature in this year’s programme: Cabinet of Curiosities, Monsters and Machines at Okendo Kultur Etxea, Tribute to Mai Egurza at the Central Library, and Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’, by Stéphane Levallois at the CBA (Carlos Blanco Aguinaga Kultur Gunea) in Irun.
Other activities will round off the programme, including the 11th edition of the traditional Fanzine War, as well as a variety of talks and meetings.
Fantasy and Horror Film Festival
An amazing atmosphere is guaranteed: many people attend the screenings in costume and fully immerse themselves in the excitement of the Festival. Are you one of them? Then… take note!
Ticket and Festival Pass Sales
Festival passes went on sale on Friday 23 October at the Teatro Principal box office. Sales of individual tickets began on Monday 26 October at the Teatro Principal and Victoria Eugenia Theatre box offices, as well as on the Donostia Kultura website.
More information: San Sebastian Fantasy and Horror Film Festival
And remember, the Tourist Office is your first stop for discovering all the secrets of Donostia/San Sebastián. If you’re coming to enjoy the Fantasy and Horror Film Festival, drop by our office and discover everything the city has in store for you. Whatever your plans, we’ll help you enjoy a frightfully good experience!
More information: San Sebastian Fantasy and Horror Film Festival
And remember, the Tourist Office is your first stop for discovering all the secrets of Donostia/San Sebastián. If you’re coming to enjoy the Fantasy and Horror Film Festival, drop by our office and discover everything the city has in store for you. Whatever your plans, we’ll help you enjoy a frightfully good experience!
