San Sebastián Festival Sells 31,470 Tickets on First Day, Sees 8.32% Increase
The San Sebastián International Film Festival has once again shown its popularity among film enthusiasts, selling 31,470 tickets on its first public sale day for sessions taking place over the opening weekend. This marks an 8.32% increase in sales compared to the same day in 2023, reflecting strong interest in the festival's programming.
Tickets were available for films screening on Friday, September 20th, through Sunday, September 22nd, with both online and in-person sales at the Zinemaldi Plaza (Kursaal) box office. Despite thousands of people attempting to purchase tickets simultaneously, the online system handled the demand well, although some users reported slight delays.
Among the most sought-after screenings were films like "Los destellos" / "The Glimmers" and "Soy Nevenka" / "I Am Nevenka", both of which are featured in the festival’s prestigious Official Section. In the Perlak section, films such as "Ainda estou aqui" / "I’m Still Here" and "All We Imagine As Light" also saw high demand. Additionally, the New Directors section attracted significant interest with films like "La guitarra flamenca de Yerai Cortés" and "Stars and the Moon", while "When Clouds Hide the Shadows" and "Querido Trópico" / "Beloved Tropic" in the Horizontes Latinos section also proved popular.
Festival Director José Luis Rebordinos expressed his gratitude for the high level of ticket sales, describing the 31,470 figure as an impressive achievement. “It’s a high number, difficult to surpass and even to maintain in the future,” Rebordinos stated. He also noted that, despite minor slowdowns due to heavy traffic, the ticketing system remained stable throughout the day. “The system has not crashed at any time, which is something to be proud of, given the volume of users," he added, thanking festivalgoers for their patience and encouraging them to continue purchasing tickets in the days ahead.
Sales will continue over the next few days, with tickets for Monday, September 23rd, through Wednesday, September 25th, becoming available on Monday, September 16th. Tickets for the remaining days of the festival will be released incrementally, with each batch going live at 9:00 a.m. on the corresponding day.
The San Sebastián Festival, one of Spain’s most important cultural events, continues to draw large crowds, not only for its prestigious film selections but also for the seamless experience it offers to its attendees.