SeFF Honors Antonio Banderas and Awards Agnieszka Holland
The Seville European Film Festival unveils its new poster and announces the Honorary Award for Polish director Agnieszka Holland.
By Macarena Luque Romero
••4 min read
IA
Poster for the Seville European Film Festival (SeFF) featuring Antonio Banderas holding the Giralda dressed as a flamenco dancer.
The Seville City Council promotes the 23rd edition of the Seville European Film Festival (SeFF), taking place from November 6 to 14, honoring Antonio Banderas and recognizing Agnieszka Holland with the Honorary Award.
The Seville European Film Festival (SeFF) has unveiled its second poster, created by illustrator José Luis Ágreda, featuring Antonio Banderas holding a Giralda tower dressed as a flamenco dancer. This artwork pays tribute to Pedro Almodóvar, his film ‘¡Átame!’, and the tradition of Sevillian poster art.
The presentation, held at Las Setas de Sevilla, underscores the City Council's commitment to establishing the festival as a key cultural event and strengthening its ties with the local creative sector. The event included participation from the Delegate of Tourism and Culture, Angie Moreno, Festival Director Manuel Cristóbal, and José Luis Ágreda himself.
Angie Moreno stated that the poster perfectly represents the festival's aim: a meeting point between European cinema and Seville, tradition and contemporary creation. She highlighted Seville's capacity to engage with culture and cinema from its own unique identity, reaffirming the municipal commitment to foster the SeFF's growth and position the city as a leading European cultural and film capital.
José Luis Ágreda conceived the poster collection for the 2025 and 2026 editions as a dialogue between cinema and Sevillian graphic tradition. Following a tribute to Jean-Luc Godard, this second poster draws inspiration from ‘¡Átame!’ to honor Pedro Almodóvar and Antonio Banderas, reviving the visual imagery of José Álvarez Gómez. The posters will be exhibited during the festival at the Círculo Mercantil e Industrial de Sevilla.
The director of the SeFF, Manuel Cristóbal, emphasized the festival's intention to integrate with the city, creating a cultural experience that extends throughout Seville, allowing the public to engage with filmmakers and discover the city.
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"He is achieving something very special, making each poster a tribute to both cinema and Seville. These pieces connect films and authors with our cultural imagination and a graphic tradition that is part of the city's identity."
Polish director and screenwriter Agnieszka Holland will receive the Honorary Award for the 23rd edition, recognizing her over 40-year career in European cinema. She is known for films such as ‘Europa Europa’ and ‘In Darkness’, both Oscar-nominated, and previously served as president of the European Film Academy.
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"It is an enormous pride that a filmmaker of Agnieszka Holland's stature receives the Festival's Honorary Award. Her career represents some of the values we wish to defend at the SeFF: diverse, committed, free European cinema with a great capacity to dialogue with society."
The Espacio Turina will serve as the festival's main venue, hosting press conferences, screenings, and public encounters. The SeFF will also expand its presence to other locations, including Las Setas, which joins the program coinciding with its 15th anniversary.
A new collaboration between the Seville European Film Festival and the Seville Opera Festival has been announced. As part of this alliance, ‘Viva Carmen’, by French filmmaker Sébastien Laudenbach, will open the festival, reinterpreting Georges Bizet's opera through animation.
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"We are very happy to come and present ‘Viva Carmen’ in the city where our story takes place, Seville, the Seville that has accompanied my team and me for several years, the Seville in which we have sought to immerse ourselves to capture a certain truth. Presenting this film in Seville is a wonderful opportunity for us, although it also makes us a little scared. We are looking forward to coming!… Viva Carmen, viva Sevilla!"
José Luis Ágreda, with nearly 25 years dedicated to drawing, has made significant contributions to animation, notably as art director for films such as ‘Buñuel in the Labyrinth of Turtles’, ‘Robot Dreams’, and ‘Decorado’.
