We are fulfilling a dream we have held since the very first edition of the festival: bringing the legendary MARGARETHE VON TROTTA to Madrid. Meet the 44 distinguished guests of the 9th edition.
DON’T MISS OUT ON TICKETS FOR THE GALAS AT THE PALACIO DE LA PRENSA, THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION, AND THE SPANISH COMPETITION
Professional and educational activities are fundamental to the festival's programming. Since its inaugural edition, the Films By Women Madrid Festival has organized numerous professional gatherings, roundtables, masterclasses, film presentations, and discussions, all aimed at highlighting the role of women at every stage of the film production chain: creation and training, production and reproduction, promotion and marketing, distribution and commercialization, and consumption and accessibility.
These activities are aimed at a general audience, but they pay special attention to future generations, with the goal of providing female role models who can drive change toward true equity. For this reason, many of these activities are focused on young people.
Prominent figures in the industry—including directors, actresses, and producers—will share their expertise with the festival audience through ten free events focused on professional development, training, and outreach. These activities will take place at the following venues: Cinemateca Pedro Zerolo, Espacio Fundación Telefónica, Sala Berlanga (Fundación SGAE), and Universidad Camilo José Cela.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear these fascinating figures of our time in person!
I. Schedule of training activities for the 9th edition of the Films By Women Madrid Festival
1. Cinemateca Pedro Zerolo
Calle Tribulete, No. 20. (Entrance via the alleyway between numbers 18 and 20). Free admission until capacity is reached. cinematecapedrozerolo.com
#1. Friday, Oct. 30, 8:40 PM
Roundtable discussion: “A cualquier edad: el derecho a desear"
The pleasure of self-rediscovery and the need to rethink relationship models and the expectations placed upon female desire.
The roundtable will take place following the screening of the film Iris y los hombres (Caroline Vignal, 2024).
Featuring: Carlota Callén (Spain)—director, screenwriter, and actress.
Activity organized in collaboration with Lazona Pictures.
#2. Saturday, Oct. 31, 9:00 PM
Roundtable discussion: "Romper el silencio: mujeres, deseo y libertad"
Freedom, family silences, identity, and the conflict between tradition and desire.
The roundtable will take place following the screening of the film Tres mujeres, Leyla Boucid, 2026.
Participant: Tamara Lucarini (Spain), film director.
Activity organized in collaboration with Lazona Pictures.
#3. Friday, Nov. 6, 8:40 PM
Roundtable discussion: "Las cicatrices del pasado: amor, familia y reconstrucción"
Finding new emotional spaces to open a path toward reconstruction.
The roundtable will take place following the screening of the film Silver Haze, Sacha Polak, 2023.
Featuring: Mazdey Snob (Mexico), director.
Activity organized in collaboration with Lazona Pictures.
#4. Saturday, Nov. 7, 8:30 PM
Roundtable: “Una voz contra el silencio"
Survival, responsibility, and the need to listen.
The roundtable will take place following the screening of the film La voz de Hind, Kaouther Ben Hania, 2025.
Featuring: Cecilia Gessa (Spain) — actress, producer, screenwriter, and director.
Activity organized in collaboration with Lazona Pictures.
2. Espacio Fundación Telefónica
Calle de Fuencarral, No. 3. Free admission with prior registration at: www.espacio.fundaciontelefonica.com/. Simultaneous interpretation, sign language, and live streaming provided.
#5. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 5:30 PM
Behind the Mask, In Front of the Camera: A Dialogue between Silvia Marsó and Juana Macías
Participants:
- Juana Macías (Spain), film director and screenwriter.
- Silvia Marsó (Spain), actress and producer.
Presented by: Carlota Álvarez Basso, co-director of the festival.
Activity organized in collaboration with CIMA, Asociación de Mujeres Cineastas y de Medios Audiovisuales.
#6. Wednesday, Oct. 28, 7:30 PM
From Idea to Screen: A dialogue between producer Mariela Besuievsky and Guadalajara Film Festival director Estrella Araiza
Participants:
- Mariela Besuievsky (Uruguay, Spain): producer and executive producer.
- Estrella Araiza (México): director of the Guadalajara International Film Festival.
