The Feature Film La Lucha, Shot Entirely in Fuerteventura, Celebrates a Successful Premiere at the San Sebastián International Film Festival

José Alayón’s feature film La Lucha, filmed entirely in Fuerteventura, has enjoyed a successful premiere at the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival, one of the world’s most prestigious film events.

The premiere, held this weekend, was supported by the Fuerteventura Film Commission and its Councillor, Nereida Calero, reflecting the significance of the occasion both for the island and for productions filmed in Fuerteventura.

La Lucha is the first feature film shot entirely in Fuerteventura to be screened at the renowned San Sebastián festival. Directed by José Alayón, the film is a 100% Canary Islands production created by El Viaje Films.

The cast is made up largely of first-time and non-professional actors, most of whom are real Canarian wrestlers, selected through a twelve-month casting process led by Cendrine Lapuyade. The production also involved 400 local extras from Fuerteventura, helping to capture the authenticity, spirit and strength of the island’s community.

Filming took place between February and March 2024 across a range of locations in the municipalities of Puerto del Rosario, Pájara, Tuineje and Antigua.

Until now, cinema has rarely explored in depth the world surrounding Canarian wrestling, the archipelago’s traditional sport. As a result, the premiere of La Lucha has become an important showcase for the promotion of both Canarian and Majorero identity and culture.

To mark the occasion, the Government of the Canary Islands organised a live exhibition of Canarian wrestling on Zurriola Beach, located opposite the Kursaal Congress Centre and Auditorium, one of the main venues of the festival. The event introduced audiences and industry professionals attending the festival to one of the Canary Islands’ most distinctive cultural traditions.