Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.

Article Source: Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival
Last Updated: 10 September 2025 13:34

The Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival (ESFF) welcomes film fans from all over Scotland to its 12th edition. The festival is delighted to offer a packed programme of cinema screenings, guest appearances and cultural events, featuring a total of 17 films, including four debut features from Spain and Latin America and offering a snapshot of the best brand-new Spanish-language cinema for 2025. The majority of our films are Scottish premieres.

ESFF 2025 is dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the reestablishment of Spanish democracy. As such, our opening event will be a roundtable entitled “50 Years of Democracy in Spain: Perils and Possibilities for a Changing Future” where Professors Nuria Capdevila and Oliver Escobar will reflect on the legacy of the Spanish transition and what we can learn from it, especially in today’s critical context for democracy everywhere.

Following on the spirit of this event, our opening film will be Breaking Walls by Borja Cobeaga, a delightful road movie set in 1989 featuring a group of reluctant fathers who must escort their young daughters from Bilbao to Berlin for a gymnastics competition. The director will present the film on Friday 3rd October at 18:10 at the Edinburgh Filmhouse, and it will be followed by a Q&A session.

Our film programme will go over different periods of Spain’s contemporary history: from highlighting classism in Francoist-era Valencia with The Good Manners by Celia Rico (in attendance, Sat 4th 18:00 at the Filmhouse), to navigating the intricate fight against ETA in the 1990s with Undercover by Arantxa Etxevarría. We also have the uphill struggle of internal migrants in Barcelona with The 47 by Marcel Barrena, the marginalisation and empowerment of a group of Spanish transwomen with Dressed in Blue by Antonio Giménez Rico, and the current challenges faced by refugees and their allies with Pheasant Island by Asier Urbieta (co-presented with festival partner French Film Festival UK).

As always, we welcome the debut films of new Spanish directors: Everything I Don’t Know by Ana Lambarri (in attendance, Sun 12th 18:00 at the Odeon), which follows the anxieties and frustration of a young woman trying to make it in the tech world; Dismantling an Elephant by Aitor Echeverría (in attendance, Fri 10Th 19:00 at the Fraser Centre, and Sat 11th 18:00 at the Odeon), depicting the relationship between an ambitious ballerina and her mother recently released form addiction rehab; and Away by Gerard Oms (in attendance, Sat 18th 17:45 at the Filmhouse), featuring Mario Casas’ breakthrough performance as an undocumented immigrant who strives to find a future in Amsterdam.

We are also pleased to bring you two recent films from Peru: Queens by Klaudia Reynicke, where two sisters have to choose between staying with their father and friends in Lima or migrating with their mother to the US; and Through Rocks and Clouds by Franco García Becerra, where an Andean shepherd boy who is excited for the FIFA World Cup is threatened by the social and environmental impact of corporate mining.

Last but not least, Professor Nuria Capdevilla’s celebrated audiovisual project CartasVivas will return to our festival this year featuring new stories from overlooked Spanish female intellectuals.

All our films will be screened in their original language with English subtitles. For hard-of-hearing (HOH) audiences, we will continue to work with local accessibility experts such as Screen Language for HOH captioning. Undercover, Breaking Walls and Dismantling an Elephant will be screened with HOH captions in Edinburgh, Inverness and Tranent.

Special events:

Following our tradition to support the study of Spanish as a foreign language in the UK, we have organised many events for young students. This year, Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles by Salvador Simó and The Footballest by Miguel Ángel Lamata will be available online with an access code, ready to be viewed from the comfort of the classroom for all UK schools. Breaking Walls by Borja Cobeaga will be screened in Edinburgh and Manchester for special school screenings. The CartasVivas screening in Edinburgh will also be open for students.

In a new collaboration with Scottish charity The Welcoming, which supports asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Edinburgh, ESFF will host a special workshop: “Recording Edinburgh as My Home”, with ESFF programmer assistant Dr Gustavo Herrera Taboada.

