RTVE has confirmed that it will increase its financial commitment to Spanish cinema starting in 2027, after closing two consecutive years with solid results at the box office, in awards, and in festival presence. The announcement comes as part of the San Sebastian Festival, where the public broadcaster held its traditional annual press conference dedicated to film, this time with nine titles present in the festival's lineup.
The event also served to formalize the renewal of the sponsorship agreement between RTVE and the Festival, which will now run through 2029. The signing of the agreement coincided with the final edition directed by José Luis Rebordinos, who has led the San Sebastian festival and received a tribute during the event.
Agreement Renewed Through 2029
RTVE's Director of Corporate Services, Eduardo Fernández Palomares, signed the new agreement alongside Rebordinos. The event was also attended by Maialen Beloki, who will take over as director of the San Sebastian Festival starting January 1, along with RTVE board members Maite Martín, Marta Ribas and Mariano Muniesa.
"From the very first moment I knew we had to go hand in hand with RTVE, and it has been a genuine pleasure. We share many things, and one fundamental one, which is the defense of Spanish cinema, and we will continue to do so. I'm leaving very happy knowing that this collaboration continues," said Rebordinos during the presentation.
Blanco, RTVE’s Major Project for 2027
One of the day's central announcements was Blanco, the new film by Félix Viscarret, which RTVE considers one of its most significant projects for next year. The film reconstructs the hours of the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Ermua PP councilor Miguel Ángel Blanco at the hands of the ETA terrorist group.
The film, with a budget of eight million euros, will begin shooting in October and has the backing of Miguel Ángel Blanco's family. The presentation included director Félix Viscarret, producer Kiko Martínez of the company Nadie es perfecto, journalist Jon Sistiaga as advisor, and Cristina Cuesta, managing director of the Miguel Ángel Blanco Foundation.
Jose Pastor, RTVE's Director of Film and Fiction, emphasized the project's importance: "It will be one of the projects, if not the most important film project for RTVE next year. Through cinema, it is the tribute we believe that event deserves, an event that marked a turning point. We believed Donostia was the most fitting place to announce it."
Blanco will hit theaters in July 2027, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Miguel Ángel Blanco's murder. Pastor revealed that RTVE will accompany the release with its own original content production.
RTVE’s Presence at San Sebastian 2026
The 'Somos Cine' event also brought together the teams of three RTVE-backed films included in the Basque festival's lineup: the documentary La voz quebrada, by Manuel Menchón; the comedy Burundanga, by José Corbacho, star of one of the RTVE Galas; and Arriba tutto, José Mota's directorial debut, premiered at the Teatro Victoria Eugenia. Sacamantecas, David Pérez Sañudo's third feature film, presented at a joint RTVE and EITB gala, was also mentioned.
In addition to these four films linked to the RTVE Galas, five other titles supported by the Corporation are present at this edition of the festival. Sants, by Mikel Gurrea, is competing in the Official Selection for the Golden Shell. In Special Screenings are Ruega por nosotras, by Daniel Monzón, and Azken Agurra / Último adiós, by Koldo Almandoz. In the New Directors section, Esta soledad, Javier Giner's first feature film, is participating, while Lejos de los árboles, by Meritxel Collel, is presented in Zabaltegi-Tabakalera.
A Very Positive 2025
RTVE officials highlighted that 2025 was an especially favorable year for Spanish cinema backed by the network. Five RTVE-supported films ranked among the ten most-watched films of the year in Spanish theaters.
El cautivo grossed nearly 5.3 million euros with 792,000 viewers; Los domingos reached four million euros and 628,500 viewers; La cena earned 3.6 million euros and 587,700 viewers; El casoplón brought in 3.3 million euros and 490,000 viewers; and Romería earned 1.8 million euros with 276,100 viewers.
According to data provided by the network, 45 percent of Spanish cinema viewers in 2025 watched films backed by Televisión Española. RTVE-supported films also won 16 Goya Awards, along with numerous accolades at festivals for titles such as Sorda, Tardes de soledad and Magallanes.
Of the 541 Spanish films broadcast by RTVE last year, 183 aired on La 1, 321 on La 2 and 37 on Clan. In terms of audience, notable titles included El 47, by Marcel Barrena; El maestro que prometió el mar, by Patricia Font; El correo, by Daniel Calparsoro; Campeones, by Javier Fesser; and Alimañas, by Jordi Sánchez and Pep Antón, which were consistently the first or second most-watched option in prime time.
2026: 26 Million Euros in Investment
In 2026, RTVE executed an investment of 26 million euros through its two film assessment boards, a figure that far exceeds the legal obligation of six percent for European cinema. In total, the network supported 55 national films this year, a figure very similar to that of 2025.
42 percent of the films acquired in 2026 are directed by women, and among the selected titles are six animated films.
Regarding commercial performance, RTVE noted the strong theatrical showing of titles such as Rondallas, Cronos, Tres adioses and Calle Málaga. The presence at the recent Venice Film Festival of Bunker, a French-Spanish co-production directed by Florian Zeller and starring Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, which is also present at San Sebastian, was also highlighted.
More Investment Planned for 2027
Looking ahead to next year, Televisión Española plans to strengthen its support for Spanish cinema with an investment that will exceed the 26 million euros executed in 2026. The public broadcaster's goal is to back more ambitious titles, to which it will allocate higher financial contributions than in previous years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What agreement has RTVE renewed with the San Sebastian Festival?
RTVE has renewed its sponsorship agreement with the San Sebastian Festival through 2029, in a deal signed by RTVE's Director of Corporate Services, Eduardo Fernández Palomares, and José Luis Rebordinos.
What is RTVE’s film Blanco about?
Blanco, directed by Félix Viscarret, reconstructs the hours of the kidnapping and murder of Ermua PP councilor Miguel Ángel Blanco at the hands of ETA. It will be released in July 2027, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the attack.
How much did RTVE invest in Spanish cinema in 2026?
RTVE executed an investment of 26 million euros through its two film assessment boards during 2026, supporting a total of 55 national films.
How many Goya Awards did RTVE-backed films win in 2025?
Spanish films backed by RTVE won 16 Goya Awards in 2025, along with other accolades at festivals for titles such as Sorda, Tardes de soledad and Magallanes.
Will RTVE increase its investment in Spanish cinema in 2027?
Yes, according to information that has come to light, RTVE plans to invest more than the 26 million euros executed in 2026 for 2027, with the goal of supporting more ambitious film projects.
What other RTVE films are present at the San Sebastian Festival 2026?
In addition to Blanco, RTVE is backing titles such as Sants, Ruega por nosotras, Azken Agurra / Último adiós, Esta soledad, Lejos de los árboles, La voz quebrada, Burundanga, Arriba tutto and Sacamantecas, present in various sections of the festival.
