BCN Film Fest

The BCN Film Fest focuses on popular films for the general public with special attention to those related to the world of literature and history. This event aims to establish a close relationship with the cultural and popular character of the festival of Sant Jordi, the most emblematic of Barcelona. In keeping with this philosophy, the program of the Official Section is mainly dedicated to adaptations of literary works, productions with a historical background and biographical films about great personalities.

About the 2023 edition of the BCN Film Fest

The 7th edition of the BCN Film Fest, which will feature a program of around 70 films, pays tribute to Wim Wenders, who will receive the Honorary Award. In addition, the BCN FILM FEST dedicates its Essential Section to the work of the German filmmaker with a retrospective that, in collaboration with the Wim Wenders Foundation, includes his most representative works ("Paris, Texas", "Buena Vista Social Club" or "Pina", among others). The Award will be presented on April 20 at the opening of the Festival. Other stars of this year's edition will be Omar Sy, Toni Servillo, Bille August, Nanni Moretti, Jafar Panahi and Bérénice Bejo.

SICA, by Carla Subirana, will close the festival. The film selected by the Berlin Film Festival is a coming-of-age shot on the Costa da Morte and starring Thais García, in the role of a 14-year-old girl waiting for the sea to return the body of her fisherman father, and Núria Prims ("Uncertain Glory").

The main venue of the festival will be the Cines Verdi, but there will also be screenings and activities at CaixaForum, Casa SEAT, Institut Français and La Perla 22.

Films to be screened at this year's edition

• Father and soldier by Mathieu Vadepied: 1917. In the French colony of Senegal, Bakary enlists in the French army to stay with Thierno, his 17-year-old son, recruited against his will. Together, father and son must fight in World War I on the front lines in France, a country they do not know. Bakary embarks on an intense and hellish race to save his son.
• El colibrí by Francesca Archibugi: ophthalmologist Marco Carrera has had many sentimental relationships from the 1970s to the present day. He has a platonic love story with Luisa Lattes, but eventually marries Marina and has children before separating. On his way, he will receive help from a psychoanalyst.
• La uruguaya by Ana García Blaya: Lucas Pereyra is a writer in the midst of a midlife crisis who seeks relief from his daily problems on a trip to Montevideo. He wants to reconnect with a younger woman he met on a previous trip and with whom he has a long-distance relationship.
• La impaciencia del corazón by Bille August: 1913, Anton's top priority is to complete his training as a cavalry officer. During training, he will order his platoon to help Baron von Løvenskjold. This is how he will meet his daughter Edith, who, wounded, travels in a wheelchair. Anton will be attracted to her, but he will not be sure whether his feelings are pity or true love.
• No Bears by Jafar Panahi's: a film director moves to a rural village bordering Turkey in Iran to shoot a film that follows two love stories that are thwarted by hidden and inescapable obstacles, the force of superstition and power. While working on his film, he becomes embroiled in a local scandal and must confront tensions between tradition and progress, city and country, belief and evidence, and the desire to resist oppression.
• Paris-Texas by Wim Wenders: a man walks aimlessly through the desert, not knowing who he is. His brother comes to his aid and tries to make him remember his life four years earlier, when he abandoned his wife and child. As he regains his memory, he discovers an opportunity to make amends for his mistakes.
• Missing by Shinzo Katayamâ: After the death of his wife, Santoshi sinks into depression and debt, much to the dismay of his daughter Kaede, a high school student. To relieve his debt, Santoshi tells Kaede that he will find a serial killer to collect the rewards. But Santoshi disappears and Kaede needs to find him.

Tickets for the 2023 BCN Film Fest, will go on sale on April 13.

BCN Film Fest sections

In addition to the official section (which offers the award for best film), the festival consists of the following sections:

Indispensable

A selection of auteur cinema classics of all time featuring the work of a specific director, artistic movement, historical period or national cinematography.

Asia noir by Cineasia

Section dedicated to Asian cinema in collaboration with CineAsia and the Fundació Institut Confuci. Films from different periods and genres that show the union between literature and cinema.

New talents

With the aim of promoting and supporting emerging talent, the BCN FILM FEST premieres the New Talents section in which a sample of 18 short films selected from the students of ESCAC and other film schools will be programmed.

School Week

Outside the dates of the festival, specifically from March 27 to 31, eight educational titles will be offered for teachers and students at a price of 3.90 € and with an educational card. There will be free sessions in civic centers in Barcelona such as El Pati Limona, Fort Pienc, Can Clariana or Vil-la Florida.