The world premiere of the Fatih Akin film Geister (Ghost Song) will open the competitive official selection of the San Sebastián Film Festival’s 74th edition. The film directed by Akin will screen on Sept. 18 at the Kursaal in the Spanish city, following the opening ceremony.

The news means that Akin will compete for San Sebastian’s Golden Shell for the first time with a full-length film. Starring Mariam Dawoud and Eren M. Güvercin as Farasha and Faris, who meet at a graduation party and fall in love at first sight, Ghost Song sees Farasha suddenly dying that same night. A love story unfolds between two worlds, as she finds a way to meet Faris in his dreams.

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Or as a synopsis puts it: “Farasha and Faris are 20 when they meet at a graduation party – one glance that changes everything. But Farasha dies that very same night. Refusing to be separated from him, she discovers a way to cross the boundary between worlds: for 40 nights, and 40 nights only, she can meet Faris in his dreams. And so their love continues to grow, until the very last night.”

German filmmaker Akin is known for the likes of Head-On (2004), the recipient of the Golden Bear at the Berlinale. He later won the best screenplay award at Cannes for The Edge of Heaven (2007) and the special jury prize at Venice for Soul Kitchen (2009).

In addition to developing a solid career as a director, screenwriter, producer and actor, Akin has put his name to titles including The Cut (2014), premiered in competition at Venice; Aus dem Nichts / In the Fade (2017), which recognised Diane Kruger as Best Actress in Cannes and won the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film; The Golden Glove (2019), premiered in Berlin; Rheingold (2022), watched by more than a million spectators in Germany, and Amrum (2025), which was also presented at the French festival.

The German director therefore completes the list of the 17 feature films to compete for the Golden Shell and other official awards at the San Sebastián Festival’s 74th edition. The competitive Official Selection includes the new works from Fatih Akin, Roberto Bueso, Fred Cavayé, Jesse Eisenberg, Nicole Garcia, Mikel Gurrea, Amanda Kernell, Pablo Larraín, Mike Leigh, Gabriel Martins, Hans Petter Moland, Benjamín Naishtat, Javier Ruiz Caldera and Yeşim Ustaoğlu, as well as the debut films from Ah Biao, Maha Harada and Tony Vahl.
 

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