The Mar del Plata International Film Festival announced that its 40th edition will begin on November 6 with the screening of Kiss of the Spider Woman, directed by Bill Condon. This is a new adaptation of Manuel Puig’s novel, in a musical format, featuring a cast that includes Tonatiuh Elizarraraz, Diego Luna, and Jennifer Lopez. The opening will be attended by the American filmmaker and the young Mexican-American actor.

The festival’s closing night, scheduled for November 15, will feature Las locuras, the latest production by director Rodrigo García, with a cast of Latin American actors in a series of interwoven stories.

For the second year in a row, the festival will host a guest country. In 2025 it will be Italy, which will present eight contemporary productions as part of the Italian Screens initiative. Among the selected titles are La gioia by Nicolangelo Gelormini, Fuori by Mario Martone, Nonostante by Valerio Mastandrea with Dolores Fonzi, and Testa o Croce? by Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis with Peter Lanzani. Also included are Napoli-New York by Gabriele Salvatores, Paternal Leave by Alissa Jung, and Manara, a documentary by Valentina Zanella featuring comic book artist Milo Manara. An eighth film will be announced later.

The 40th edition of the Mar del Plata International Film Festival will take place from November 6 to 15, 2025. The event is organized by INCAA and is accredited by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF). The full program will be officially presented on October 21 at the Cine Gaumont in Buenos Aires.

Announcements:

Película de apertura: Kiss of the Spider Woman – Dir. Bill Condon
Película de clausura: Las locuras – Dir. Rodrigo García

Italia – País invitado (Italian Screens)
La gioa – Dir. Nicolangelo Gelormini
Fuori – Dir. Mario Martone
Nonostante – Dir. Valerio Mastandrea 
Testa o Croce? – Dir. Alessio Rigo de Righi y Matteo Zoppis
Napoli-New York – Dir. Gabriele Salvatores 
Paternal Leave – Dir. Alissa Jung 
Manara –  Dir. Valentina Zanella 
[Una película más será anunciada próximamente]