Carlos R Ríos and Pedro Andrade – respectively director and head of programming, and industry coordinator at the D’A Film Festival (the next edition of which unspools from 27 March-6 April 2025) – give us a peek behind the scenes of the Barcelona-based gathering, which is committed to showcasing groundbreaking and emerging talents in cinema.

Cineuropa: The D’A Film Festival continues to showcase groundbreaking and emerging talents in cinema. Could you share the new thematic or curatorial approach that defines the upcoming edition, and reflects the festival’s growth and ambitions?
Carlos R Ríos: For the upcoming edition, we remain committed to promoting new talent, especially through our flagship sections, “Talents” and “Un Impulso Colectivo”. These sections have become benchmarks in Spain for cinema created on the margins of the industry, offering space for bold, fresh and innovative voices.

Our programming strikes a balance between established auteurs and emerging talent, a hallmark of the festival’s identity that resonates with our audiences. The Talents section focuses on emerging directors, while other sections like Radar and Un Impulso Colectivo also spotlight new creators. This commitment has been reinforced through the D’A Film Lab, which supports new talent by facilitating second and third projects, and providing essential resources for production and direction. The lab ensures these voices can continue to grow within the industry and transition beyond debut works.

The D’A Film Lab has become a vital platform for supporting innovative projects. What new initiatives or collaborations are being introduced this year to further empower creators and connect them with global industry stakeholders?
Pedro Andrade: Since its inception, D’A Film Lab Barcelona has focused on two goals: professional development for emerging producers, and boosting the international visibility of Spanish and Catalan film talent. Its boutique format ensures a curated selection aligned with the festival's programming philosophy. This approach allows us to adapt to participants’ needs, fostering a close, supportive environment for their projects.

The lab also connects projects with the industry, ensuring each selected project benefits from the platform. The “Final Cut & Panorama Catalunya” section, dedicated to feature films in post-production, has become a vital window for international festivals, enhancing the visibility and circulation of debut works. In 2024, programmers from 18 international festivals participated, and for the next edition, we aim to expand this reach to include new territories and festivals.

Additionally, “Producció Emergent” and “Coproduction Meetings” focus on emerging producers and international collaboration. Producció Emergent supports Spanish and Catalan producers by balancing project quality with producer development. Meanwhile, the Coproduction Meetings, an extension of Producció Emergent, aim to strengthen international collaborations. Initially focused on Spain and Portugal in 2023, these meetings will be extended to the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe in 2025. This expansion seeks to foster robust European co-productions led by emerging producers with global appeal.

Both programmes are structured around thematic blocks, providing tailored consultancies, tutorials and knowledge-sharing opportunities. For the 2025 edition, we aim to consolidate these formats, focusing on the most effective tools and maintaining our position as a key pillar of support in the development calendar for producers. All activities are crafted in collaboration with national and international professionals, ensuring they meet the specific needs of the selected projects while also engaging accredited professionals and the public.

What steps are being taken to amplify the festival's international reach and to position Barcelona as a vibrant hub for auteur cinema?
CRR: Barcelona and Catalonia have a rich tradition of producing and showcasing auteur cinema, and the D’A Film Festival embodies this legacy. We are working to position D’A as a premier platform for discovering the best contemporary independent and auteur cinema.

PA: The festival balances international and national films, established auteurs and emerging talent, and ensures gender parity and diversity in its programming. Eastern, Latin American and Asian film industries are priority areas, alongside renowned European ones. The new generation of audiences seeks both internationally recognised works and daring, emerging propositions from creators of their generation. To engage this audience, we highlight the coexistence of established filmmakers like Claire Denis with emerging voices like Dea Kulumbegashvili, Lois Patiño and Sandra Romero – examples connected to both the festival and its lab. By maintaining this balance, we aim to rejuvenate our audience and programming, ensuring that D’A remains a vibrant space for discovery and cultural exchange.