The 2025 Spanish Film Festival is in full swing in Australia now that Sydney, Byron Bay and Ballina have had their opening nights, joining six other host cities around the country.
Sydney’s opening night at Palace Cinemas Moore Park was a lively, festive affair (pictured at top). Catering company Ola Lola‘s big pans of sizzling paella outside the cinema were a welcome sight on a winter night; The Glendronach, one of the SpanishFilmFest’s gold partners, had a mobile bar serving Whisky Sours and Highballs; and a talented local band, Salsa Kingsz, got the after party going and patrons dancing in the cinema foyer.
Fun nights at a cinema are back!
When the 2025 festival program was first unveiled, My Five Romances was impressed with how many more ‘event’ nights there are this year compared to previous festivals. Is going to the cinema regaining popularity as people tire of watching content at home on their electronic devices? “Absolutely,” says Palace Cinemas chief executive officer Benjamin Zeccola. “Cinema has always been about shared experience — about escaping routine and living vicariously through someone else for a few hours. Now, more than ever, people are craving connection and a sense of occasion.
“Coming to the cinema—especially for a festival—is delightfully active. Some like to dress up, some meet friends and others prefer to go alone; you sip good wine, and you’re surrounded by people laughing or holding their breath at the same moment. It’s immersive, it’s cultural, it’s emotional. And yes, we’re seeing audiences rediscover the joy of that.”
Benjamin Zeccola at the opening night of the 2025 Spanish Film Festival in Melbourne.
The festival’s big scoops
Asked what films he was particularly proud of procuring for the festival, Benjamin said: “Choosing favourites feels a bit like choosing between your children—but I’ll highlight a few.
- EL 47 (The 47) is a moving historical drama from Barcelona in the 70’s that stayed with me long after watching [the film won five awards at the 2025 Goya Awards ceremony earlier this year, including joint winner of the best film].
- La infiltrada (Undercover) is another award-winning film that follows a brave policewoman as she infiltrates the ETA movement in Basque Spain. [It shared the Best Film at the 2025 Goya Awards, where its star, Carolina Yuste, won Best Actress].
- El secreto del orfebre (The Goldsmith’s Secret) and Ocho (8) are sweeping romantic epics.
“Every film in the program has been carefully chosen with love and purpose,” Benjamin adds. “We want people to laugh, to cry, to discover something new and to celebrate culture, community, and conversation. We love these movies, and we just want to share them with you.”
Themes and preoccupations
At any film festival, it is always interesting to see what topics the filmmakers are tackling. “Themes did emerge from the selection, particularly around forgiveness, memory and identity — stories that ask how the past shapes us and how one might shape the future,” says Benjamin.
“On the lighter side, the comedies are wonderfully irreverent but often deal with serious ideas underneath — marriage, friendship and the bonds that bind families together. You’ll laugh, and cry, but you also reflect. That’s what great cinema does — it entertains and reveals.” M5R
See also
Say hi to the 2025 Spanish Film Festival
Female filmmakers shine at Spanish Film Festival
My Five Romances’ Spanish film archives
Photos courtesy of the 2025 Spanish Film Festival
