Money Heist's Jaime Lorente & Billy Lumby at San Sebastian

The San Sebastian Film Festival has unveiled the lineup for its prestigious New Directors section, with debut films from Spanish actor Jaime Lorente - best known for his role in the global hit series Money Heist - and British filmmaker Billy Lumby leading the competition. The announcement was made by festival organizers on Thursday, confirming that both projects will vie for the Kutxa-New Directors Award, a prize historically used to launch emerging talent onto the international stage.

Lorente’s first feature-length project, in which he also stars, marks a notable transition from television stardom to auteur-driven cinema. While details about the film’s plot and title remain under wraps, its selection by San Sebastian’s selectors signals confidence in Lorente’s ability to move beyond his breakout role as Denver in the Netflix phenomenon. The actor has steadily expanded his résumé with supporting parts in Spanish features and series, but this marks his first leading turn in a film that is also his own creative endeavor.

Lumby, a filmmaker from the United Kingdom, brings his own debut to the Basque Country after a string of short films and music videos that have circulated in European festival circles. His project was singled out from hundreds of submissions, according to a festival statement, which praised its “distinctive visual language and narrative risk-taking.” The New Directors section is reserved for first- or second-time directors, and Lumby’s selection continues a recent trend of British independent cinema gaining traction at Spanish festivals.

A Platform for Emerging Voices

San Sebastian’s New Directors competition has a long history of spotlighting filmmakers who later become major figures. Past alumni include Guillermo del Toro, whose 1993 debut Cronos premiered here, and more recently directors like Carla Simón and Jonas Carpignano. The 2026 edition, running from September 17 to 25, will feature 12 to 15 debut films from around the world, with the winner taking home a €50,000 prize.

This year’s lineup is notably heavy on actor-turned-director projects. Besides Lorente, several other performers are making their directorial bows, reflecting an industry trend in which performers use their profile to finance and produce personal stories. The festival has not yet disclosed whether Lorente directed his film or simply stars in it, but sources close to the production indicate he is deeply involved in both acting and creative oversight, blurring the line between performer and author.

Lumby, by contrast, comes from a more traditional directing path. His film is described by organizers as “a taut, character-driven drama set in a British coastal town,” evoking comparisons to early works by Andrea Arnold and Clio Barnard. The project was developed through the U.K. Film Council’s low-budget initiative and shot over 24 days, a fact that organizers highlighted as evidence of resourcefulness.

Lorente’s Post-Money Heist Moves

Since Money Heist ended in 2021, Lorente has carefully chosen roles that distance him from the heist-drama mold. He appeared in the Spanish thriller The Invisible Line and the historical drama El Cid, but this debut film represents his most ambitious move yet. In a brief statement issued through his publicist, Lorente said he was “immensely proud” to have his first film selected at San Sebastian, adding that “the festival has always been a home for brave storytelling.”

The selection also underscores San Sebastian’s increasing openness to projects that blur the lines between star vehicles and auteur cinema. In previous years, the festival has programmed debuts by well-known actors such as Javier Bardem’s brother Carlos Bardem and French actress Mélanie Laurent, but often in non-competitive sections. Lorente’s inclusion in the competitive New Directors wing suggests the festival is betting that his star power will draw wider attention to the program.

What’s Next for Both Films

Neither film has set a commercial release date, but San Sebastian premieres often serve as launching pads for distribution deals. The New Directors prize in particular has a strong track record: last year’s winner, The Rapture from Argentina, secured a deal with Netflix within weeks of its festival bow. For Lorente and Lumby, the next step will depend on buzz generated during the festival’s ten-day run.

Full details on the complete New Directors lineup - including synopses and director bios - are expected in mid-August. The festival also announced that the section’s jury will be chaired by Spanish producer María Zamora, with additional jurors to be named shortly.

As of now, the only confirmed cast member for either debut is Lorente himself. Lumby’s film is believed to feature a mostly unknown ensemble, consistent with the low-budget origins of the project. The festival has emphasized that final runtime and genre classifications will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter