San Sebastián (Spain).- The San Sebastián International Film Festival confirmed in its 72nd edition its relevance beyond the cultural realm, leaving a notable economic impact of €47.9 million in the city and its surroundings, according to a study commissioned to the consulting group Ikertalde.
This figure consolidates the event not only as one of the most prestigious film events on the international scene but also as a powerful economic and social driver for Donostia and the Basque Country.
The analysis, based on 2024 data, classifies the impact into three main categories: direct, indirect, and induced.
The direct impact, estimated at €18.3 million, comes mainly from the festival’s own organization. This sum includes €12 million allocated to the hiring of services and personnel, as well as €6.3 million corresponding to expenses generated by the stays and consumption of those working at the festival. This represents considerable economic activity that activates multiple local sectors, from hospitality to technical services.
Regarding the indirect impact, estimated at nearly €14 million, this relates to the spending made by the festival’s attendees. Here, the contribution of visitors coming from outside San Sebastián stands out, requiring overnight stays, with a total of €10.7 million. Residents of Donostia contributed nearly €2 million, while visitors who did not stay in the city generated around €1 million. These figures confirm that cultural tourism linked to cinema has strong appeal for the region.
The induced impact, valued at nearly €16 million, corresponds to the ripple effect of all this activity on the general economy, including transactions along the value chain. This economic dimension reflects how a cultural event can radiate benefits into areas seemingly unrelated to culture, such as transportation, food, commerce, and various services.
Another relevant element of the report is the economic return for public administration. The festival generated €8.4 million in revenue for public coffers, whether through taxes, fees, or other mechanisms. This figure reinforces the argument that investment in culture is not only symbolically profitable but also financially and fiscally.
Employment is another clearly benefited area. The festival’s annual staff consists of 40 permanent positions, but in 2024, approximately 320 temporary contracts were added, 80% of them concentrated in September. This not only strengthens the city’s labor fabric but also provides employment opportunities in creative and technical sectors.
One of the aspects that make the San Sebastián Film Festival unique is its local roots. In 2024, 172,301 attendances at screenings were recorded, of which 71.5% corresponded to the general public.
The key measurement unit used in the report is the active cinema day, defined as a day in which a person attends at least one movie. In total, 95,966 active days of general public attendance were registered, with an average of 1.3 movies viewed per person.
Of these days, 46,064 were generated by residents of San Sebastián, 15,462 by visitors without overnight stays, and 34,440 by visitors with accommodation, allowing us to observe the diversity of the audience and their proportional impact on the local economy.
Finally, the international projection of San Sebastián is one of the most notable intangible values of the event. The study reveals that the festival was the subject of more than 162,000 news items in national and international media, with a potential of 144 billion views.
The associated advertising value of this exposure approaches €1.9 billion. This global presence reinforces Donostia’s positioning as a cultural reference city, strengthening its brand, its tourist appeal, and its identity as a high-quality destination.