Seminci 71st edition opens in Valladolid with My Notes on Mars

The 71st edition of the Valladolid International Film Festival (Seminci) has commenced, opening with the film ‘My Notes on Mars’ by Hungarian filmmaker Lili Horvát. The science fiction drama, starring Mackenzie Davis and Rupert Friend, follows a space researcher who disappears in the Alps and reappears weeks later with no memory of her previous life or her husband.

This year’s festival features a central theme focused on sound in cinema. As part of this focus, the festival includes a special retrospective of classics and has awarded the Espiga de Honor to a prominent sound editor. The opening ceremony also honored the legacy of the late José Luis Cienfuegos, former director of Seminci.

Other films highlighted during the opening sessions include ‘Queen at Sea’ by Lance Hammer, which examines aging and family dynamics, and ‘The Echo Chamber’ by Italian filmmaker Andrea Pallaoro, which explores emotional dependency in romantic relationships. The festival will showcase a total of 208 films over the coming week.