La Laguna to Promote Canary Islands Film Industry at 2026 Cannes Festival
San Cristóbal de La Laguna will attend the 79th Cannes Film Festival to promote the Isla Calavera Fantastic Film Festival and strengthen the city's position within the global audiovisual industry.
San Cristóbal de La Laguna is set to raise its international profile significantly this year. The city council, the primary sponsor of the Isla Calavera Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival, has confirmed it will attend the 79th Cannes Film Festival, running from May 12 to 23, 2026. This visit to the world’s most influential film market is a strategic move to promote the city’s brand, attract investment, and strengthen its position within the global audiovisual industry.
Mayor Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, festival directors Daniel Fumero and Ramón González Trujillo, and municipal Culture head Adrián del Castillo announced the plans at the Teatro Leal. The delegation will be based at the Marché du Film’s "Fantastic Pavilion," a major hub for the fantasy genre. On May 16, they will officially present the festival’s tenth edition, unveiling the promotional poster and the first international guests for the event, which takes place in Tenerife from November 6 to 15.
Beyond promotion, the delegation aims to build professional partnerships. They will attend the annual assembly of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, which connects over thirty festivals across twenty countries. They will also present a symbolic Isla Calavera Honorary Award to be displayed at the pavilion, placing the Tenerife festival alongside industry leaders like Sitges and the BIFFF in Brussels.
This initiative comes at a key time for Spanish cinema, with films like La bola negra, Amarga Navidad, and El ser querido—the latter two filmed in the Canary Islands—competing at Cannes. La Laguna’s goal is twofold: to use the prestige of the Fantastic Pavilion to attract film productions and professionals, and to ensure the long-term growth of a festival that is now looking to cement its place on the European stage. Supported by the Government of the Canary Islands, the Cabildo of Tenerife, and Canary Islands Film, the project highlights a regional commitment to making the islands a premier destination for the international film industry.