-
The festival takes place from 15 to 25 October and will honour actor and director Miguel Ángel Muñoz and film school ESCAC with the Venus d’Honor Award.
-
All screenings and activities remain free of charge, with tickets to be reserved in advance through the official website.
Hotel Badalona Tower, 14 October 2026. The FILMETS Badalona Film Festival is launching its 52nd edition, bringing cinema to the city of Badalona and several venues across the metropolitan area from 15 to 25 October 2026. With more than half a century of history, the festival is an internationally recognised showcase for short films and maintains close ties with the local cultural scene and community.
This year, 230 films will be screened, 212 of them in the official competition. The programme includes 52 world premieres and 77 directorial debuts. Of the 27 films made by filmmakers from Badalona that will be screened, 13 are competing.
Marc Orts, the festival’s artistic director, explained that this year’s programme features a broader range of work. “We have looked for more diverse productions. We have sought out more action and horror films, and even films for children. There is a boom in film schools producing incredible work, and we are placing great value on that.”
David Mejía, a Badalona City Council member and member of the board of directors of Badalona Comunicació, the organisation behind the festival, said: “It is a source of pride to fill our streets with cinema once again and make Badalona an internationally recognised destination. FILMETS is very important to Badalona and brings important events to the city, both on the international stage and for local residents.”
Venus d’Honor Awards for Miguel Ángel Muñoz and film school ESCAC
For its 52nd edition, the festival is presenting two Venus d’Honor Awards in recognition of outstanding careers and contributions to the audiovisual industry.
- Venus d’Honor Award for ESCAC (Friday 16 October, 8 pm, Teatre Zorrilla). The award will be presented during the Opening Ceremony, honouring more than 30 years of the Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya (ESCAC) training leading professionals and connecting young talent with the industry. The school has nurtured acclaimed filmmakers such as J. A. Bayona, Mar Coll and Dani de la Orden.
- Venus d’Honor Award for Miguel Ángel Muñoz (Saturday 24 October, 8 pm, Teatre Zorrilla). The festival will honour the actor and director during the closing gala, La Nit de les Venus, in recognition of a career spanning more than three decades in film, television and theatre. Muñoz made his big-screen debut at the age of 10 in Jaime de Armiñán’s El palomo cojo, alongside Francisco Rabal and Carmen Maura. He has worked with filmmakers including José Luis Garci, Javier Fesser, Isabel Coixet and Gracia Querejeta, and shared the international cast of What About Love with Sharon Stone and Andy García. With more than 25 television series to his name — including Un paso adelante, Sequía, Presunto culpable and Bosé — he established himself as a director with the acclaimed documentary 100 días con la Tata, winner of the Forqué Award. He is also developing his second feature film as a director, La última vuelta.
The galas
Opening Ceremony (Friday 16 October, 8 pm, Teatre Zorrilla): presented by journalist Sergi Mas, the event will feature the presentation of the Venus d’Honor Award to ESCAC and the screening of nine short films, including a production by students from Badalona’s Baldomer Solà school.
Closing Gala, “La Nit de les Venus” (Saturday 24 October, 8 pm, Teatre Zorrilla): hosted by journalists Josep Palau and Laia Martínez, the evening will feature performances by impressionist Xavi Espinosa, the Castellers de Badalona and a stage production by Tandem Projects. The Venus d’Honor Award will be presented to Miguel Ángel Muñoz, and the Official Jury’s verdict will be announced, including the Venus de Badalona Award for Best Film, worth €4,000.
The event will be broadcast by Televisió de Badalona, television stations belonging to La Xarxa and the La Xarxa+ platform.
Professional development and emerging talent: FILMETS Pro, LAB and Talks
FILMETS Pro (21–23 October, Teatre El Círcol): professional events featuring the session “El digital, primer”, organised by the Audiovisual Cluster of Catalonia; a masterclass by animator Eduard Suñol; and a round-table discussion organised by Productors Audiovisuals de Catalunya (PAC).
FILMETS LAB (Tuesday 20 October, 11:30 am, Teatre El Círcol): the festival’s second edition of its development lab for emerging creators aged 18 to 30 will reach its highlight with pitching sessions for the finalist projects. The winning short film will receive specialised mentoring and premiere at the next edition of the festival.
FILMETS Talks (Friday 23 October, 7 pm, Teatre Zorrilla): an open meeting with the Official Jury, comprising MARÍA FERNANDA CÉSPEDES, JOAN VILÀ, NATALIA FERREIRO, BLAI MORELL and NÚRIA FLORENSA.
Key information
- Dates: 15–25 October 2026.
- Venues: Teatre Zorrilla, Teatre El Círcol and Teatre Margarida Xirgu (Badalona); Institut Français (Barcelona); Cinema Catalunya (Terrassa); Cinema Edison (Granollers). The festival will also return to non-competition venues including Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Hospital Municipal de Badalona, Centre d’Atenció Intermèdia El Carme and Institut Guttmann in Badalona.
- Tickets: All screenings are free of charge, with advance booking through the official website. Invitations are required for the Opening Ceremony and La Nit de les Venus.
