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 at the Critics' Week section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, on 19 May 2025.
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.
Production.
"Sleepless City" was produced by Sintagma Films (Marina García López), Buenapinta Media (Marisa Fernández Armenteros), Encanta Films (Manuel Calvo), Bteam Prods (Álex Lafuente), Les Valseurs (Damien Megherbi and Justin Pechberty), and Les Films des Tournelles (Anne-Dominique Toussaint). 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. BTeam Pictures is expected to distribute the film in Spain in 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".