
It’s fiesta time as the 2024 HSBC Spanish Film Festival, presented by Palace Cinemas, prepares to set screens alight with a superb selection of the finest new films from Spain and Latin America. The festival’s largest lineup to date opens nationally in June at Palace Cinemas.
The Spanish Film Festival will open with a stunning homage to cinema and profiles Spain’s finest female filmmakers.
Based on a popular novel and directed by multi award-winning director Lone Scherfig, The Movie Teller (La Contadora de Películas) is this year’s star-studded opening night selection – a moving tribute to cinema and the magical power of storytelling.
The film follows a young woman’s coming-of-age in a Chilean mining town and stars Bérénice Bejo, Antonio de la Torre, Daniel Brühl and brilliant newcomer Alondra Valenzuela.
The 2024 Special Presentation brings together female-led films exploring the themes of ‘Liberation, Sexuality and Empowerment’. In the comedic, yet sensual drama Mamacruz, Kiti Mánver delivers a compelling central performance as a religiously devout woman in late-middle-age who rediscovers the transformative power of her own sensuality.
Channelling the voices of three women over 65 into one, Memories Of A Burning Body (Memorias de un cuerpo que arde) is a heartfelt drama exploring pleasure and desire.
The sixth feature from talented director Juana Macías, The Girls At The Station (Las chicas de la estación), is a powerful drama inspired by real events starring three outstanding newcomers as friends entering adulthood who face incredible obstacles.
This is just the tip of this festival’s iceberg – there are so many really good movies to see, you need to check out the website and make a list!
The Spanish Film Festival will screen from June 21 to July 10 at Ballina Fair Cinemas and Palace Byron Bay. Tickets are now on sale from palacecinemas.com.au. For updates and more information, visit www.spanishfilmfestival.com.


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