As the 74th edition of the San Sebastián International Film Festival draws to a close on September 26, veteran director José Luis Rebordinos formally concludes his sixteen-year tenure at the helm of the Basque event. Cultural program Días de Cine marks the transition by featuring Rebordinos as its spotlight guest, setting the stage for his successor, Maialen Beloki Berasategi.
The Bottom Line
- The Milestone Handover: After leading the Zinemaldia for sixteen years, José Luis Rebordinos steps down, passing the leadership torch to longtime subdirector Maialen Beloki Berasategi.
- A Blockbuster Send-Off: The 74th festival runs from September 18 to September 26, featuring 263 titles, 17 films competing for the Golden Shell, and appearances by Werner Herzog, Naomi Watts, and Orlando Bloom.
- The Next Era: Beloki becomes the first woman to direct the San Sebastián festival in its 74-year history, ensuring a structured transition extending into January 2027.
Closing Out a Defining Sixteen-Year Chapter in Donostia
For over a decade and a half, José Luis Rebordinos has served as the director of the San Sebastián International Film Festival, steering the Basque showcase through significant shifts in European cinema and the global festival circuit. In interviews leading up to the event, he noted that this milestone year felt like any other in terms of operational preparation—having worked on it continuously since the prior year’s curtain fell—even as public farewells marked his impending departure.
Reflecting on his tenure, Rebordinos explained to Europa Press that he chose to step down upon turning 65 during the festival, noting that the grueling physical and mental demands of the role require fresh energy. “Me marcho por dos razones, porque quiero hacer otras cosas, que son ya muchos años haciendo un mismo trabajo,” he shared, pointing to the need for a cycle change. Having taken over the festival alongside former subdirector Lucía Olaziregi with a mandate to modernize the event for the modern era, Rebordinos leaves behind a revitalized industry market and a year-round cultural institution.
Passing the Torch to Maialen Beloki Berasategi
The transition of power represents a historic moment for the Zinemaldia. For the first time in 74 editions, the festival will be directed by a woman. Maialen Beloki Berasategi steps up to the position after spending 17 years within the festival’s organizational ranks, most recently serving as one of its two key subdirectors alongside Olaciregui. Rebordinos has expressed complete confidence in her capacity to handle upcoming industry transformations.
"Yo soy pasado y presente del festival, no soy futuro," Rebordinos stated, emphasizing that the incoming director is far better adapted to manage the digital environment, artificial intelligence, and evolving distribution models shaping future cinema. To ensure institutional stability, the formal transition process will extend through January 2027. Eschewing any lingering advisory roles that might complicate his successor’s mandate, Rebordinos intends to step back completely from administrative authority, aiming to “volver un poco a la clandestinidad” and work selectively on collaborative projects from the background.
Star Power and Audiences at the 74th Zinemaldia
The edition has delivered robust commercial and cultural engagement from its opening moments, anchored by the German feature Ghost Song as the opening night film. Across the nine-day event, 263 titles originating from 47 countries screen for audiences, with 17 features battling for the coveted Golden Shell. Highlighting the festival’s international drawing power, German auteur Werner Herzog received the Donostia Award from actor Orlando Bloom, while Naomi Watts also accepted festival honors amidst a heavy influx of global talent.
The festival’s deep connection to its local audience remains its strongest anchor. During the opening days alone, ticket sales surpassed 32,000, underscoring a unique civic dynamic where a city of 186,000 residents routinely mobilizes to welcome large numbers of festivalgoers. Alongside mainstream international glamour—featuring names such as Jeremy Irons, Marion Cotillard, Ricardo Darín, Brad Pitt, and Penélope Cruz—the program maintained a sharp focus on social commitment, spotlighting provocative works like the Israeli documentary Naza, which Rebordinos characterized as an uncompromising look at the human cost of military conflict.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Featured Titles | 263 |
| Participating Countries | 47 |
| Films Competing for Golden Shell | 17 |
| Opening Day Ticket Sales | more than 32,000 |
| Estimated Total Attendance | nearly 185,000 |
Looking Beyond the Red Carpet
As Días de Cine honors Rebordinos’s legacy this week, the broader conversation within European film circles turns to how festivals must adapt to an increasingly fragmented media ecosystem. Under Rebordinos, San Sebastián cemented its status not merely as a glamorous September red carpet, but as a crucial nexus for Spanish and Latin American co-productions entering international markets like Berlin and Cannes. Beloki inherits an institution operating at peak performance, but one that must continuously weigh traditional theatrical exhibition against the rising tide of streaming platforms and digital distribution.
For his part, Rebordinos plans to trade the pressures of the executive suite for informal collaborations with industry friends, leaving the barricades behind. As the lights dim on the final screenings of his tenure, the Zinemaldia proves that steady, visionary leadership allows regional film festivals to scale global heights while keeping local audiences fiercely loyal.
