Cinemundo I
Not so long ago, Galician Cinematography was considered close to nonexistent. The film industry had first appeared as late as the 1970s, albeit in a very limited aspect. Apart from a few feature movies in the 80s and 90s, such would remain the status quo until the year 2006.
It was then that the Galician authorities created a support programme for young filmmakers from the region. This aid was non-repayable and was treated more as a grant or bursary than a film production subsidy. The goal was to support creativity and develop a local industry base.
Talent is not born spontaneously, and besides funding and the artists’ own efforts, favourable circumstances are also essential. It is therefore crucial to examine such an industry marvel and define the elements that have enabled cinema originating from one of Spain’s poorer regions to conquer the global stage. To quote an age old proverb-success has many fathers; beyond the obvious talents of Galician directors, we can identify four key elements: education, regional screenings of regional movies, institutional support, and media interest.
In 2025, fifteen years after Galician cinema ventured into the deep waters of world cinema, it continues to triumph. One need only point to three recent titles: The Rim (Alberto Gracia, Rotterdam, 2024), Ariel (Lois Patiño, Rotterdam, 2025), and Sirāt (Oliver Laxe, Cannes, 2025). “New Galician Cinema” remains a very significant voice in the international art-house scene.
Selected films by Bartosz Reetz are showing the richness and diversity of this cinema, which is still little-known in Poland. During this year’s edition of the Tramway Film Festival, we will present films made from 2007 right up to 2024.
The Galicia of today is much more than Camino de Santiago, the picturesque Costa da Morte (Coast of Death), excellent seafood, and Albariño wine. With every passing year, every successful festival, the region is also associated with good cinema – it is right here that New Galician Cinema was born, which for over a decade has been gaining acclaim internationally, bringing freshness, originality, and a unique artistic sensibility.
Selected films for Cinemundo I:
- Arraianos | Eloy Enciso Cachafeiro | Hiszpania | 2012 | 66’ | polska premiera
- Night without distance | Lois Patiño | Portugalia, Hiszpania | 2015 | 23’
