From 19-28 September, the Kursaal became the hub of the San Sebastian International Film Festival’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

The Conference Centre was bedecked throughout these ten days with flamboyant lighting commemorating the golden wedding with two enormous numbers. The gigantic white ‘50’ stood out clearly against a red background on the walls of the Auditorium, a construction spectacular in its own right.

Hundreds of actors, actresses and filmmakers made their way into the Kursaal along the stars’ walkway lined with a classic red carpet. International guests included Jessica Lange, Francis Ford Coppola, Dennis Hopper, Jean Reno, Juliette Binoche and Isabelle Huppert.  

During these ten days, over 100 films with their corresponding audiences of 100,000 spectators were screened in the Auditorium and Chamber Hall, converted for the event into magnificent cinemas (Kursaal 1 and Kursaal 2).

Their stages served as the venues for the opening and closing nights, the Donostia Award-presenting ceremony and the “Award-winners’ night’ bringing together in the Auditorium around forty of those to have received an award from the Festival during its fifty years.

1,436 journalists from 43 countries found the perfect operations centre at the Kursaal, from the accreditations office to the press rooms, and, of course, the more than 40 multitudinous Festival news conferences. In addition to accredited members of the media, the Kursaal Centre welcomed 1,700 guests from the world of film and 52 countries who participated in the 50th anniversary celebrations.