Marbella International Film Festival Brings Premieres, Documentaries and Red-Carpet Events to Puerto Banús

Six Days of Independent Cinema in Marbella

Marbella is once again welcoming filmmakers, actors, producers and cinema lovers for the 21st Marbella International Film Festival.

Running from Wednesday 7 to Monday 12 October 2026, the event combines public screenings with premieres, red-carpet appearances, masterclasses, industry sessions, parties and a closing awards gala.

More than 40 international productions feature across the programme, including feature films, documentaries, short films and content created with artificial intelligence.

The main screenings take place at Odeon Multicines in Puerto Banús, while hotels and other venues around Marbella host the festival’s professional and social events.

International Films and Emerging Talent

The Official Selection provides an opportunity to discover independent productions that have not yet reached mainstream commercial cinemas.

The festival supports emerging filmmakers and stories from different countries, providing an international showcase for directors, actors, screenwriters and producers.

Awards are presented in categories including Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, Best Short Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, Best Film Music, Best Cinematography and Best AI-Generated Film.

Selected screenings may also give audiences an opportunity to meet the creative teams and learn more about how the films were made.

Documentaries Exploring Conflict and Unusual Lives

Documentary filmmaking plays an important part in the 2026 programme.

The Land We Fight For, directed by Dimitri Nasennik, follows two 67-year-old farmers from Ukraine and Estonia. Former Soviet soldiers, they volunteer to help the Ukrainian military in the hope of preventing their countries from being occupied again. The screening is scheduled for Thursday 8 October at 5:00 p.m.

Spanish director Fernando Merinero’s A Million Thanks will be shown on Friday 9 October at 5:00 p.m. The documentary portrays a self-proclaimed “Founding Emperor” who created his own empire on a beach and established the Intergalactic Fun Bank.

Red-Carpet Screenings in Puerto Banús

Red-carpet events are among the festival’s main attractions.

Directors, performers, producers and invited guests accompany selected premieres, bringing together independent filmmaking and the international atmosphere associated with Puerto Banús.

These special screenings enable the filmmakers to present their work to audiences and the media, while visitors can discover new productions and share the experience with their creators.

Tickets and Festival Passes

Individual tickets for films screened at Odeon Multicines cost €10.

A €45 full-festival pass provides admission to the screenings across the five-day cinema programme. Selected screenings at the METT Hotel & Beach Resort cost €20.

Tickets are available through the official Marbella International Film Festival website. Visitors should check the date, time and venue listed for each film before booking.

Masterclasses and Industry Events

The festival programme extends beyond the cinema screens with events for actors, directors, screenwriters, producers and audiovisual creators.

Activities include the Director’s Cut and Acting on Camera masterclasses, focusing on filmmaking and performance for the screen.

Sessions addressing independent film funding, production and distribution are also included, alongside networking opportunities with international professionals and investors.

Artificial Intelligence Joins the Competition

The 2026 edition includes a category devoted to digital content and films created with artificial intelligence.

The AI & Media Creation programme explores how new tools are changing screenwriting, production, visual effects and audiovisual storytelling.

Selected projects can compete for the award for Best AI-Generated Film, reflecting one of the most rapidly developing areas of the industry.

A Platform for New Film Projects

Through Pitch Your Vision, producers and directors can present projects to industry professionals, investors and executive producers.

Selected participants receive advice on developing their presentations before pitching their ideas to an expert panel. The winning project may receive development and executive-production support covering areas such as screenwriting, financing and packaging.

The festival also introduces Reveal Your Talent, an open call giving selected actors the opportunity to audition in front of an industry panel.

Parties and Networking Events

The festival’s social calendar begins with an opening cocktail reception aboard a yacht in Puerto Banús.

Additional gatherings and parties take place at venues around the area. Some are restricted to invited guests, accredited professionals and holders of eligible VIP passes and are not included with standard cinema tickets.

Awards Gala at the METT Hotel

The 21st edition concludes with a cocktail reception, gala dinner and MIFF Awards ceremony at the METT Hotel & Beach Resort.

Winners across the Official Selection categories will be announced during the evening.

The awards dinner is not included with an ordinary screening ticket and is primarily available to invited guests and qualifying VIP pass holders.

More Than Two Decades Supporting Independent Cinema

First held in 2006, the Marbella International Film Festival reaches its 21st edition in 2026.

It is the flagship project of New World Trust, an independent non-profit organisation supporting emerging artists and connecting them with producers, distributors, financiers and other members of the film industry.

Over the years, the festival has expanded beyond traditional screenings to include workshops, professional development, project pitching, networking events and programmes exploring new technology.