Gaua is a 2025 historical fantasy drama film directed by . Shot in Basque, it stars Yune Nogueiras along with Elena Irureta, Ane Gabarain, and Iñake Irastorza.
The film premiered at the 58th Sitges Film Festival on 11 October 2025 ahead of its Spanish theatrical release by Filmax on 14 November 2025.
Set in the 17th century against the backdrop of witch hunting, the plot follows a woman (Kattalin) who ventures into the forest at night and comes across three storytelling women.
The project was publicly presented at the 57th Sitges Film Festival during the 'Sitges FanPitch' event on 7 October 2024. Produced by Irusoin, Ikusgarri Films, Gaua AIE, Vilaüt Films, and 34T, the film is the first collaboration of Urkijo with Basque outfit Irusoin. It also had the backing from EiTB, Prime Video, RTVE, ICAA, the Basque Government, Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz, and the . Filming was reported to have started on 20 January 2025. On 27 January 2025, cast members Yune Nogueiras (lead), Ane Gabarain, Elena Irureta, Iñake Irastorza, Xabi Jabato, Erika Olaizola, Manex Fuchs, and Elena Uriz were revealed. It is fully shot in Basque.
Urkijo handled influences that included the ethnographic research of Basque priest Jose Miguel Barandiaran, Mike Mignola's work, Goya's Black Paintings and Neil Jordan's The Company of Wolves.
Gaua had its world premiere at the 58th Sitges Film Festival on 11 October 2025. Filmax handled theatrical distribution in Spain as well as international sales. The film is scheduled to be released theatrically in Spain on 14 November 2025. For its international premiere, Gaua made it to the programme of the 55th International Film Festival Rotterdam.
Javier Ocaña of El PaÃÂs lamented that "subtlety is invisible in Gaua, with one-dimensional characters, good guys and bad guys from conventional fantasy films", with the film finding its way by leaving behind the "discursive thickness of its first half with a second part that is much more spectacular and freer in its use of special effects".
Miguel ÃÂngel Romero of CinemanÃÂa rated Gaua 4 out of 5 stars, describing it as a "a film that that goes from less to more, reaching its climax thanks to Kattalin, played by the outstanding Yune Nogueiras, and a coven worthy of Elena Irureta, Ane Gabarain, and Iñake Irastorza".
Carmen L. Lobo of La Razón rated the film 4 out of 5 stars, highlighting "the terrifying, so well-shot and orgiastic coven of the final stretch" as the best thing about the film.