Finally, following our sold-out Basque Supper Club in May, ESFF will host a Valencian Supper Club at Tapa Restaurant in Leith as our closing event on Sunday 19th October at 18:30, featuring special cocktails and dishes inspired by Valencian cuisine.

Marian A. Aréchaga, Director ESFF said: “Spanish cinema is on a high, with the number of films produced in Spain rising steadily in the past few years. At ESFF we are delighted to bring the best of those titles alongside some of the most exciting features from Latin America. It has been and is an incredible experience to share thoughts, views and ideas with directors, colleagues, students and wonderful interpreters who make the whole thing possible.”

For more detailed information about the films see: www.edinburghspanishfilmfestival.com/en/

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, Film Hub Scotland, Screen Scotland, the Spanish Embassy in London and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

Screening and Event Venues and Prices:

Edinburgh
Filmhouse (88 Lothian Road, EH3 9BZ)
Films: £12 full price, £10.50 concession

French Institute of Scotland (W Parliament Square, EH1 RN1)
Films: £10 full price, £7 concession

Odeon (118 Lothian Rd, EH3 8BQ)
Films: £10 full price, £8 concession

Tapa (19 Shore Pl, EH6 6SW)
Valencian Supper Club: £40

Tranent: The Fraser Centre (3 Winton Pl, EH33 1AF)
Films: £7 full price, £6 concession

Glasgow: University of Strathclyde, Royal College room 345 (entry through James Weir building on 75 Montrose St, G1 1XJ)
Films: £8 full price, £6 concession

Stirling: Macrobert Arts Centre (University of Stirling, FK9 4LA)
Films: Pay what you can: £6.50

Inverness: Eden Court Cinema (Bishops Rd, IV3 5SA)
Films: £9.50/£7 concession

Got a story to share? Send us an email at hello[@]whatsonnetwork.co.uk

Latest Edinburgh News

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.

Scottish International Storytelling Festival Programme Announced

With support from the Scottish Government’s Festivals EXPO Fund and Creative Scotland Multi-Year Funding, the Scottish International Storytelling Festival launched its 36th festival programme.

Mindroom Fundraising Heroes Drive Charity Support Forward

Mindroom is celebrating a series of extraordinary fundraising activities, led by charity co-founder 81-year-old Robin Dow, living with stage 4 cancer, as his 25-mile walk raised a huge £70,000.

Fresh deals for freshers

Calling all students in Edinburgh! Britain’s biggest craft brewer, BrewDog, has announced some fresh new deals for freshers and returning students to toast the new academic year.

Carol Main MBE FRC appointed Chair of National Centre for Music

The development of a new National Centre for Music has reached another key milestone, with the appointment of Carol Main MBE FRC as Chair.

Eat Spain Drink Spain returns for a Culinary Fiesta across Edinburgh

Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as the "Eat Spain Drink Spain" campaign makes its much-anticipated return to Edinburgh.

Haggis the pygmy hippo to say goodbye to Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo has announced that Haggis the pygmy hippo will be moving to another zoo as part of the breeding programme for the Endangered species.

Spooky Season Arrives at Dynamic Earth this October

This October, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, Dynamic Earth invites visitors of all ages to step into the shadows and uncover the science behind the spookiest stories ever told.

Cineworld 4DX Rewind returns for 2025

Cineworld is excited to announce the return of 4DX Rewind this September across Cineworld 4DX cinemas nationwide!

Edinburgh bridal expert shares her top trend prediction for Taylor Swift wedding

Now is the time to shop for that perfect dress, as Rachel Scott Couture has announced it will be hosting a one-off, three-week long sample sale at its Queensferry Street boutique.

Marcos unveils first of its kind interactive karaoke room

Whatever kind of music you’re into, the brand-new interactive karaoke room at Marco's is the place for uninhibited singing, selfies and self-expression.

Final countdown to the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run 2025 is on

Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow next month, and there’s still time to secure your place.

