‘El Mal Padre,’ Inspired by ‘a Fear of Facing Fatherhood,’ Unpacked by Director Roberto Bueso

Nov 12, 2026 9:29am PT ‘El Mal Padre,’ Inspired by ‘a Fear of Facing Fatherhood,’ Unpacked by Director Roberto Bueso

Bowing to praise in San Sebastián Competition and sold by Film Factory, ‘El Mal Padre’ stars Eduard Fernández, a National Cinematography Award winner in Spain

By JD Linville

Plus Icon

JD Linville

Latest

• Australian Director Darren Dale Bows True Crime ‘2.6 Seconds: Death in the Outback,’ Acquired by Netflix for the World, Just Before TIFF   2 months ago
• Stefano Knuchel Premieres Final Chapter in 20-Year Hugo Pratt Trilogy With ‘Hugo in Venice’  2 months ago
• Levan Koguashvili Brings ’90s Georgia to Venice With Comedic Drama ‘Guria’ 2 months ago

See All Add us as a Google Preferred Source Eduard Fernández in 'El Mal Padre' (Courtesy of Mod Producciones)

• Comments

Roberto Bueso‘s “El Mal Padre” (“The Bad Father”), a San Sebastian main competition contender sold by Film Factory, marks a tragicomic take on the mistakes of parenthood, and one son’s struggle not to repeat them.

Eduard Fernández (“Marco,” 2024), a four-time Goya winner and recent recipient of Spain’s National Cinematography Award, plays Santiago Balmes, a celebrated writer and academic who, in the face of a terminal diagnosis, calls together his estranged adult children with the hope of healing.

Related Stories

Starz Beats Wall Street's Q3 Earnings Estimates as Net Loss Narrows to $35 Million, Linear TV Revenue Dips