The Albacete International Film Festival has concluded the 11th edition of Abycine Lanza this week, its independent audiovisual market, in a race to anticipate which Spanish feature films will reach theaters and platforms over the next two years. The event is gaining relevance as several of the presented titles have already passed through international festivals such as Berlin or Locarno and are preparing for their 2027 release.
In total, 38 projects participated in the development and post-production calls for this edition, involving around a hundred industry professionals. The closing ceremony, held this Friday at the Teatro Circo in Albacete, served to distribute the awards for its two feature film support lines: Impulso CMM Development and Impulso WIP (Work in Progress).
Impulso CMM Development: grants for 18 feature films
Eighteen fiction, documentary, and animation feature films participated this year in Impulso CMM Development, the program backed by Castilla-La Mancha Media that offers two grants of 17,250 euros each to boost the development of the winning works.
In this edition, the awards went to «No somos nada», by Pau Teixidor, and «Queridísimo hijo», by Javier Horcajada. In addition to these recognitions, the ECAM Forum and Music Library & SFX awards were granted to «Préstame tus ojos», by Natalia Grande, and the Porto/Post/Doc Award went to «Un viento lúcido», by Luana Bovet.
This year, grants from EFD Studios España were also incorporated, valued at 12,500 euros for «No somos nada» and 5,000 euros for a project from the Zona Corto Pro section, received by «Batelerak», by Nara Tytgat. Meanwhile, «Turtle Blues», by Asur Fuente Barrera, took home the Promercat Award, which provides access to the Institut Valencià de Cultura market.
Impulso WIP: eight films about to hit the screen
Impulso WIP, focused on feature films in the post-production phase that represent emerging talent in Spanish independent cinema, brought together eight titles this year. The jury was composed of Claudio Zilleruelo, head of programming at the Guanajuato International Film Festival; Virginia Galán, marketing manager at the distributor Elastica and coordinator of the Atlàntida Mallorca Talents Lab; and José Luis Rebordinos, director of the San Sebastián Festival.
The Abycine Lanza WIP Award, endowed with 7,000 euros for post-production expenses, went to «Hora nona», directed by Jorge Moreno and Matías Uris. The Filmin Award, valued at 22,000 euros and linked to distribution in Spain and Portugal, went to «Una cabeza en la pared», by Manuel Manrique. Additionally, «O da miña nai», the directorial debut of actress Nerea Barros, will participate in the MAFIZ Work in Progress at the Málaga Festival thanks to another of Abycine Lanza's incentives, which this year exceeded 100,000 euros in total.
«El canal de la Mancha»
Directed by Daniel Sánchez López from a script written with Hanna Renton, this co-production with Germany narrates the friendship between a Romanian teenager and a young gay man in a town in La Mancha. With an estimated budget of 1,360,000 euros, the film is in the editing phase, with the goal of completing it in December. It has the support of RTVE and international sales handled by the French company Loco Films.
«Hora nona»
This 75-minute mockumentary, filmed by Jorge Moreno and Matías Uris, mixes fiction and reality surrounding the death of a man buried in his own bed in a town in La Mancha. With a budget of 560,700 euros, the work is already finished and has passed through the Berlin Festival. Its creators are now looking for a sales agent, distributor, and a premiere at a Spanish festival.
«La vida después»
The directorial debut of Clara Santaolaya, this 100-minute drama follows a film student who returns to the family home after a suicide attempt. With a budget of 1,600,000 euros and the backing of RTVE, the film has just finished editing and expects to close post-production by the end of the year.
«Lóngquán»
The directorial debut of Adrià Guxens, this drama with documentary undertones recounts the journey of a dancer of Chinese origin who returns to China to reconnect with his roots after nearly thirty years. Filmed between China and Barcelona over two and a half years, the film has already completed its shooting and editing, with a release scheduled for 2027. The project had already received the Antaviana Spanish Preview Award at Locarno Pro 2025.
