The 2026 HSBC Spanish & Latin American Film Festival returns in June 2026, unveiling a rich mix of contemporary stories from across Spain and Latin America.
Now in its 29th year, the festival’s first program announcement offers a strong cross section of genres, from intimate romance and family drama to historical epics and music documentaries, setting the tone for a month-long celebration of cinema.
Leading the early lineup is NOTHING BETWEEN US (Nada entre los dos), a romantic drama set against a corporate backdrop. Starring Gael García Bernal and Natalia Oreiro in their first on-screen pairing, the film follows two colleagues attending a conference in a Mexican beach resort, where questions of freedom and expectation begin to surface.
The Festival Centrepiece, SUNDAYS (Los domingos), arrives with major acclaim. Directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, the film took out the Golden Shell for Best Film at the 2025 San Sebastián Film Festival and went on to win five Goya Awards and five Feroz Awards. The story centres on a family shaken when their teenage daughter announces her decision to enter a convent.
Also on the program is THE CAPTIVE (El cautivo), the Festival Special Presentation from Alejandro Amenábar. This sweeping historical drama follows a young Miguel de Cervantes during his imprisonment in 16th century Algiers, where storytelling becomes a form of escape.
Music lovers are drawn into LA SALSA VIVE, a documentary tracing the roots and global spread of salsa, from New York City to Cali in Colombia. Meanwhile, Brazilian drama ISABEL explores ambition and independence within São Paulo’s fine dining scene.
The lineup also makes space for lighter moments. ANOTHER LEAGUE (Pioneras: solo querían jugar) tells an uplifting true story about women’s football in 1970s Spain, while MY AMAZING GRANDMA (Abuela Tremenda) and BEAR CLAW CAMP (Campamento Garra de Oso) bring family-friendly energy to the screen.
In Melbourne, the festival runs from 12 June – 5 July at The Astor Theatre, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Church St, Palace Penny Lane, Palace Westgarth, The Kino, Palace Balwyn and Pentridge Cinema. The full program and tickets set to be released in mid-May at spanishfilmfestival.com
