Sleepless City


Sleepless City is a 2025 drama film directed by Guillermo Galoe, and co-written by Galoe and Víctor Alonso-Berbel. A Spanish and French co-production, it was shot and set in the Cañada Real shanty town near Madrid.
The film had its world premiere in the Critics' Week section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 19 May 2025 ahead of its theatrical release in France by Pan Distribution on 3 September 2025 and in Spain on 21 November 2025 by BTeam Pictures.

Plot

The life of 13-year-old Toni is shattered after his family is given an eviction notice and he learns that his friend Said is leaving La Cañada for good.

Cast

Sleepless City was produced by Sintagma Films, Buenapinta Media, Encanta Films, Bteam Prods, Les Valseurs, and Les Films des Tournelles. Rui Poças worked as cinematographer. The film was shot in Cañada Real.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Critics' Week section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on 19 May 2025. It was also programmed at the 73rd San Sebastián International Film Festival and the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival.
Distributed by Pan Distribution, it was released theatrically in France on 3 September 2025.
Sleepless City received a screening in an outdoor cinema set up in the sector 6 of the Cañada Real on 11 October 2025. BTeam Pictures is set to release the film in Spanish theatres on 21 November 2025.

Reception

Jonathan Holland of ScreenDaily described the film as "vibrant, melancholy and immersive", otherwise carrying "a universal message about loss, resilience and hope that deserves to open eyes further affield".
Adam Solomons of IndieWire gave Sleepless City a 'B+' rating deeming it to be "an excellent film" while also declaring Toni and Chule's relationship "a provocative insight into an ideological schism at the heart of a community".
The film won the Golden Punt Jury award at the 2025 Cambridge Film Festival.

Accolades