Catalan cinema shines in 2025: 8 must-watch films leading the awards season

2025 has been an outstanding year for Catalan cinema. The Gaudí Film Awards have seen a record number of Catalan productions among the nominees.  

Notably, there has also been a surge in films not only produced in Catalonia but also in the Catalan language, and female directors reaching nearly 50% parity. 

Before the busy festival season kicks off, the Catalan News team has selected 8 standout films that we believe are among the best and strongest contenders for major awards.  

Keep an eye out for them as they become available on various streaming platforms following their theatrical runs. 

1. Sirât by Oliver Laxe

The most talked-about film of the year, shortlisted for five Oscars, it also received 11 nominations at the Goya Awards and 11 at the Gaudí Awards.

This Catalan co-production, directed by Oliver Laxe, tells the story of a man’s journey through the desert to find his daughter in an apocalyptic world of raves.

Explosive, hypnotic, and featuring an incredible soundtrack, the film captivates from start to finish.

The main character is portrayed by Catalan Sergi López, who is also a contender for many Best Actor awards for his performance in this film. 

It is available in Spain on Movistar+ and still playing in several cinemas. 

2. Romería by Carla Simón

The final chapter of Carla Simón’s trilogy on her past and the AIDS generation, following 'Summer 1993' and 'Alcarràs,' which won the Golden Bear at the 2022 Berlin Film Festival, this latest film is another critical triumph.

It tells the story of an orphaned girl who travels from Catalonia to Galicia to obtain a scholarship signed by grandparents she has never met.

An astonishing performance by Llúcia Garcia, a previously unknown Catalan actress, makes this slow, intimate, and deeply emotional story even more powerful. 

It is available in Spain on Movistar+. 

3. Sundays by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa

The clear leader in this year's Goya Award nominations, with 13 in total. This film by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa is a Catalan co-production, though it does not meet the required production percentage to compete at the Gaudí Awards.

The film tells the story of a 17-year-old girl who wants to become a cloistered nun. It has been praised across the ideological spectrum: from conservative sectors and the Church to the political left, and has sparked intense debate.

It is a highly recommended watch with friends or family, as the discussion afterward may last even longer than the film itself.

It is available in Spain on Movistar+ and still showing in many cinemas.

4. Afternoons of Solitude by Albert Serra

Speaking of controversial films, nothing bearing Albert Serra’s stamp ever fails to provoke debate. The Catalan filmmaker, known for his histrionic, enfant terrible persona, delivers his most controversial work to date: a documentary on bullfighting that feels nothing like a conventional documentary and much more like a carefully staged film.

The film follows popular matador Andrés Roca Rey, himself a controversial figure due to his risky style. Some viewers consider it too visually explicit and violent and criticize Serra for allegedly taking a stance in favor of tauromachy.

But despite this, critics have widely praised the film. It stands as an extraordinary portrait of the bullfighting world: visually astonishing, with remarkable sound design and a powerful sense of ritual and history.

The film offers an unflinching look at the tradition, now prohibited in Catalonia. It won the Golden Shell at the San Sebastián Film Festival.

It is available in Spain on Movistar+ and can also be rented on several other streaming platforms.

5. Deaf by Eva Libertad

The first Spanish film to feature a deaf actor in a leading role, Sorda stars Miriam Garlo in a deeply moving story about deafness and motherhood.

The film follows a deaf woman as she confronts her fears around parenthood and the challenge of communicating with her future daughter.

Critics have widely praised the film’s use of sound (or silence) as a powerful narrative tool. Offering an intimate and unflinching look at deafness, the film avoids paternalism and sentimentality, placing the spectator in uncomfortable, tense situations and revealing the most difficult aspects of the protagonist’s experience.

It is available in Spain on Movistar+ and can also be rented on several other streaming platforms.

6. Away by Gerard Oms

Mario Casas delivers one of the finest performances of his career and is the driving force behind this film. Playing Dani, he travels from Barcelona to Utrecht for an RCD Espanyol football match.

On the way back to the airport, he suffers a panic attack and impulsively decides to stay in the city, leaving his brothers and friends behind and finding himself alone, without money, friends, a home, or even the language.

The result is a powerful story for anyone who has migrated in search of themselves or a fresh start. The film also offers a compelling look at different forms of migration, as Dani shares his life with migrants far less privileged than himself: while his journey is voluntary and driven by personal reasons, others migrate simply to survive.

It is available in Spain on Movistar+ and Filmin, and can also be rented on several other streaming platforms.

7. Wolfgang by Javier Ruiz Caldera 

A 10-year-old boy with an IQ of 152 and on the autism spectrum is forced to live with his father, whom he has never met, after the death of his mother. Javier Ruiz Caldera delivers a heartwarming, humorous, and sensitive film, which has become one of the most-watched Catalan-language films of the year.

Critics have praised the film for handling themes such as autism, grief, and fatherhood with maturity and empathy, and the performances of Miki Esparbé and Jordi Catalán are central to its success.

It is available in Spain on Movistar+ and can also be rented on several other streaming platforms.

8. Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake by Irene Iborra 

And finally, an animated film (and not an ordinary one). This is the first stop-motion feature in Spain directed by a woman, where physical objects are moved in tiny increments and photographed frame by frame.

The story follows Olivia, her younger brother Tim, and their mother Ingrid, who are evicted from their Barcelona home and must start over in a new neighborhood. In this difficult situation, Olivia invents a fantasy to protect her brother, imagining that their life isn’t real and that they are shooting a film.

From there, the story unfolds into surprising twists and whirlwind adventures. The film has already received awards at the Annecy Festival 2025, the world’s premier animation festival, and has been nominated for two European Film Awards.

It will be released in cinemas on January 21, 2026.