The Films by Women Madrid Festival is an international feature film festival that has been held annually in Madrid since 2018. The IX edition will take place from October 27th to November 8th, 2026.
Its main objective is to highlight the work and perspectives of women in filmmaking and the film industry. While it is aimed at all audiences, it pays special attention to future generations, offering female role models who drive change toward true equality.
The festival is organized by women and men who seek to enrich culture with a diverse and pluralistic perspective, thereby helping to reduce gender inequality in the film industry. It recognizes the ability of female directors to explore a wide range of themes and styles, free from restrictions based on gender stereotypes, where women are not confined to stereotypical roles. In short, it is a film festival made BY women, not FOR women, nor ABOUT women, since such a cinematic category does not exist.
For the IX edition, we are preparing a varied selection of approximately 70 feature films, both international and Spanish, spanning fiction, animation, and documentary. Most of these films are multi-award-winning; many of them are premiering in Madrid—some in Spain—and all will be screened at 20 prestigious venues in central Madrid. Additionally, a significant portion of the program will be available online on Filmin. The television network 8madrid TV will complement the event with a series of films directed by women from its repository.
Each year, we feature a guest country to offer a glimpse into recent film production from a specific region. For this IX edition, we will host FOCUS MEXICO 2026, a section dedicated to Mexican female directors.
Professional and educational activities are central to the festival’s program. Since the first edition, we have organized professional meetings, roundtables, masterclasses, and film presentations, with the aim of highlighting the role of women in all stages of film production: creation, production, marketing, distribution, and consumption. By taking advantage of their attendance at the festival each year, we have the opportunity to speak with the professionals who join us.
Some of these interviews and professional and educational activities, as well as the video highlights from the VIII edition, are available on the festival’s official YouTube channel. Don’t miss them!
