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MASPALOMAS

MASPALOMAS

JOSE MARI GOENAGA + AITOR AREGGI | SPAIN | 2025 | 115 MIN | SPANISH EST

JOSE MARI GOENAGA + AITOR AREGGI | SPAIN | 2025 | 115 MIN | SPANISH EST

FeatureCOMPETITION

Subtitles: English

Presented by

FUGUES

Synopsis

A stroke upends 76-year-old Vicente’s recently charmed life in the Canary Islands, forcing him to trade his queer eden for a restrictive care home in San Sebastián—and to consider how essential his sexuality is to his identity. Among the nude forms dotting the Maspalomas dunes is Vicente (Jose Ramón Soroiz), a young man giving him pleasure. After 50 closeted years, this sensual existence is to be his reward. But three months later, he finds himself in a long-term care facility with neither income nor his beloved dog, minded by his estranged daughter (Nagore Aranburu). Paired with a motormouthed roommate (Kandido Uranga) with far right sympathies. Anonymously messaging his carer Iñaki (Kepa Errasti) but rejecting him in person. Camera sweeps and choral flourishes encapsulating a world that moves while he sits still. Then, a new manager brings changes just as he’s assimilated to the pale ghost of his days, dangling the hope of a “real home.” Taking us from 2018 Pride to the 2020 pandemic, directors Aitor Arregi and José Mari Goenaga honour those affected by health crises and the inexorable fact of time’s passage, which alters us in unpredictable ways.

Trailer

Filmmaker Bio

Aitor Arregi is a Basque filmmaker and producer, co-founder of Bideodromo, known for his collaboration on acclaimed films such as Loreak and Handia. His work is celebrated for its blend of social realism and nuanced character-driven storytelling, often addressing themes of memory, identity, and human connection. Arregi’s films have been recognized at international festivals including San Sebastián, Berlinale, and the European Film Awards. With Maspalomas (2025), he continues to develop cinema that combines intimate narratives with societal resonance. Arregi has established himself as a leading creative voice in contemporary Spanish filmmaking, committed to thoughtful and emotionally rich storytelling.

Filmmaker Bio

José Mari Goenaga is a Spanish filmmaker and screenwriter based in the Basque Country. He co-founded the production company Bideodromo and is recognized internationally for his films Loreak and Handia, both acclaimed for their social realism and emotional depth. Goenaga’s work often explores themes of identity, memory, and human relationships, blending intimate storytelling with broader societal commentary. His films have been featured at major festivals including San Sebastián, Berlinale, and the European Film Awards. With Maspalomas (2025), Goenaga continues to craft cinema that resonates on both a personal and universal level, establishing him as a leading figure in contemporary Spanish filmmaking.

Producer

Ander Barinaga-Rementeria, Xabier Berzosa, Ander Sagardoy, Fernando Larrondo

Writer

José Mari Goenaga

Cinematographer

Javi Agirre Erauso

Cast

  • José Ramón Soroiz
  • Nagore Aranburu
  • Kandido Uranga
  • Zorion Eguileor
  • Kepa Errasti
Image
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PARTNERS

FUGUES

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