Why Spain has hit the international stage as a film force to be reckoned with
Plus IconJohn Hopewell
Chief International Correspondent
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Victoria Luengo and Javier Bardem in Rodrigo Sorogoyen’s 'The Beloved' Courtesy of Movistar Plus+ Over 2025-26, no country anywhere in the world outside France, not even the U.S., has had more Cannes Palme d’Or contenders than Spain.
Pedro Almodóvar, Rodrigo Sorogoyen and Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo have made Cannes’ 2026 main competition cut; Oliver Laxe and Carla Simón were selected in 2025.
‘La bola negra’ Arguably, Spain also has two of the biggest stars at this year’s Cannes Film Festival: Almodóvar and Javier Bardem, who fronts Sorogoyen’s “The Beloved.” The 11 Spanish feature productions selected for the main sections at the Cannes Festival this year is also a record.
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