Europe wrapped a bellwether, New York flipped the house lights on, and Zurich opened in style. Grab a coffee. Then a highlighter.
San Sebastián Wraps: 'Los domingos' Wins the Golden Shell; J‑Law Honored
Alauda Ruiz de Azúa’s Los domingos (Sundays) took the Concha de Oro at the 73rd San Sebastián Film Festival. The Audience Award went to Kaouther Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab.
Also in Donostia news: Jennifer Lawrence received the festival’s honorary Donostia Award on Sept 26, followed by a screening of Die My Love.
What This Means for You
If you’re pitching European press or sales right now, reference San Sebastián’s taste profile - family-ethics drama with contemporary friction; docu-activism resonating with audiences. If your film rhymes with either lane, target Spain-based critics/programmers this week while coverage is still hot. And if you’re courting prestige tributes for veteran talent, note how Donostia placements are paired with high-visibility gala screenings. (Yes, that combo still moves needles.)
New York Film Festival: House Open, After the Hunt Leads
NYFF63 kicked off Sept 26–Oct 13 with Luca Guadagnino’s After the Hunt as Opening Night (Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield in tow). Red-carpet and press assets are live.
What This Means for You
NY is pure press density math. If you’re screening anywhere in the tristate area (or even just in town), stack short meetings near Lincoln Center - 10–15 minutes, coffee-line casual counts. Not in NY? Still hijack the moment: drop a 45-second clip on socials using #NYFF63 to ride discovery while critics are doom-scrolling between screenings.
Zurich Film Festival Opens: Splitsville + Golden Eye for Dakota Johnson
Zurich launched its 21st edition with Splitsville as Opening Night; Dakota Johnson received the Golden Eye and leads a ZFF Masters conversation. Dates: Sept 25 – Oct 5.
What This Means for You
ZFF is a quiet awards runway and a friendly market-adjacent playground - programmers love a sharp, audience-friendly dramedy or glossy character piece. If you’re angling Europe-wide, request 10-minute coffees around the Kongresshaus hub; Swiss press is efficient and very meet-able.
🎯 Festival Spotlight — BFI London Film Festival (Oct 8–19)
Why it matters: Press magnet + UK industry saturation + expansive strands (features, series, immersive). 247 works from 79 countries; 103 by female/non-binary filmmakers. Tickets are rolling - now is the week to set London coffees.
Actionables (now, not “soon”):
• Ship a UK‑angled one‑pager (runtime, premiere status, 3 UK comps).
• Book 15‑minute in‑lobby meets near BFI Southbank / LFF hubs.
• Not attending? Hijack the zeitgeist: announce distro news, a teaser, or partners‑only screening during LFF’s first weekend.
📌 Quick Recap (a.k.a. what to copy‑paste into your game plan)
San Sebastián: Los domingos wins Golden Shell; audience backs The Voice of Hind Rajab. Use Spain-centric pitches this week. [Source: El País]
NYFF: Opened with After the Hunt; NYC press heat is real - stack micro-meetings or drop timed clips. [Source: Film at Lincoln Center]
Zurich: Splitsville opens the fest; Golden Eye to Dakota Johnson; Masters sessions running. Good place for awards-lane whispering. [Source: ZFF]
That’s the week. Smart moves beat bigger budgets - especially when you ride the right festival’s wake at the right time.
Final Thought:
This newsletter isn't about industy noise - it's about clarity.
Until next week,
Heather Brittain
Founder, Film Festival Insider™
Find more rescources and festival strategy at FilmFestivalInsider.com