Presented by Carlota Álvarez Basso, co-director of the festival.
#7. Friday, Nov. 6, 5:30 PM
A Meeting of Titans: Margarethe von Trotta and Isabel Coixet discuss their careers
Participants:
- Isabel Coixet (Spain), film director.
- Margarethe Von Trotta (Germany), film director.
Moderator: Elena Manrique, film director and producer, and member of the festival’s Programming Committee.
Presented by: Carlota Álvarez Basso, co-director of the festival.
Activity organized in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut Madrid and the Friends of the Goethe-Institut Spain Association.
#8. Friday, Nov. 6, 7:30 PM
Roundtable: "How Did You Get Here? Case Studies of International Female Film Directors Participating in the Festival"
Participants:
- Jennifer Alleyn (Canada): Director of "Kaïros"
- Julia Thelin (Sweden): Director of "Mecenaten (The Patron)"
- Karin Junger (Belgium/Netherlands): Director of "The Pupil"
- Indra Villaseñor Amador (Mexico). Director of "Goodbye, love"
Moderator: Elena Manrique, film director and producer, and member of the festival’s Programming Committee.
Presented by: Diego Mas Trelles, co-director of the festival.
Activity organized with the collaboration of Ciné Tapis Rouge, Embassy of Sweden, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Fundación Casa de México en España, UNAM (Spain) and DAMA, Derechos de Autor de Medios Audiovisuales.
3. Sala Berlanga. Fundación SGAE
Calle de Andrés Mellado, nº 53. Admission: €3.50. Tickets available online or at the box office, Tuesday to Saturday, 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM. www.salaberlanga.com
#9. Thursday, Nov. 5, 9:00 PM
Case Study: Series El castillo
A discussion on the adaptation and production of the series, the process of bringing a story to the screen, and the various elements involved in the creation and production of an audiovisual work.
Participants:
- Elena Martín Gimeno (film director).
- Mabel Lozano (actress, film director and writer). Author of El proxeneta.
- Sandra Romero (film director).
Activity organized in collaboration with Movistar Plus+.
4. Universidad Camilo José Cela. Campus Castellana
Calle de Juan Hurtado de Mendoza, nº4. Free admission, subject to capacity. www.ucjc.edu
#10. Tuesday, Nov 3, 8:00 PM
An encounter with producer Marisa Fernández Armenteros and producer Piluca Baquero
A discussion centered on film production and the role of women in the audiovisual industry. The conversation will cover professional career paths, production processes, and the challenges and opportunities involved in developing film projects.
Participants:
- Marisa Fernández Armenteros (Spain), producer.
- Piluca Baquero (Spain), Film Producer and Director of the Film and Audiovisual Fiction degree program at Universidad Camilo José Cela.
Presented by: Piluca Baquero, UCJC.
II. Guests at the 9th Edition of the Films By Women Madrid Festival
We strive to create opportunities for the participating professionals to engage in dialogue with one another and with the audience.
For this edition, we have the honor of welcoming 44 guests from various parts of the world. We have cultivated an eclectic ecosystem that brings together prominent directors—such as Margarethe von Trotta, Isabel Coixet, and Arantxa Echevarría—alongside experts like Estrella Araiza and Esther García, and actresses including Zoe Stein and Silvia Marsó. Our goal is to offer you the most comprehensive perspective possible on both the current state and the history of cinema created by women.
1. International directors, actresses, and experts: 15
Germany
- Claudia Müller: Director of Rebecca Horn. Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum. In Madrid from November 5 to 7.
- Margarethe von Trotta: Film director, actress, and screenwriter. Goethe-Institut series. In Madrid from November 4 to 9.
Canada
- Jennifer Alleyn: Director of Kaïros. International Panorama. In Madrid from November 3 to 7.
- Vanessa-Tatjana Beerli: International Competition jury member. Founder of Cine Tapis Rouge. In Madrid from October 31 to November 5.
Denmark
- María Sodahl: Director of The Last Resort. International Competition. In Madrid from November 5 to 8.
Italy
- Carlo D’Ursi: Producer of Chicas tristes. Focus Mexico. In Madrid on October 28.
