Festival de Granada Cines del Sur 2027 – Spain

What to expect

Festival de Granada Cines del Sur is an international film festival in Granada dedicated to cinema from Africa, Asia, Latin America and other regions traditionally associated with the Global South. The festival combines competitive cinema, international premieres, retrospectives, cultural conversations, open-air screenings and meetings with filmmakers.

The festival’s identity is built around bringing audiences closer to cinematographies that are often less visible within mainstream European film distribution. Its programme gives space to both established filmmakers and emerging directors, while connecting film screenings with discussions about culture, memory, migration, identity, sustainability, social change and human rights. The official regulations describe the festival as an annual event focused on promoting and disseminating the cinemas of the Global South.

The forthcoming edition is expected to continue the festival’s renewed format following its return to Granada. The previous programme demonstrated a particularly broad approach, combining a competitive Official Section with additional sections devoted to new discoveries, retrospectives, international cinema and open-air screenings.

For visitors, Cines del Sur is more than a conventional cinema festival. Several of its screenings and activities take place in historic cultural spaces around central Granada, allowing audiences to combine international cinema with the city’s architectural and cultural atmosphere.

Festival dates

June or July 2027 (Dates TBD)

The organisers have not yet published the definitive 2027 schedule. The festival’s official regulations establish Cines del Sur as an annual event, while the exact dates are determined by the competent organising authorities.

Visitors should therefore treat the 2027 dates as unconfirmed until the official festival website publishes the new programme. The festival’s official website remains the most reliable source for the eventual announcement, programme release and ticket information.

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Venues & festival locations

The festival is centred in Granada, Spain, with screenings and activities traditionally distributed across a mixture of theatres, cultural centres, historic monuments and outdoor public spaces.

Recent festival programming has used several distinctive locations:

• Teatro Isabel la Católica
• Centro Federico García Lorca
• Corral del Carbón
• Plaza de las Pasiegas
• Palacio de los Condes de Gabia
• Teatro del Generalife

The Teatro Isabel la Católica has been one of the principal indoor screening venues, particularly for the Official Section and important festival presentations. The Centro Federico García Lorca has hosted retrospectives, special screenings, meetings and cultural activities.

The Corral del Carbón and Plaza de las Pasiegas provide a very different atmosphere, with open-air cinema connecting international films with Granada’s historic centre. The festival has specifically described Plaza de las Pasiegas as an important meeting point between Granada and world cinema.

The Teatro del Generalife has also been used for major festival-opening activities, while the Palacio de los Condes de Gabia has hosted additional film sections.

The exact 2027 venue allocation should be checked when the official programme is released.

Full programme

The 2027 programme has not yet been announced. Based on the festival’s established structure and its latest edition, visitors can expect a combination of competitive and non-competitive cinema.

The programme has included sections such as:

• Official Section
• Keys of the South
• Itineraries
• Retrospectives
• Lost Treasures
• Pearls of the Alhambra
• Mosaico
• Outdoor screenings
• Special presentations
• Filmmaker meetings and discussions

The Official Section is designed around feature films from Africa, Asia and Latin America, including fiction, animation, experimental cinema and documentary work. The regulations also allow films connected with the Global South to be presented through non-competitive sections and thematic programmes.

The latest edition expanded the festival’s international profile through a new competitive Keys of the South section featuring films that had not previously been screened in Spain.

For 2027, the individual film titles, sections, screenings and programme timetable remain to be announced.

Featured films & premieres

No 2027 film selection has been officially announced.

Cines del Sur traditionally places strong emphasis on discovering cinema that may have limited exposure in Spain. The Official Section can include new fiction, documentary, animation and experimental productions, while other programme areas provide opportunities to rediscover important films and directors.

The most recent edition included films from countries including Nigeria, South Korea, China, Tunisia, Brazil, Kazakhstan, South Africa, Kenya, Iran and other territories across the Global South. The programme included both contemporary productions and films selected for thematic or retrospective reasons.

Spanish premieres and special presentations can be particularly attractive for visitors looking for films that are difficult to see through regular cinema distribution. However, no 2027 premieres should be considered confirmed until they appear in the official programme.

Directors, actors & guests

The 2027 guest list has not been announced.

Cines del Sur has a strong tradition of inviting directors and other film professionals to Granada for presentations, discussions and audience meetings. The latest edition featured Japanese filmmaker Naomi Kawase as a major guest, with her work also receiving a dedicated retrospective.

