The 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival showcases 30 exceptional films from Spain and Latin America across Australian cinemas this winter.
Brace yourselves, cinephiles! The 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival is bringing the heat this winter with a fiery program of thirty films showcasing the best of Spanish and Latin American cinema. Running from June 11 to July 9 at Palace Cinemas around Australia, this year’s lineup offers everything from gripping crime thrillers to heartwarming comedies and powerful dramas.
As Australia shivers through the cold months, this cinematic fiesta promises to transport you to sun-drenched beaches, vibrant cityscapes, and the rich cultural landscapes of Spain and beyond. Whether you’re in the mood for romance, laughs, or intense storytelling, this meticulously curated selection delivers the goods.
Here’s our rundown of the must-see flicks from this year’s dazzling program.
The 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival
- Canberra 11 June – 2 July: Palace Electric Cinema
- Adelaide 11 June – 2 July: Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas, Palace Prospect Cinemas
- Brisbane 11 June – 2 July: Palace James Street and Palace Barracks
- Perth 12 June – 2 July: Palace Raine Square Cinemas, Luna Leederville and Luna on SX
- Melbourne 13 June – 2 July: The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Palace Balwyn and Pentridge Cinema
- Ballarat: 13 June – 2 July Palace Regent Theatre
- Sydney 19 June – 9 July: Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central and Chauvel Cinema
- Byron Bay 19 June – 9 July: Palace Byron Bay
- Ballina 19 June – 9 July: Ballina Fair Cinemas
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Samana Sunrise
Opening Night Film
This sun-soaked comedy stars an all-star cast including Luis Zahera, María Luisa Mayol, Luis Tosar, and Bárbara Santa-Cruz as two couples celebrating their twenty-year friendship at a beachside resort in the Dominican Republic. When one friend decides to share a confession from the past, it triggers a “Sliding Doors” moment that changes everything. With its beautiful setting and unexpected twist, this entertaining relationship comedy kicks off the festival with the perfect balance of humour and heart.
EL 47
Centrepiece Film
A true showstopper and winner of five Goya Awards (including Best Film), this inspiring drama tells the story of an act of peaceful dissidence that transformed modern Barcelona in the 1970s. When bus driver Manolo Vital (Eduard Fernández) decides to hijack his own bus and drive it up to his neglected neighbourhood to prove the city council wrong, he ignites a grassroots movement that changes the city forever. Director Marcel Barrena delivers a rousing tale of neighbourhood pride and collective action that channels the spirit of Ken Loach with its social realism and powerful performances.
Undercover (La Infiltrada)
This white-knuckle thriller, co-winner of Best Film at the 2025 Goya Awards, is based on the incredible true story of the only police officer in Spanish history to infiltrate the terrorist organisation ETA. Carolina Yuste delivers a career-defining performance as a young officer who goes deep undercover, living in constant fear of discovery. Director Arantxa Echevarría crafts a tense, addictive film that takes your breath away with its authentic portrayal of high-stakes undercover work.
The Goldsmith’s Secret (El Secreto del Orfebre)
Perfect for date night, this epic romance adapted from Elia Barceló’s acclaimed novel stars heartthrob Mario Casas as a skilled goldsmith who returns to his hometown and reconnects with a great love affair from 25 years prior. As past and present collide, the film explores themes of fate, time, and passion. Director Olga Osorio weaves together an emotionally rich narrative that goes beyond typical romance to explore feminism, patriarchy, and the power of memory.
Ocho (8)
From celebrated auteur Julio Medem comes this enchanting love story that spans almost a century of Spanish history. The film follows Octavio and Adela, born on the same day in neighbouring villages, whose tumultuous and passionate relationship unfolds across eight defining moments in Spain’s history between 1931 and 2021. Stars Javier Rey and Ana Rujas deliver poetic performances in this sweeping romantic drama that uses personal relationships to chart the evolution of a nation.
The Quiet Maid (Calladita)
Executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and fully funded by NFTs (a film world first), this compelling class-conflict drama follows a Colombian maid working in a luxurious mansion on the Costa Brava. Paula Grimaldo shines as Ana, a quiet but observant young woman who discovers her own ways of finding pleasure amid the stark inequalities of wealth. Director Miguel Faus combines a distinctive visual style with sharp social commentary in this subversive portrait of power dynamics and subtle rebellion.
Las Tres Sisters
This heartwarming adventure comedy follows three estranged Mexican American sisters who reunite to honour their grandmother by completing a pilgrimage through rural Mexico. When the eldest sister receives troubling health news, the journey becomes more than a tribute – it’s a chance to heal deep family wounds. With stunning landscapes and emotionally authentic performances, director Mar Novo crafts a wise and inspirational journey that celebrates sisterhood and second chances.
El Jockey
Drawing comparisons to the work of Wes Anderson, this stylish and absurdist thriller stars Nahuel Pérez Biscayart as a legendary jockey whose self-destructive behavior begins to outshine his talent. When he crashes during an important race and disappears, his pregnant girlfriend (Úrsula Corberó from “Money Heist”) and a mobster boss who saved his life begin a desperate search. Set in vibrant Buenos Aires, Luis Ortega’s visually lush film creates a surreal, playful mystery about identity and freedom.
Baby
This vibrant Brazilian drama from director Marcelo Caetano is a colourful, empathetic ode to found family and survival in São Paulo. After being released from juvenile detention, 18-year-old Wellington (aka Baby) finds himself alone and adrift until he’s taken under the wing of a mature sex worker who teaches him new ways of surviving. João Pedro Mariano gives a remarkable performance in this tender yet unflinching look at marginalised youth finding connection and meaning in difficult circumstances.
Nine Queens (Nueve Reinas)
Closing Night Film
Celebrating its 25th anniversary with a stunning 4K remaster, this brilliant Argentine crime thriller starring Ricardo Darín follows two small-time swindlers who become involved in a high-stakes con involving rare stamps. Over twenty-four hours, they navigate a world of thieves and con artists where nothing is as it seems. With its impeccable plot twists and seductive structure, it’s no wonder this film holds an impressive 92% on Rotten Tomatoes and remains a benchmark of Latin American cinema.
Also Worth Catching
The festival also features an exceptional selection of documentaries, including Mugaritz. No Bread, No Dessert, a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at one of the world’s most prestigious avant-garde restaurants, and The Flamenco Guitar of Yerai Cortés, a 2025 Goya Award winner exploring the artistic process of a rising flamenco star.
Comedy lovers shouldn’t miss Babies Don’t Come with Instructions, starring Paco León as a carefree hedonist in the Canary Islands whose life is upended when an old flame drops off a baby and claims he’s the father.
For powerful dramas, check out I Am Nevenka, Icíar Bollaín’s gripping exploration of what is considered Spain’s first #MeToo case, and Marco, the Invented Truth, a moral thriller based on the unbelievable true story of a man who maintained a complex lie about being a Holocaust survivor.
With a program this rich and diverse, the 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival offers the perfect escape from winter blues. Tickets are now on sale, with special opening night events, centerpiece premieres, and food and wine pairings available at select screenings. ¡Olé!
For updates and more information, visit www.spanishfilmfestival.com and join the mailing list or follow @spanishfilmfest.
This article was made in partnership with Palace Cinemas.
