Pray for Us () is a 2026 drama film directed by Daniel Monzón and co-written by Jorge Guerricaechevarría starring Zoe Bonafonte and Manuela Calle. It is a Spanish-French co-production.
It premiered at the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival on 21 September 2026 ahead of its 6 November 2026 theatrical release in Spain by Elastica.
Plot In 1974 Barcelona, 19-year-old Ana is put by her well-off family into the grip of the Francoist Women's Protection Board. She is taken to a nun-run reformatory institution in Madrid, where she faces an oppressive disciplinary system. She bonds with lively Sole, a small town girl in a similar plight.
Cast
Production The screenplay was written by Daniel Monzón along with recurring collaborator Jorge Guerricaechevarría. Ruega por nosotras is a Spanish-French co-production by Arcadia Motion Pictures alongside Noodles Production, with the participation of RTVE, Netflix, and 3Cat and funding from ICAA, boasting a €5.1 million budget. Shooting locations in Bizkaia (Orduña, ) stood in for 1970s Madrid. Shooting locations also included Barcelona. On 29 July 2025, the main cast was disclosed, including leading actresses Zoe Bonafonte and newcomer Manuela Calle together with Carla Domínguez, María Gandiaga, Shiara Fernández, Adelfa Calvo, Malena Gutiérrez, María Cerezuela, Belén Cruz, Xavi Saez, and Bea Segura. Shooting wrapped on 27 August 2025.
Release The film was presented at the 74th San Sebastián International Film Festival on 21 September 2026. Elastica will handle theatrical distribution in Spain, scheduled for 6 November 2026. Film Factory Entertainment acquired international sales on the film.
Reception Alfonso Rivera of Cineuropa wrote that the film "slots nicely into a subgenre that fuses the prison film" "with tales of attempts to break out of those cages".
Laura Pérez of Fotogramas rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, citing "its seamless screenplay and the performances of its two leads" as the best things about the film.
See also List of Spanish films of 2026
References
External links Pray for Us at ICAA's Catálogo de Cinespañol