Previous festival juries have included internationally recognised filmmakers and cinema professionals such as Jafar Panahi, Zhang Yuan, Idrissa Ouedraogo, Abbas Arnaout, Xiaolu Guo, Isaki Lacuesta and Raj Kumar Gupta.

The 2027 jury, invited directors, actors and industry guests should be confirmed by the organisers through the official programme and festival announcements.

Screening schedule

The 2027 screening schedule is not yet available.

Based on the festival’s established format, a typical programme can combine daytime professional and cultural activities with afternoon and evening film screenings. Indoor venues are used for competitive screenings and special presentations, while outdoor locations can host popular public sessions.

The previous programme demonstrated that audiences could choose between multiple sections and venues, including competitive films, retrospectives, special screenings, filmmaker presentations, cultural conversations and outdoor cinema.

Once the 2027 schedule is published, visitors should check the official timetable carefully because screenings may overlap at different venues.

Ticket types & accreditation

2027 ticket prices and ticket categories have not yet been announced.

The most recent edition offered individual tickets as well as a festival pass covering multiple screenings. A 10-session festival pass was priced at €30, equivalent to approximately US$35 at a typical recent exchange rate.

Some outdoor screenings and public activities have been offered free of charge, while selected indoor screenings and festival events have required tickets. The exact balance between free and paid activities can vary according to venue and programme.

For 2027, visitors should wait for the official ticket page before purchasing. The festival has previously distributed tickets through its official website and an external ticketing platform.

Industry & professional access

Cines del Sur is relevant to filmmakers, producers, critics, journalists, programmers, cultural professionals and other people working in the audiovisual sector.

The festival’s official privacy documentation confirms that the organisation manages accreditation requests for press and professionals through its website.

The festival also provides opportunities for professional interaction through filmmaker meetings, presentations, discussions and activities connected with cinema production and cultural collaboration.

The regulations provide a formal framework for film submissions, including requirements concerning eligible productions, Spanish exhibition status and delivery of selected screening copies. Film submissions have been handled through FilmFreeway or by prior invitation.

Professional accreditation requirements for 2027 should be checked once the new application system is published.

Red carpet & special events

Cines del Sur’s special events can include opening and closing ceremonies, filmmaker presentations, premieres, award presentations, concerts, retrospectives and public conversations.

The festival’s recent return included a major opening event connected with the presentation of the documentary Para Vivir. El implacable tiempo de Pablo Milanés, accompanied by a tribute concert. Naomi Kawase was also recognised with an honorary award during the festival’s opening activities.

Special events can therefore offer a more formal festival experience than ordinary screenings. Some may require specific tickets or accreditation, while others may be open to the wider public.

The 2027 gala programme and special guests remain unannounced.

Festival rules

The festival’s regulations establish Cines del Sur as an annual event dedicated to the promotion of cinemas from the Global South. Competitive films may include fiction, animation, experimental and documentary productions from Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Important principles include:

• Films must satisfy the eligibility conditions of their respective sections.
• Competitive productions are subject to the festival’s selection requirements.
• Film submissions may be made through FilmFreeway or by invitation.
• Selected films must meet the festival’s technical and delivery requirements.
• Jury members cannot have interests in the production or commercial exploitation of competing films.
• Audience awards may be determined through attendee participation.
• The festival can organise non-competitive sections, retrospectives and thematic cycles.

Visitors should also follow the individual conditions attached to their tickets, accreditation or particular screening venue.

How to get there

Granada is one of southern Spain’s major cultural destinations and is well connected with other Andalusian cities.

Granada Airport provides air connections, although many international visitors may find Málaga Airport more convenient because of its larger selection of international services. From Málaga, Granada can be reached by road and public transport.

Granada also has rail connections, including high-speed services linking it with major Spanish cities. The railway station is relatively close to the central areas where many festival activities take place.

For visitors already travelling around Andalusia, Granada is accessible by bus and road from Málaga, Seville, Córdoba, Jaén and other cities.

Because Cines del Sur uses central venues, visitors staying in the historic centre can often reach several festival locations on foot.

Public transport & parking

Granada’s central festival area is well suited to walking, but city buses are useful when travelling between the railway station, accommodation districts and venues farther from the historic centre.

Visitors arriving by train can use local buses or taxis to reach central accommodation. Taxis can be useful for late-night returns, especially after outdoor screenings.

