San Sebastian Film Festival

The San Sebastián Festival, also known as the San Sebastián International Film Festival or Donostiako Nazioarteko Zinemaldia, is a film festival that has been held annually in the city of San Sebastián, the Basque Country in Spain, since 1953. It is the only one Category (A) Festival in Spain, as well as one of the oldest and most prestigious in Europe.

The film festival takes place at the end of September of each year and has allowed the discovery and promotion of directors such as Pedro Almodóvar, Roman Polanski and Francis Ford Coppola.

Important and renowned world cinema figures such as Alfred Hitchcock, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Richard Gere, Demi Moore, Julia Roberts, Woody Allen, Meryl Streep, Willem Dafoe, have participated in the Festival. Robert Downey Jr, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Antonio Banderas, Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts and Brad Pitt, among others.

Complete list of editions of the San Sebastián Film Festival (1953 to 2022)

History

The first edition of the San Sebastián Film Festival was held on September 21, 1953, previously called International Film Week, as an initiative of local commerce. Then in 1954, in its second edition, it acquired the name of the International Film Festival, sponsored by the National Show Union and the Ministry of Information and Tourism.

In 1957, the International Federation of Cinematographic Producers Associations (FIAPF) awarded him the highest category (Category A), establishing the Golden Shell as the main award.

In 1986, the Donostia Prize was created, an honorary award given each year to various actors and film directors at the Festival. The first winner of the award was American actor Gregory Peck.

Venues

The Festival takes place in various places in the city of San Sebastián: Victoria Eugenia Theater, Kursaal Conference Center and Auditorium, Principal Theater, María Cristina Hotel, Príncipe Cinemas and the Tabakalera Cultural Center.

Statistics from the San Sebastián Film Festival

Below we present updated reports and statistics from the San Sebastián Film Festival, taking into account the editions made from the year 1953 to 2022.

Which countries have won the most Concha de Oro awards for Best Film at the San Sebastian Festival?

Which director has won the most Awards at the San Sebastian Festival?

The directors who have won the most times at the San Sebastian Festival between 1953 and 2022 are: Mario Monicelli (2 awards), Isabel Lamberti (2 awards) and Francisco J. Lombardi (2 awards).

Which actor has won the most Awards at the San Sebastian Festival?

The actors who have won the most times at the San Sebastian Festival between 1953 and 2022 are: Fernando Rey (2 awards), José Sacristán (2 awards) and Mads Mikkelsen (1 awards).

Actor	Awards
Fernando Rey	2
José Sacristán	2
Mads Mikkelsen	1
Jessica Chastain	1
Eduard Fernández	1
Jim Broadbent	1
Al Pacino	1
Javier Bardem	1
Michael Caine	1
Frank Finlay	1

Which actress has won the most Awards at the San Sebastian Festival?

The actresses who have won the most times at the San Sebastian Festival between 1953 and 2022 are: Victoria Abril (2 awards), Mercedes Sampietro (2 awards) and Connie Nielsen (1 awards).

Actress	Awards
Victoria Abril	2
Mercedes Sampietro	2
Connie Nielsen	1
Jessica Chastain	1
Melissa Leo	1
Sophia Loren	1
Julie Christie	1
Gena Rowlands	1
Carmen Maura	1
Lola Dueñas	1