The HSBC Spanish Film Festival returns to Sydney for 2025.
Cinemagoers packed into Palace Cinema Norton Street on Thursday night for the opening of the 2025 HSBC Spanish Film Festival in Sydney. With the hum of acoustic guitar welcoming us into the cinema, along with the familiar smells of fresh popcorn and the clink of wine glasses, the audience was eager for the film’s commencement. Following a stunning live performance of an Argentinian song from a local singer-songwriter, the 2025 Spanish Film Festival was ready to begin.
The HSBC Spanish Film Festival is a yearly event that showcases the best of Spanish and Latin American cinema. In 2025, the festival features a curated selection of thirty films from Spain and Latin America, bringing the region’s history and culture to life on the big screen with a mix of comedies, dramas, and thrillers. The Spanish Film Festival forms part of a broader cinematic tradition in Spain, which dates back to the first film exhibition in Barcelona in 1895.
This year, the festival opened with the screening of the romcom Samana Sunrise. Directed by Rafa Cortés, Samana Sunrise follows two Spanish couples – Ale (María Luisa Mayol) and Santi (Luis Tosar), and Natalia (Bárbara Santa-Cruz) and Mario (Luis Zahera) – as they celebrate their 20-year friendship. Based on the play Cancún by Jordi Galcerán, the film is set against the backdrop of an idyllic holiday destination in Samaná, in the Dominican Republic.
Carried away by the happiness of being with her friends and fuelled by rum, Ale decides to share a confession from the past about the night the four of them met, leading to a ‘Sliding Doors’ moment. The following morning, Ale wakes somewhat confused and with a heavy hangover, but events soon begin to take a completely unexpected and hilarious – yet ultimately cathartic – turn. As the strength of their relationships and friendships is put to the test, revealing hidden attractions and frustrations, they are confronted with comparisons between who they are and who they could have been. With its vibrant colours, comedic elements, and universal commentary on relationships, it made complete sense that this was the opening film for the 2025 Spanish Film Festival.
What was most striking about Samana Sunrise was its ability to balance humour with genuine emotional depth. Set against the lush, sun-drenched landscapes of the Caribbean, the film uses its idyllic setting to contrast the messiness of human relationships. The witty dialogue and impeccable comic timing kept the audience laughing throughout, yet beneath the surface, the film explores the complexities of long-term friendship, desire, and the paths not taken. The cast – particularly María Luisa Mayol and Luis Tosar – deliver sharp, charismatic performances that carry the emotional weight of the story without losing its lightness. Combined with striking cinematography and a cleverly curated musical score to tell a story that is quietly profound, Samana Sunrise is a refreshing and thoughtful opening to this year’s Spanish Film Festival.
The HSBC Spanish Film Festival is running in Sydney from 19th June – 9th July at Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central, and Chauvel Cinema.