Driving into the historic centre is less convenient because several central streets are restricted or difficult for unfamiliar drivers. Visitors with rental cars should consider accommodation with parking or use designated public parking facilities outside the most restricted areas.

Parking arrangements should be checked locally because access restrictions can change according to municipal traffic regulations and special cultural activities.

Accommodation areas

The best accommodation areas for festival visitors are generally around central Granada, where many venues and cultural attractions are within walking distance.

The city centre is particularly convenient for visitors who want to move between Teatro Isabel la Católica, Plaza de las Pasiegas, Corral del Carbón and other central locations without relying heavily on transport.

The Albaicín offers historic surroundings and views toward the Alhambra, although its steep streets can make walking more demanding.

Realejo is another attractive option, combining a central location with restaurants, cafés and a strong historic character.

Visitors who prioritise transport connections may prefer areas closer to the railway station or major bus routes.

Food & dining

Granada is an excellent city for combining a film festival with Andalusian food and local dining.

The central districts contain a wide range of tapas bars, traditional restaurants, cafés and international restaurants. Visitors can easily plan meals around screenings because the main festival locations are close to numerous food options.

Traditional Andalusian dishes, Spanish tapas and Granada specialities are widely available. Visitors should also look for local dishes featuring vegetables, cured meats, seafood and regional ingredients.

The city has a strong café culture, making it convenient to stop for coffee or a light meal between screenings.

For visitors with dietary requirements, it is advisable to check menus directly with individual restaurants rather than assuming that every traditional dish is suitable for a particular diet.

Accessibility

Accessibility information for the 2027 festival has not yet been published.

The festival’s recent programme has involved multiple venues with different physical characteristics, including theatres, cultural centres and historic outdoor locations. Accessibility can therefore vary considerably from one screening site to another.

Visitors with mobility, hearing, visual or other accessibility requirements should check the specific venue arrangements before booking.

The festival has also highlighted accessible culture and social inclusion as part of its wider cultural mission, including collaboration with Fundación “la Caixa” in support of accessible cultural participation.

The official festival website should be consulted for venue-specific accessibility information when the new programme is released.

Best screenings to attend

For first-time visitors, the strongest strategy is to combine several different programme styles rather than focusing exclusively on the competition.

Official Section

This is the core competitive programme and should be a priority for visitors interested in contemporary international cinema from the Global South.

Keys of the South

This newer competitive strand is particularly interesting for audiences seeking emerging filmmakers and films that may have limited exposure in Spain. Its previous programme focused on international co-productions and geographically diverse stories.

Retrospectives

Retrospectives are ideal for visitors who want to understand a filmmaker’s development across different works. The festival has previously dedicated substantial attention to major international directors.

Outdoor screenings

Open-air sessions at locations such as Plaza de las Pasiegas and the Corral del Carbón provide one of the most distinctive Cines del Sur experiences.

Filmmaker presentations and Q&As

These are especially valuable for visitors who want more context about a film’s creative process, themes and cultural background.

Previous year’s highlights

The most recent edition marked a major return for Cines del Sur after its previous run of editions had ended. The festival’s archive records eleven earlier editions before its renewed programme, with the historical festival running from its first edition through its previous final edition.

The renewed programme presented more than 40 films from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Arab world. A major innovation was the competitive Keys of the South section, which expanded the festival’s focus on international co-productions and new voices.

The Official Section included films such as Exile by Mehdi Hmili, Funky Freaky Freaks by Han Chang-lok, The Sun Rises on Us All by Cai Shangjun, As Vitrines by Flávia Castro, La Reserva by Pablo Pérez Lombardini, Early Winter by Özcan Alper and Crocodile by Pietra Brettkelly and The Critics.

The Keys of the South programme included Where the Wind Comes From, Para Vivir. The Implacable Time of Pablo Milanés, All My Sisters, Becoming, Nawi: Dear Future Me and Laundry.

The festival also brought Japanese director Naomi Kawase to Granada as a major guest and presented a retrospective of her work.

Official tickets & accreditation

The official source for 2027 tickets, accreditation, programme announcements and venue information is the Festival de Granada Cines del Sur website.

Official Festival de Granada Cines del Sur website (https://www.cinesdelsur.org/)

The organisers have not yet published the complete 2027 ticketing or accreditation information. Visitors should use the official festival website rather than relying on unofficial event listings when checking the final programme, ticket availability or professional-access requirements.

The festival’s legal information identifies Agencia Pública Administrativa Local Albaicín-Granada as the organising entity behind the festival.