The Dinner

Australian & New Zealand Premiere

“An entertaining, intelligent and funny film that is both critical and thought-provoking, daring to satirise a delicate historical moment that is still difficult to talk about.” – YellowBreak

Two weeks after the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, Lieutenant Medina bursts into Madrid’s grand Hotel Palace with an order from General Franco. There is to be a celebratory banquet dinner held there that very night, hosted by Franco for his prestigious guests. But the hotel had been converted to a hospital during the war, and all the hotel’s chefs are in jail for being leftists. The young lieutenant, the meticulous head waiter and a group of prisoners (pardoned from jail for the occasion), must work together to deliver a sumptuous banquet in record time. All seems to be going smoothly…until the chefs use the opportunity to plan their escape.

This outrageous and fast-paced black comedy is based on a play by the award-winning Spanish playwright José Luis Alonso de Santos. With witty dialogue, an impeccable ensemble cast and striking period details, The Dinner dishes up a biting political satire that blends pathos, action and comedy to delicious effect.

Festivals & Awards

Goya Awards 2026 – Winner, Best Screenplay
Goya Awards 2026 – Winner, Best Costume Design
San Sebastián International Film Festival 2025 – Official Selection
Lola Gaos Awards – Winner, Best Support Actress, Best Production Design