THE 9TH MADRID FILM FESTIVAL BY WOMEN 2026 KICKS OFF

Programación IX Festival de Cine Por Mujeres 2026 de Madrid

This international feature film festival, held annually in Madrid since 2018, will host its 9th edition from October 27 to November 8
The festival is championed by both women and men who seek to enrich culture through a diverse and pluralistic perspective, thereby helping to reduce gender inequality within the film industry
It is a film festival made BY women NOT for women, NOR about women as no such specific cinematic category exists. This 9th edition will feature a special “Focus: Mexico 2026” program

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The primary objective is to bring visibility to the work and perspectives of women in film creation and the broader industry. While aimed at a general audience, the festival places special emphasis on future generations, providing female role models who can drive change toward equity and empowerment. The festival is championed by both women and men who seek to enrich culture through a diverse and pluralistic perspective, thereby helping to reduce gender inequality within the film industry.

It recognizes the ability of female directors to explore a wide range of themes and styles, free from the constraints of gender-based prejudice, and where women are not confined to stereotypical roles. In short, it is a film festival made by women, not for women, nor about women as no such specific cinematic category exists. This 9th edition features a diverse selection of approximately 70 feature films both international and Spanish spanning fiction, animation, and documentary genres.

“We remain committed to high-quality, pluralistic, and diverse cinema that possesses its own distinct identity. The selection includes feature films from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Spain, the United States, France, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Sweden, and Tunisia,” said festival co-founder Carlota Alvarez Basso.

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Most of these films are multi-award-winning; many are having their Madrid or even Spanish premiere, and all will be screened across 18 prestigious venues in the heart of Madrid. Furthermore, a significant portion of the program will be available online via the platform Filmin. The television channel 8madrid TV will complement the event by showcasing a selection of films directed by women from its own collection.

“For each edition, we feature a guest country to provide insight into recent film production from a specific region. This ninth edition will include ‘FOCUS MÉXICO 2026’, a section dedicated to Mexican female directors, made possible through the collaboration of the Fundación Casa de México en España and the Center for Mexican Studies in Spain at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM-España). Professional and educational activities are a cornerstone of the festival’s program. Since our very first edition, we have organized professional gatherings, roundtables, masterclasses, and film presentations, all with the goal of highlighting the role of women at every stage of the filmmaking process,” concludes Diego Mas Trelles, co-director of the festival.

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