The Zinebi International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Bilbao has revealed the full line-up for its 67th edition, kicking off in the Arriaga Theatre on 21 November. The gathering, headed for the second year by Joseba Lopezortega, will continue unspooling in the Basque city until the 28th. In total, 156 films from 44 countries will get an airing at the festival, and 41 of these have been produced in the Basque Country. The Official Section will host 58 films, chosen from among 9,090 submissions – an all-time record for the festival.

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As is customary, Honorary Mikeldi Awards will be handed out at the third-oldest international film festival in Spain, to two prominent names in contemporary international cinema. Following the awarding of one of these honorary prizes to DoP José Luis Alcaine last year (see the interview), who has lensed movies such as Parallel Mothers [+lee también:
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entrevista: Antonio Banderas
Q&A: Pedro Almodóvar
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entrevista: Pedro Almodóvar
ficha de la película], one of this edition’s gongs will go to another individual with close ties to Pedro Almodóvar, and someone who is a key figure in the Spanish production landscape: El Deseo’s Esther García. Another Honorary Mikeldi will be bestowed upon Bilbao native Pablo Berger (Robot Dreams [+lee también:
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entrevista: Pablo Berger
ficha de la película]). Berger’s career exemplifies “the values of creative freedom, artistic rigour and international reach that underpin the very spirit of Zinebi”, in the words of the festival.

This year, the International Competition includes only short films. The national premieres include El cuerpo de Cristo by Bea Lema, Le prime volte by Giulia Cosentino and Perla Sardella, 09/05/1982 by Jorge Caballero and Camilo Restrepo, La durmiente by María Inês Gonçalves, and Mon autre maman by Fon Cortizo. Other standout titles include the doc The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing by Scottish director of Palestinian heritage Theo Panagopoulos, a candidate for the European Film Award for European Short Film, and A Very Straight Neck by Neo Sora, which won the Pardino d'Oro Swiss Life for Best Auteur Short Film at Locarno this year.

Another of Zinebi’s main sections is “Beautiful Docs - Panorama of World Documentaries”, which presents the best documentaries that have been enjoyed by audiences worldwide during 2025. This year, the following nine titles will be on show: With Hasan in Gaza [+lee también:
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entrevista: Kamal Aljafari
ficha de la película] by Kamal Aljafari (which won the Europa Cinemas Label at Locarno and was selected at Toronto), Gianfranco Rosi’s Below the Clouds [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] (which won the Special Jury Prize at Venice), Fuck the Polis by Rita Azevedo Gomes (winner of the Grand Prize in the International Competition of FIDMarseille), National Pride - From Jericho to Gaza [+lee también:
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ficha de la película] by Belgium’s Sven Augustijnen (winner of a Special Mention at Visions du Réel), The Flight of the Stork by Berta Vicente and Soumaya Hidalgo Djanhdou, Yrupẽ [+lee también:
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On the industry side, Zinebi Networking: Dokumentalen Sorgunea will unspool for the eighth time, presenting films in development, from early creative concepts seeking support to those in their final phase, in need of that final push before release. At the end of the forum, three financial grants will be awarded to help developing projects that are ready to become films, with the support of the Basque Government, RTVE and EITB (each contributing a prize valued at €10,000). Seven projects in development and four at the final stage have been selected this year – see the list at the end of this article.

A brand-new initiative is the ZINEBI Animation Lab, which aims to strengthen the Basque animation ecosystem through training, creation and reflection. Several filmmakers with ongoing animation projects will be offered the services of a panel of professional practitioners across multiple disciplines. Through tailored meetings, they will help the participants move forward with their projects and advise them on how to present them.

Here is the full list of projects taking part in Zinebi Networking:

Eltzegorra - David Aguilar Iñigo
Producer: Iñaki Sagastume (Zazpi T’erdi)

De qué hablo cuando hablo de lipo - Mariu Benzo
Producer: Oriol Estrada (Cine Arco)

The Shortest Border in the World – Román Cadafalch
Producer: Alba Lombardía González (Escarlata)

Comando Igualdade. La revolución feminista agitando las aulas - Xiana do Teixeiro
Producers: Xiana do Teixeiro, Jaime Muguruza (Animala)

Como Manolete en la víspera de su muerte - Álvaro Gómez Pidal
Producer: Laura Hueso Ribes (Inaudita Films)

Reflejos de la casa verde - Antonio Morales
Producer: Jon Arrospide Laborda (Nadadora Films)

Taranta - Samuel Nacar
Producer: Ana Puentes Margarito (Verbena Films)

Nuestra piel levantada - Paolo Natale
Producers: Juan Carlos Ballesteros (Mubox Studio)

Al Nervión - Aitziber Olaskoaga
Producers: Ainhoa Andraka, Zuri Goikoetxea (Doxa Producciones)

Berdea - Oihane Ruiz
Producers: Oihane Ruiz, Ane Miren Barrutia, Marta Casquero

Pajarracos - Zaira Zanguitu
Producers: Leire Apellaniz, Carmen Lacasa (Sr&Sra Producciones)