As summer draws to a close, September eases us into autumn with some of Catalunya's most interesting and eclectic film festivals. From a focus on South Korean action movies and independent films, to heartfelt stories of acceptance and transformation, to a festival dedicated to promoting sometimes wild—and often downright hilarious—B movies, you’re sure to find something that suits your cinematic taste.
Korean Film Festival Barcelona
September 2–6, 2026, Cinemes Girona Girona, Barcelona
Now in its sixth year, the Korean Film Festival Barcelona (KFFB) brings the best South Korean cinema to Barcelona through films ranging from independent auteur works to blockbuster hits. This year’s festival opens with Jang Hang-jun's The King's Warden a film that has, since its release, been a cinematic phenomenon, exceeding expectations and establishing itself as one of the year's biggest commercial successes. Other films include Kim Mi-Jo's darkly humorous thriller The Journey to Gyeong-ju, an intense road thriller that explores the limits of love, grief, and revenge; and Lee Yu-jin examines deeply ingrained prejudice and discrimination in Manok, the story of a middle-aged lesbian woman who runs a lesbian bar in Seoul who sees her life take an unexpected turn when she receives news of her mother's death and has to return to her village. This year the "Panorama Section" of the festival is dedicated to the Korean director Park Chan-wook and is titled: Women in the Cinema of Park Chan-wook. This program invites viewers to explore part of the filmography of one of the great auteurs of contemporary cinema through his female characters: complex, ambiguous, wounded, free and profoundly memorable. Screenings include Decision to Leave, and Stoker, his first film produced outside of Korea featuring Nicole Kidman.
Alongside stellar films, you can enjoy parallel activities like hangul writing, Korean gastronomy, workshops, exhibitions and games that bring you even closer to Korean culture. All films are screened in original version and subtitled in Catalan or Spanish. General admission for films is €8.00, and tickets can be purchased on the Cinemes Girona official website. koreanfilmfestivalbcn.com
Transhumant Film Festival
September 9–November 30, 2026, sessions are held in various towns in Girona and Barcelona Provinces
Formerly known as the Terra Gollut Film Festival for the long-gone "dwarves" of Golluts de Ribes in acknowledgment of a people who were maligned for looking different, the Transhumant Film Festival highlights cinema that strives for social change. Cinema is a powerful tool that can transform consciousness, habits and attitudes. With this in mind, the festival includes activities that delve deep into the films' topics to help viewers get a greater understanding of them, including testimonials, discussion boards, forums and educational workshops. transhumant.com
B-Retina: B-Film Festival in Cornellà
September 17–20, 2026, Auditori Biblioteca Sant Ildefons, Cornellà de Llobregat
Dedicated to promoting B movies in Catalunya, B-Retina is all about championing the work of emerging talent in the industry, which otherwise would never make it to the big screen. In celebration of its tenth anniversary, this edition turns up the volume with a program of musical cinema that unleashes chaos and fun in an explosion of irreverence and outrageousness. Under the slogan "Redux," the festival is going for a more excessive, over-the-top and radical line-up this year with subversive, trashy and wonderfully impossible cinema.
In addition to film screenings, the program features prestigious guests and all kinds of parallel activities. All tickets must be purchased in advance online, with all-day tickets starting at €8 and full-access tickets starting at €32. Located just outside of Barcelona, the festival is easily accessible by metro (L5) and by train (R1, R4). b-retina.cat
Festival u22
September 29–October 4, 2026, Fundació Joan Miró, Barcelona
The u22 Barcelona Young Film Festival showcases the finest up-and-coming filmmakers on the Catalan film scene. This year, u22 festival celebrates its eighth edition with a six-day program packed with screenings, panel discussions, open-air sessions, talks and much more. The Official Section showcases 20 short films made by filmmakers under the age of 22, with the year's best young productions, both local and international, including six world premieres and four Catalan premieres. In addition to giving voice to new, yet-to-be-discovered perspectives, the Official Section presents new works by established filmmakers. Tickets range from €4.50 to €8.00 per session and can be purchased on the festival’s website. festivalu22.com
October Film Festivals in and around Barcelona
October’s calendar is packed with an impressive list of film festivals in and around the city. Check out our article October Film Festivals in and around Barcelona where you'll find gritty investigative documentaries, hair-raising fantasy and horror flicks and everything in between!
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.