With the awards of the 10th edition of the Aswan International Women Film Festival announced on 24 April, Spain featured prominently on the winners’ list with The Portuguese House (Una quinta portuguesa, 2025).
Written and directed by Avelina Prat, the film won Best Screenplay, confirming the country’s artistic impact within a highly competitive international lineup.
A quiet, introspective drama about identity and escape, The Portuguese House follows a grieving geography professor who, after his wife’s disappearance, abandons his life and assumes a new identity as a gardener on a secluded Portuguese estate. There, he forms an unexpected bond with the owner while gradually immersing himself in a life that is not his, blurring the line between reinvention and loss.
Beyond awards, Spain’s presence extended across screenings, juries, and industry activities. The country participated with two films: Prat’s The Portuguese House and the short Crazy for You (Loquita por ti) by Greta Díaz Moreau. Both works reflect a strong interest in intimate, character-driven storytelling, with a particular focus on female perspectives and identity.
Spanish filmmakers were also actively involved in the festival’s professional platforms. Filmmaker María Abenia served on the Euro-Mediterranean Competition jury, while producer Abril Vila Truyol was part of the Feature Film Competition jury. Critic and programmer Eduardo Guillot joined the Short Films Competition jury.
Abenia also led a workshop with emerging filmmakers, while Vila Truyol and Guillot participated in the Youth Forum, whose first edition was launched during this year’s festival. As part of the Forum, they met 20 emerging Egyptian filmmakers from Upper Egypt, who presented works developed through the festival’s Film Workshops—programmes that run for several months ahead of the event, with resulting films screened in a dedicated section.
This combination of artistic recognition and professional exchange reflects Spain’s sustained investment in international cultural dialogue and its support for emerging voices, particularly women filmmakers. It also aligns with the festival’s broader mission since its founding in 2017: to spotlight women’s stories and create platforms for collaboration across regions.
Held from April 20 to 25 in Aswan, the festival brought together 73 films from 34 countries, continuing to position itself as a key space for global cinema centered on women’s experiences.
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