19 titles compete in San Sebastian's Zabaltegi-Tabakalera

Diop, Miike, Bonello join line-up

by Amber Wilkinson

I Was At Home, But
I Was At Home, But Photo: Nachmittagfilm

The San Sebastian Film Festival has announced the 19 titles that will make up its Zabaltegi-Tabakalera section - including films by Mati Diop, Takashi Miike and Bertrand Bonello.

The strand will comprise 13 features - including four world premieres - alongside a medium length film, four shorts and a series.

The winning film will receive 20,000 euros (£18,300), with the director receiving about a third of the cash and the film's Spanish distributor awarded the rest.

Films premiering in the section are Andres di Tella's Private Fiction, inspired by his own parents letters and the mid-length Land Underwater, directed by Maddi Barber, that documents the story of a controversial dam, plus Play, directed by Antonio Marciano, which tells the tale of a teenager who documents his own life. Also enjoying a world premiere is six-episode series The Prosecutor, the President and the Spy, directed by Justin Weber, probing the death of an Argentine prosecutor who accused his president of collusion with Iran.

Several other contenders premiered in Cannes, including Diop's Grand Jury prize-winning Atlantics - about a construction site love triangle - and Bonello's Haiti-set Zombi Child. Miike's boxer and yakuza tale First Love and Diao Yinan's gangster tale The Wild Goose Lake also made their bow at the French festival.

Among films heading to the competition from Berlin is Denis Côté's Ghost Town Anthology, about strange goings on in the wake of an accident, and Silver Bear winner I Was At Home But, a tale of a boy's disappearance, directed by Angela Schanelec.

The festival will run from September 20 to 28.

Share this with others on...

Movies out this week include:

Is This Thing On? Nouvelle Vague Primate Rabbit Trap
News

Home truths Marijana Janković on Balkan representation, and the immigrant question of belonging

The division belle Suzannah Herbert on facing the US' troubled history and making Natchez

Spin-off alchemy Claude Schmitz on bringing back cop pairing for Conrad & Crab – Idiotic Gems

Past crime Christoffer Boe on creating a world for his period mystery Special Unit - The First Murder

It Was Just An Accident screenwriter arrested in Iran Jafar Panahi speaks out

Sundance announces winners Josephine, Nuisance Bear, Shame And Money and To Hold A Mountain take top prizes

More news and features

Interact

As we move into 2026, don't forget that you can follow us on YouTube for trailers of festival films and more. You can also find us on Mastodon and Bluesky.

With awards season in full flow, you can keep track of the latest news on that here:

César nominations Nouvelle Vague leads the race for France's biggest awards

BAFTA nominations One Battle After Another and Sinners almost neck and neck

Critics' Circle Awards One Battle After Another wins fight

Oscars Sinners dominates the nominations