Gaua (film)
| Gaua | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Paul Urkijo Alijo |
| Screenplay by | Paul Urkijo Alijo |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Gorka Gómez Andreu |
| Edited by | Elena Ruiz |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Filmax |
Release dates |
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Running time | 91 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Basque |
Gaua is a 2025 historical fantasy drama film directed by Paul Urkijo Alijo. Shot in Basque, it stars Yune Nogueiras along with Elena Irureta, Ane Gabarain, and Iñake Irastorza.
The film premiered at the 58th Sitges Film Festival on 11 October 2025 ahead of its Spanish theatrical release by Filmax on 14 November 2025.
Plot
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]
Cast
- Yune Nogueiras as Kattalin[2]
- Ane Gabarain as Beltra[3]
- Elena Irureta as Graxiana[3]
- Iñake Irastorza as Remedios[3]
- Xabi Jabato as Kattalin's husband[3]
- Erika Olaizola as Maritxu[3]
- Manex Fuchs as Mateo[3]
- Elena Uriz as Estertxi[3]
Production
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.[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]
Release
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]
Reception
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]
Accolades
| Award / Festival | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sitges Film Festival | 19 October 2025 | Best Feature Film | Gaua | Pending | [16] |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Gaua". Academia de las Artes y las Ciencias Cinematográficas de España. 27 January 2025.
- ^ Fernández, Harri X. (2 September 2025). "Terror vasco en 'Gaua': criaturas nocturnas acechan en el tráiler de Paul Urkijo". Noticias de Gipuzkoa.
- ^ a b c d e f g Úbeda-Portugués, Alberto (12 November 2025). "Los estrenos del 14 de noviembre. 'Gaua' ('La noche'). Brujas libres". Aisge.
- ^ a b Larrarte, Mikel (7 October 2024). "El cineasta alavés Paul Urkijo presenta Gaua en el Festival de Sitges". Noticias de Álava.
- ^ Sánchez Sequera, Marcos (11 November 2025). "'Gaua' – estreno en cines 14 de noviembre". Audiovisual451.
- ^ a b c "Paul Urkijo inicia el rodaje de 'Gaua', su tercer largometraje". Deia. 27 January 2025.
- ^ González, C (22 January 2025). "'Gaua' empieza a tomar forma". Noticias de Gipuzkoa.
- ^ Belinchón, Gregorio (13 October 2025). "Paul Urkijo, el profeta vasco del cine de terror 'folk'". El País.
- ^ "Gaua". sitgesfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b González, Carlos (16 July 2025). "'Gaua', la nueva película de Paul Urkijo, se estrenará en Sitges". Noticias de Álava.
- ^ Camps Linnell, Jordi (12 October 2025). "La nit va de contes: en voleu de bruixes o de princeses?". El Punt Avui.
- ^ "'Gaua', de Paul Urkijo, tendrá su premier internacional en el 55 Festival Internacional de Cine de Róterdam". Noticias de Álava. 14 November 2025.
- ^ Ocaña, Javier (14 November 2025). "'Gaua': las brujas del siglo XVII solo querían amar y vivir en libertad". El País.
- ^ Romero, Miguel Ángel (12 November 2025). "Crítica de 'Gaua': Paul Urkijo se consagra como uno de los grandes creadores de monstruos actuales". Cinemanía – via 20minutos.es.
- ^ Lobo, Carmen L. (14 November 2025). "Crítica de 'Gaua': ¿Brujas o activistas? ★★★★". La Razón.
- ^ "We Complete the 2025 line-up: Guillermo del Toro, Yorgos Lanthimos, Park Chan-wook, Carmen Maura, and Other Big Names in Contemporary Fantastic Genre". Sitges Film Festival. Archived from the original on 14 September 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.