06/05/2025 - The latest works by Marta Mateus, Ben Rivers and the duo Pierre Creton and Vincent Barré feature in the international competition section of this unique Spanish event

The 21st edition of Play-Doc, Tui International Film Festival will take place from 7 to 11 May. The opening day will combine film, music and poetry with Traspielas, a multidisciplinary performance by singer-songwriter Su Garrido Pombo, who draws on traditional songs to explore new forms of stage expression. This will be followed by a screening of Quieres salir puedes entrar, a short documentary directed by Pablo Villalobos Leal, offering a portrait of poet Carlos Oroza to mark the centenary of his birth. These two opening acts set the tone for this year’s edition: a dialogue between past and present, popular forms and contemporary languages.

The International Competition includes Fire of Wind [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile] by Marta Mateus (Portugal/Switzerland/France) and Bogancloch [+see also:
film review
interview: Ben Rivers
film profile], a new adventure from the always surprising and brilliant Ben Rivers (United Kingdom/Germany/Iceland), both presented in competition at Locarno; 7 Walks with Mark Brown [+see also:
film review
film profile] by Pierre Creton and Vincent Barré, Room of Shadows, a film by Colombian director Camilo Restrepo (Los conductos [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile]), and the short film Flamenco by Jean-Claude Rousseau; Sincero, apaixonado, a short film co-produced between Belgium and Portugal and directed by Margaux Dauby and Raúl Domingues; and El tercer paisaje, a short film by Spanish filmmaker Julen Etxebarria.

In addition, Play-Doc reaffirms its commitment to cinema with a programme that celebrates and reclaims cult filmmakers, marginal and unique figures. In 2025 the festival invites audiences on a journey through the filmographies of Monte Hellman, Elaine May and Michael Roemer, alongside rarities such as the films of Galician filmmaker Bernardino de Lamas and a selection of recovered gems from the history of Indian cinema. The festival will also feature a range of parallel activities, concerts, performances in heritage spaces, expanded cinema, workshops and industry meetings.

As always, the local audiovisual scene will also play a central role, with the Galicia Competition section showcasing a selection of films that reflect the vitality and diversity of contemporary Galician cinema. This includes the feature film Gods of Stone, a non-fiction film by Iván Castiñeiras; Maroun regresa a Beirut by Lebanese filmmaker Feyrouz Serhal; O silencio herdado by Lucía Dapena González; and Te separas mucho by Paula Veleiro; plus the short films Delincuente directed by Nuria Vil and Alba Domínguez; Exposed by Nela Fraga; Nayan by Carla Andrade; O costume do traballo by Luis Morla; Patios de luz by Fran Rodríguez Casal; Pura by Carmen Méndez; Un dragón de cien cabezas by Helena Girón and Samuel M. Delgado (They Carry Death [+see also:
film review
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interview: Samuel M Delgado and Helena…
film profile]) and the aforementioned Quieres salir puedes entrar by Pablo Villalobos Leal.

This edition of Play-Doc also features the presentation of three Galician projects at various stages of development. The directors will share with the public a preview of several films that are soon set to enter the exhibition circuit: Kiro, by María Yáñez, about the great pop diva of Galician music in the 70s and 80s; Despois das ciudades, a new film essay by Xacio Baño (Trot [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Xacio Baño
film profile]); and Notas entre silencios, the upcoming documentary by Fon Cortizo (9 fugas [+see also:
film review
film profile]), which explores listening, music and deafness, featuring the musicians from Sumrrá and the choreographer Jone San Martin.

(Translated from Spanish)