The San Sebastian Film Fest unveils the first titles of the competition

Spain’s San Sebastian film festival unveiled its first batch of competing titles on Friday, nominating a typically eclectic mix of established arthouse favorites – Cristi Puiu, Joachim Lafosse, Robin Campillo – and emerging talent, including Maria Alche, Benjamín Naishtat and American newcomer, Raven Jackson, whose first feature film, All roads taste like saltwill compete this year for the Golden Shell of San Sebastian.

Produced by Moonlight director Barry Jenkins, All roads taste like salt is described as a lyrical exploration of a black woman’s life in Mississippi and the stars The King Womanby Sheila Atim.

A second American title, comedy Ex husbands by director Noah Pritzker (Quitters) also made the San Sebastian cut. Rosanna Arquette, Griffin Dunne, Miles Heizer, James Norton and Eisa Davis co-star the film’s ensemble cast in a story centered around a father (Dunne) overwhelmed by the twin crises of an impending divorce and his father’s possibly fatal illness.

Campillo, best known for his 2017 success 120 bpmwill grace San Sebastian with Red Islanda coming-of-age story set in 1960-70 Madagascar, exploring the end of childhood along with the end of a chapter in the French colonial era. MMXXby Romanian director Puiu (The death of Mr. Lazarescu), in an ensemble drama about four people: a therapist, her brother, her husband and a police inspector, all obsessed with their own personal problems.

Belgian director Lafosse, whose latest feature film, The restless onepresented in competition at Cannes, will be screened A silencea family drama exploring the issues of abuse, at the Spanish festival.

Other San Sebastian titles announced on Friday include Practicedirector Martín Rejtman’s latest Argentine comedy (some shots, The Magic Gloves), which follows a yoga teacher who faces increasingly absurd challenges and situations; AND Mrsa satirical look at Argentine society and academic life, centered around an academic rivalry in the philosophy department of the University of Buenos Aires and directed by Maria Alche and Benjamín Naishtat.

San Sebastian will announce its line-up of Spanish titles on July 17th.

The San Sebastian Film Festival 2023 will be held from 22 to 30 September.