«Material de guerra capturado al enemigo»
Directed by editor Nacho Ruiz Capillas, this 80-minute documentary starts from a family collection of photographic negatives from the Civil War to reflect on personal and collective memory, in parallel with his mother's cognitive decline. With support from Ibermedia, MEDIA, and the Community of Madrid, the project has already passed through Iberseries & Platino Industria and Locarno Pro.
«O da miña nai»
The first feature film as a director by actress Nerea Barros, this 100-minute drama is a reflection on grief after the death of her father, built from the perspective of her mother. Filmed in Galicia in two different periods, it completed filming in August and now needs funding to finalize the editing.
«Temporada baixa»
The directorial debut of Marta Font Pascual, known for her work on series such as «Intimidad» and «Respira», this 103-minute drama follows a widowed father and his two children after being forced to leave the campsite where they lived. The title is practically finished, pending color and sound adjustments, and is looking for distributors and sales agents.
«Una cabeza en la pared»
The directorial debut of Manuel Manrique, this adaptation of his own short film imagines a future Spain where bullfighting has been abolished, causing an identity crisis in a bullfighter. With a budget of 1,800,000 euros, the film is already finished and has Filmax for its distribution in Spain and international sales.
Short films and support for regional audiovisuals
Abycine Lanza has also continued with Zona Corto Pro, its space dedicated to short films, in which five proposals participated. The RTVE Abycine Talent Award, endowed with 15,000 euros for production, went in this second edition to «Yo la veo guapa», by Gabriela Sellanes and Alejandro González.
Within the framework of the 15th Short Film Production Aid Contest on Human Rights, organized by Amnesty International and the Abycine Foundation, three finalists selected from 73 proposals competed for a grant of 5,000 euros, plus up to 2,000 euros for promotion. The recognition went to «Submarí», by Lucas Moro, while «Los idealistas», by Fernanda Valencia, received a special mention.
This edition also served to present three initiatives aimed at strengthening the audiovisual sector of Castilla-La Mancha: the regional delegations of CIMA and the Spanish Short Film Coordinator, and AUPA Cine CLM, a new association that seeks to represent and connect audiovisual professionals in the region.
Abycine celebrates its 28th edition
The Albacete International Film Festival inaugurated its 28th edition on Thursday at the Teatro Circo with a gala presented by comedian Joaquín Reyes, which included a tribute to José Luis Rebordinos, director of the San Sebastián Festival, and the presentation of the 2026 Young Career Award to actress Victoria Luengo. The day closed with the screening of «5 minutos más», directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera and written by and starring Berto Romero.
This edition of Abycine brings together a total of 121 productions, 101 public sessions, and six world premieres. The festival will conclude on October 29 with the closing ceremony, in which actor Antonio Resines will receive the first José Luis Cuerda Award.
Frequently asked questions
What is Abycine Lanza?
It is the independent audiovisual market of the Albacete International Film Festival, dedicated to connecting Spanish film projects in development or post-production with production companies, distributors, sales agents, and festivals.
What is Impulso WIP?
It is the Abycine Lanza support line focused on feature films in the final phase of post-production, aimed at showcasing emerging talent in Spanish independent cinema to industry professionals.
Which project won the Abycine Lanza WIP Award in 2026?
The award, endowed with 7,000 euros for post-production expenses, went to «Hora nona», directed by Jorge Moreno and Matías Uris.
Which film won the Impulso WIP Filmin Award?
The Filmin Award, valued at 22,000 euros and linked to distribution in Spain and Portugal, went to «Una cabeza en la pared», by Manuel Manrique.
When will these films be released?
Deadlines vary by project. Some, such as «Hora nona» or «Una cabeza en la pared», are already finished and are looking for a distributor or premiere festival, while others, such as «El canal de la Mancha» or «Lóngquán», expect to complete their post-production between late 2026 and March 2027, with a view to a 2027 release.
How many projects participated in total in Abycine Lanza 2026?
The edition brought together 38 projects in its development and post-production calls, with the participation of around a hundred professionals from the audiovisual sector.
