Gaua (film)

Set in the 17th century against the backdrop of witch hunting, the plot follows a woman (Kattalin) who ventures into the forest at night and comes across three storytelling women.^[1]

The project was publicly presented at the 57th Sitges Film Festival during the 'Sitges FanPitch' event on 7 October 2024.^[4] Produced by Irusoin, Ikusgarri Films, Gaua AIE, Vilaüt Films, and 34T,^[5] the film is the first collaboration of Urkijo with Basque outfit Irusoin.^[4] It also had the backing from EiTB, Prime Video, RTVE, ICAA, the Basque Government, Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz, and the Álava Chartered Deputation [es].^[6] Filming was reported to have started on 20 January 2025.^[7] On 27 January 2025, cast members Yune Nogueiras (lead), Ane Gabarain, Elena Irureta, Iñake Irastorza, Xabi Jabato, Erika Olaizola, Manex Fuchs, and Elena Uriz were revealed.^[6] It is fully shot in Basque.^[1]

Urkijo handled influences that included the ethnographic research of Basque priest Jose Miguel Barandiaran, Mike Mignola's work, Goya's Black Paintings and Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves.^[8]

Gaua had its world premiere at the 58th Sitges Film Festival on 11 October 2025.^[9][10][11] Filmax handled theatrical distribution in Spain as well as international sales.^[6] The film is scheduled to be released theatrically in Spain on 14 November 2025.^[10] For its international premiere, Gaua made it to the 'Harbour' programme of the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam.^[12]

Javier Ocaña of El País lamented that "subtlety is invisible in Gaua, with one-dimensional characters, good guys and bad guys from conventional fantasy films", with the film finding its way by leaving behind the "discursive thickness of its first half with a second part that is much more spectacular and freer in its use of special effects".^[13]

Miguel Ángel Romero of Cinemanía rated Gaua 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "a film that that goes from less to more, reaching its climax thanks to Kattalin, played by the outstanding Yune Nogueiras, and a coven worthy of Elena Irureta, Ane Gabarain, and Iñake Irastorza".^[14]

Carmen L. Lobo of La Razón rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting "the terrifying, so well-shot and orgiastic coven of the final stretch" as the best thing about the film.^[15]

• List of Spanish films of 2025