Divino Enoteca launches September tasting menu and free wine tastings

This September, Edinburgh’s Italian wine bar Divino Enoteca, is offering plenty for food and wine lovers to explore.

September offers for Freshers Week at Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh is giving students an extra reason to head out this semester with 20% off food, non-alcoholic drinks and merchandise when they show a valid student ID.

Marstons and Tom Shepherd join forces once more to serve up the best ever pub pie

Marston's and Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd have teamed up once more to serve up The Best Ever Pub Pie to locals across the country.

Edinburgh Fringe smash hit Oran embarks on first UK tour

Òran, the award-winning sell-out hit of the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe embarks on its first ever UK tour this autumn as company Wonder Fools take their work to a host of venues across Scotland.

Dynamic Earth partners with Scottish Water to deliver Water Cycle Workshops

Dynamic Earth is to join Science Centres across Scotland to deliver Water Cycle Workshops as part of Scottish Water's Generation H2O education programme.

Edinburgh Cocktail Week 2025 programme announced

The Edinburgh Cocktail Week programme for 2025 has been announced, reaffirming its status as the UK’s leading cocktail festival.

Iconic films to take centre stage at Vue venues in Scotland

Iconic movies celebrating key milestones this year are returning to Vue for a limited run - including Steven Spielberg classic Jaws.

20 expert sessions at The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show

The Scottish Homebuilding & Renovating Show will be packed with expert speakers when it returns to the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston on 4th – 5th October 2025.

A Taste of Loch Lomond Book launches with live cooking demo at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival

Love Loch Lomond will officially launch its new publication, A Taste of Loch Lomond – Stories and Flavours from the Bonnie Banks, at the Loch Lomond Food & Drink Festival on Sunday 7th September.

DF Concerts Celebrate Biggest Summer in Edinburgh

DF Concerts is celebrating a record-breaking month after selling more than 356,000 tickets in Edinburgh during August 2025.

Forever Edinburgh launches winter phase of Stay Different campaign

Forever Edinburgh has launched the winter phase of its ‘Stay Different’ campaign, inviting visitors to discover an entirely different side of the city during the colder months.

Seriously fun ideas for your work Christmas Party

It might only be September, but the C-word is not too far away, so it's time to start thinking about planning the annual office Christmas shindig before everything gets booked up!

Collective Gala returns this weekend

Collective is delighted to announce the return of the Collective Gala, offering a free and vibrant celebration of art, music, food and tours across Calton Hill this Sunday.

GRAHAM brings female focused ConstructHER programme to Edinburgh

Following the success of its flagship female apprenticeship scheme in Glasgow, leading construction company GRAHAM is launching its ConstructHER programme in Edinburgh this autumn.

Business Gateway launches its first ever Scottish Start Up Month

Business Gateway, Scotland's national business support service, has launched Scottish Start-Up Month, a nationwide campaign to celebrate Scotland's entrepreneurial spirit.

St James Quarter announces year long partnership with Children First

St James Quarter, Edinburgh’s leading retail and lifestyle destination, has today announced a new 12-month charity partnership with Children First, Scotland’s national children’s charity.

Casting annouced for Inside No 9 Stage Fright

Full casting has been announced for the UK tour of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s Inside No.9 Stage/Fright, coming to Edinburgh Playhouse in November.

Casting Announced for Top Hat Musical

The Chichester Festival Theatre Production of Irving Berlin’s Top Hat has announced the cast for the 2025 UK tour which opens at the Edinburgh Playhouse from 30th September 2025.

Popular Listings

Corn Exchange Haddington Edinburgh Playhouse Festival Theatre Edinburgh Howden Park Centre Livingston Kings Theatre Edinburgh National Museum of Scotland O2 Academy Edinburgh The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh Traverse Theatre Usher Hall

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition

Edinburgh Spanish Film Festival returns for its 12th edition on the big screen in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling and Inverness from 1st to 19th October 2025.

Sponsored Links

Latest Edinburgh News

Sponsored Links

Sponsored Links

Popular Events

Popular Listings