Festivals and awards

San Sebastián 2026: How to read the awards without mixing up prizes and honours

The official archive of the 74th edition distinguishes between official awards, other prizes, and honorary distinctions. This guide explains which entity grants each award and why not all mentions in festival coverage are equivalent.

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The 74th edition of the San Sebastián Film Festival took place from September 18 to 26, 2026. To interpret its awards with rigor, it is necessary to consult the official archive of the festival, which classifies the distinctions into three differentiated categories: official awards, other awards, and honorary awards. This structure allows identifying who grants each prize and avoids attributing official status to distinctions that belong to external entities or sponsors.

The official structure of the awards

The festival's website organizes the distinctions of the 2026 edition under three main headings. This hierarchy is the key to understanding the authority of each prize. Not all mentions that appear in media coverage carry the same institutional weight within the festival.

Official awards and the FIAPF seal

The first category is 'Official Awards - FIAPF'. The presence of the acronym FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) indicates that these awards meet international standards for Category A festivals. They are the main prizes of the festival, such as the Golden Shell, and their granting is exclusive to the festival organization.

Other awards: sponsors and entities

The second category, 'Other Awards', includes distinctions granted by external entities. Among them are the SGAE Best Original Music Award, the Irizar Basque Film Award, the Donostia/San Sebastián City Audience Award, and the Spanish Cooperation Award. Although they are presented during the festival, their authority lies with the sponsoring organizations, not the official Zinemaldia committee.

The FIPRESCI Grand Prix

The 'FIPRESCI Grand Prix for best film of the year' appears in the list of other awards, but it is a distinction of special relevance. FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) is an independent entity that grants this prize at festivals worldwide. Its inclusion in the festival's official archive does not make it a Zinemaldia prize, but rather an external recognition that the festival documents.

Honorary awards and career recognition

The third category, 'Honorary Awards', groups distinctions such as the Honorary Shells and the Zinemira Award. These prizes are not awarded for a specific film in the competitive program, but to recognize the career of film professionals. Their nature is distinct from competitive awards and should not be confused with the results of the edition.

Limits of verification

The official archive allows identifying the categories and the granting entities, but does not detail the names of the winners of each prize in this view. To know the specific results of the 2026 edition, it is necessary to consult the festival's press communications or the records of each granting entity. This guide offers the structure to read those results without mixing the different sources of authority.

Key takeaways

  • The official San Sebastián 2026 archive classifies distinctions into official awards, other awards, and honorary awards.
  • Official awards carry the FIAPF seal, indicating their international category.
  • Awards such as the SGAE or the Spanish Cooperation Award are granted by external entities, not the festival.
  • The FIPRESCI Grand Prix is a recognition from international press, documented by the festival but not granted by it.
  • The Honorary Shells and the Zinemira Award are career distinctions, not competitive prizes.
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Sources and filmography consulted

  1. SAN SEBASTIAN INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL. filmfreeway.com. Consulted 24 Oct 2026
  2. San Sebastian International Film Festival. festagent.com. Consulted 24 Oct 2026
  3. 74th edition of the San Sebastian International Film Festival. sansebastianturismoa.eus. Consulted 24 Oct 2026
  4. San Sebastián International Film Festival 2026 - TicketSwap. www.ticketswap.com. Consulted 24 Oct 2026
  5. San Sebastian International Film Festival - SSIFF. www.film-documentaire.fr. Consulted 24 Oct 2026
  6. Donostia – San Sebastián IFF - Netfest. www.netfest.org. Consulted 24 Oct 2026
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  8. San Sebastian International Film Festival. www.investinspain.org. Consulted 24 Oct 2026
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  17. San Sebastian Film Festival, 2026 official selection. www.sansebastianfestival.com. Consulted 24 Oct 2026