Mexico
- Estrella Araiza: Director of the Guadalajara Film Festival. Espacio Fundación Telefónica. In Madrid from October 27 to 31.
- Fernanda Tovar: Director of Chicas Tristes. Focus México. In Madrid on October 28.
- Indra Villaseñor Amador: Director of Adiós, amor. Focus México. In Madrid from October 27 to November 8.
- Paloma López Carrillo: Director of Say Goodbye. In Madrid from November 3 to 8.
Norway
- Nina Knag: Director of Don´t call me mama. International Competition. In Madrid from November 6 to 9.
The Netherlands
- Karin Junger: Director of The Pupil. International Competition. In Madrid from November 5 to 7.
Sweden
- Julia Thelin: Director of Mecenaten (The Patron). International Competition. In Madrid from November 4 to 7.
Tunisia
- Eya Bouteraa: Actress in Tres Mujeres. Parallel sessions / Arab female directors. In Madrid on October 29.
Uruguay
- Mariela Besuievsky: Film producer. In Madrid on October 28.
2. Spanish female directors and actresses: 20
Those for whom no dates of stay are indicated are residents of Madrid.
- Ángeles González: Director of Después de Kim. Spanish Competition. In Madrid on October 29.
- Arantxa Echevarría: Director of Cada día nace un listo. Spanish Competition. In Madrid on October 31.
- Carlota Callén: Actress and short-film director. Cinemateca Pedro Zerolo. In Madrid on October 30.
- Cecilia Gessa: Film director, producer and actress. Cinemateca Pedro Zerolo. In Madrid on November 7.
- Claudia Estrada: Director of Salen las lobas. Spanish Competition. In Madrid from November 4 to 5.
- Elena Martí Gimeno: Director of El castillo series. In Madrid on November 5.
- Isabel Coixet: Film Director. Speaker at el Espacio Fundación Telefónica. In Madrid from November 5 to 7.
- Isabel Fernández: Director of Por qué no escribo nada. Biblioteca Nacional. In Madrid from November 3 to 4.
- Julia de Paz: Director of La buena hija. Spanish Competition. In Madrid from October 28 to 30.
- Juana Macías: Film Director. Speaker at Espacio Fundación Telefónica. In Madrid on October 28.
- Judith Colell: Director of Frontera. Spanish Competition. In Madrid on October 31.
- Mabel Lozano: Film director, actress, author of El proxeneta. In Madrid on November 5.
- Marta Díaz de Lope: Director of Pioneras: Solo querían jugar. Spanish Competition. In Madrid on October 28.
- Marta Matute: Director of Yo no moriré de amor. Spanish Competition. In Madrid on October 30.
- Sandra Romero: Director of El castillo series. In Madrid on November 5.
- Silvia Marsó: Actress, producer. Speaker at Espacio Fundación Telefónica. In Madrid on October 28.
- Sonia Martí Gallego: Scriptwriter and short-film director. Cinemateca Pedro Zerolo. In Madrid on November 6.
- Tamara Lucarini: Scriptwriter and short-film director. Cinemateca Pedro Zerolo. In Madrid on October 31.
- Valeria Estrada: Actress in Salen las lobas. Spanish Competition. In Madrid from November 4 to 5.
- Zoe Stein: Actress in Forasteras. Spanish Competition. In Madrid from November 4 to 5.
3. Spanish experts: 9
- Cristina Cerezales: Writer. Daughter of Carmen Laforet. In Madrid on November 3.
- Daniel Díaz: Spanish Competition Jury Member. Journalist. Blogos de Oro.
- Esther García: Film Producer. Lifetime Achievement Award. In Madrid on October 27.
- Marta Figueras: Producer of Salen Las Lobas. In Madrid on November 4.
- Pablo Berger: International Competition Jury Member. Film Director.
- Rodrigo Martínez Torres: Composer of the soundtrack for the film Doce lunas.
- Samantha Hudson: International Competition Jury Member. Actress, singer.
- Vicky Carras: Spanish Competition Jury Member. Journalist. Blogos de Oro.
- Yelenia Cañadas: Spanish Competition Jury Member. Journalist. Blogos de Oro.
