Santi Senso returns to Gran Vía to explore intimacy in cinema
The 4th International Intimate Film Series returns to Madrid on March 19 and 20, 2026 under the direction of Santi Senso, based in the emblematic Cine Palacio de la Prensa, in the heart of Gran Vía. The proposal is not just a film program: it is an invitation to rethink how we understand intimacy on the screen and off it.
After his previous artistic intervention in the capital, where he defended that “solitude does not exist,” Senso now proposes a cultural encounter that dialogues with vulnerability, bond and the way in which cinema represents our relationships.
From what point do we look at each other when the camera approaches?
And what remains of that look when the lights go out?
March 19: colloquium and short films that inhabit the intimate
The day on March 19 will begin with the colloquium “The intimate in cinema”, a conversation space that will bring together professionals from different areas of the audiovisual industry: interpretation, direction, production and casting.
Among the participating people are Nacho Guerreros, Celia de Molina, José Cerqueda, Miguel Ángel Olivares, Vanesa Romero and Santi Senso himself. The dialogue will revolve around how intimacy is built in the creative process and what it means to expose yourself emotionally in front of the camera.
After the meeting, a selection of national and international short films that address intimacy from various genres will be screened: social, political, documentary and dramatic.
Among the scheduled titles the following stand out:
- The company (Spain), candidate for the Goya 2025
- Translation (Chile-Belgium)
- Cuarentena (Spain), nominated for the Goya 2025
- Sex at 70 (Spain), nominated for the Goya 2026
- Majur (Brazil)
- Rock, Paper, Scissors (Spain), nominated for the 2026 Carmen Awards
- Other bodies, by Santi Senso
- Madanme Ivanova (international co-production)
- Pack. Seal. Olvidar, a piece created from a workshop given by the director at the Central Film School
The programming relies on views that question how we connect today and what wounds emotional disconnection leaves in an era where “ghosting” has become normalized.
March 20: live musical cinema with “Love me tonight”
The second day of the cycle proposes a different experience: “Love me tonight”, a live musical film show inspired by films from the 1920s to the 1950s.
More than a concert, the proposal mixes musical performance and audiovisual projection to recreate the atmosphere of classic filming. The audience will be able to feel that they are crossing the screen and integrating into the scene.
The cast is made up of Juani Gé, Silvia Morell, Jaime Cabeza, Andrea Bayardo, Ella Isaac, LuisFe Urriola, Laura Gobello, Toñina Regidor and Santi Senso, who will act as master of ceremonies, inviting the audience to be an active part of the experience.
Privacy, vulnerability and ties in the digital age
One of the central axes of the cycle is the premiere of Other Bodies, a short film directed by Santi Senso that reflects on the way we relate to each other today. The piece questions the superficiality of certain contemporary ties and the emotional impact of emotional disconnection.
In a historical moment marked by digital hyperconnection, the artistic proposal directly challenges the public:
Are we confusing freedom with detachment?
Have we normalized forms of relationships that distance us from empathy?
Intimate cinema does not only observe. It’s also uncomfortable. And perhaps that is where its power lies.
Culture as a meeting space
The 4th International Intimate Film Series turns the Press Palace into a space for dialogue between filmmakers, performers and the public. In a city like Madrid, where culture beats around every corner, this event seeks to consolidate itself as a meeting point for those who believe in cinema as an emotional and social tool.
Because talking about intimacy is talking about identity.
And talking about identity is, inevitably, talking about how we want to connect in the world.
