The SMART7 European film festival network has unveiled this year’s competition line-up, featuring seven films by emerging filmmakers that will tour the continent. Each of the selected titles will be showcased across all seven festivals within the network: Vilnius International Film Festival Kino Pavasaris (Lithuania), IndieLisboa International Independent Film Festival (Portugal), FILMADRID International Film Festival (Spain), Transilvania International Film Festival (Romania), New Horizons International Film Festival (Poland), Reykjavík International Film Festival (Iceland) and Thessaloniki International Film Festival (Greece). The tour kicks off in June at the 25th edition of the Transilvania International Film Festival in Cluj-Napoca.

(El artículo continúa más abajo - Inf. publicitaria)

For the fourth consecutive year, the SMART7 network has curated a selection of European films by promising directors, chosen for their thematic boldness and formal experimentation. The initiative aims to foster development within the festival industry while providing a platform for emerging voices to connect with international audiences. The joint programme includes one film from each of the SMART7 countries, highlighting fresh talent and diverse cinematic perspectives.

The Romanian entry, A River's Gaze [+lee también:
crítica
tráiler
ficha de la película], marks the feature debut by Andreea Borțun. Following her Cannes-selected short When Night Meets Dawn, Borțun’s first feature observes the relationship between Lavinia, a single mother, and her 13-year-old son, Dani, across four seasons spent in a Romanian village. As adolescence approaches, the fragile balance between dependence and autonomy begins to shift, testing their bond against socio-economic pressures and the inevitable transformations of age. From Poland comes No Ghosts on Good Street [+lee también:
crítica
ficha de la película], the debut feature by Emi Buchwald. Centred on four siblings growing up in the absence of their parents, the film closely observes their intimacy, tensions and forms of dependency, proposing an unconventional narrative structure and a layered portrait of a young generation navigating instability. The project was widely acclaimed at the Gdynia National Film Festival, where it received multiple awards, including Best Director.

Greece is represented by Patty Is Such a Girly Name, directed by Giorgos Georgopoulos (Not to Be Unpleasant, But We Need to Have a Serious Talk, Tungsten). This coming-of-age drama follows Daphne, a teenage judoka from an isolated island who relocates to a larger city to continue training under her mentor. Discipline, competition and the drive for self-affirmation shape her journey towards maturity. The film premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival and was later rewarded at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. In The Visitor [+lee también:
crítica
tráiler
entrevista: Vytautas Katkus
entrevista: Vytautas Katkus
ficha de la película], Lithuanian director Vytautas Katkus follows Danielius, a new father returning to his hometown to sell his parents’ apartment. Reconnecting with spaces and people from his past opens a process of remembrance and personal repositioning. The film received the Best Director Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

Representing Iceland, The Fires [+lee también:
crítica
ficha de la película], the feature debut by Ugla Hauksdóttir, blends elements of disaster cinema with intimate drama. A volcanology expert attempts to warn the scientific community about an imminent eruption threatening Reykjavík, while her personal life becomes entangled in a complicated romance. Portugal’s entry, Eternal Flame, is the first feature by Pedro Ramalhete. A melancholic comedy set within the dynamics of a film crew, the work pays tribute to Portuguese cinema while reflecting on the fragility and resilience of filmmaking itself. Spain completes the line-up with The Dashed Lines [+lee también:
crítica
ficha de la película], directed by Anxos Fazáns. The film charts the unexpected encounter between Bea, a 50-year-old woman in the midst of a divorce, and Denís, a 28-year-old trans man navigating an unstable period. Their connection evolves into a relationship of mutual support and personal rediscovery.

At the end of the festival circuit, an international jury comprising young film professionals will select the winning director, who will receive a €5,000 prize. In 2025, the SMART7 Trophy went to Portuguese-Cape Verdean director Denise Fernandes for her debut feature, Hanami [+lee también:
crítica
tráiler
entrevista: Denise Fernandes
ficha de la película], with the award announced during the closing gala of the 65th Thessaloniki International Film Festival.

Supported by Creative Europe - MEDIA, SMART7 aims to promote European films while fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas between young filmmakers and audiences. Beyond the film screenings, the network organises a range of activities designed to encourage international collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the festival community.