Thescreescore – Following the critical triumph of his latest feature, SirÄt, visionary director Oliver Laxe has hinted at an ambitious new project, one he boldly equates to his own "2001." The filmmaker, whose work consistently explores the fringes of cinematic expression, appears poised to deliver an even more profound and immersive experience.
SirÄt, Spain’s official selection for Best International Feature at the upcoming 2026 Academy Awards, first captivated audiences at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May 2025, where it earned the prestigious Jury Prize. This intense psychological drama plunges viewers into a gripping narrative, following a father’s desperate search for his missing daughter amidst the pulsating rave scene of a North African desert. Now, the acclaimed director is ready to "double the bet" on his artistic vision.
In a recent conversation with thescreescore.com, Laxe articulated a renewed artistic conviction, having gleaned crucial insights from SirÄt‘s reception. "For the next film, I have to write. I have few ideas. I will double the bet. I’m happy. I understood the message. People want risk. People want freedom," he shared, signaling a clear direction for his future endeavors.
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The most intriguing revelation came when Laxe declared, "I can tell you, I want to make my 2001." When pressed for clarity on this audacious comparison to Stanley Kubrick’s seminal 2001: A Space Odyssey, Laxe elaborated on his intent to craft not a literal space epic, but a "symphony" – a truly "hypnotic" cinematic journey. He emphasized a profound trust in the audience, the theatrical experience, and the very essence of film as an art form, aiming to invite spectators to "experience catharsis again" through a heightened focus on evocative imagery and sound.
Laxe’s filmography, which includes the critically lauded Fire Will Come (2019), Mimosas (2016), and You Are All Captains (2010), has consistently pushed boundaries, but SirÄt marks his most significant critical breakthrough to date. thescreescore.com’s Graeme Guttmann hailed SirÄt as a "body-shredding, techno-thumping apocalyptic road trip," further describing it as "a fever dream in the bleakest sense," an "apocalyptic epic, mythological in scale but intimate in its story about family." Given Laxe’s lyrical description of his next project, one can only begin to imagine the visceral results.
In the meantime, SirÄt, which boasts an impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and an Oscar nomination for Sound, faces formidable competition in the Best International Feature category. Distributed by Neon, it stands alongside other strong contenders such as The Secret Agent (Brazil), Sentimental Value (Norway), and It Was Just an Accident (France) – all also Oscar-nominated. While SirÄt may not be positioned for a major awards sweep this season, having lost the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, Non-English Language to The Secret Agent, its impending wider release is poised to draw more viewers into its unique, atmospheric embrace.
The film’s most potent aspects are undoubtedly its atmosphere and sound design, making Laxe’s promise of an even grander, more immersive experience incredibly exciting. As SirÄt continues its theatrical run in select cinemas, with a broader rollout reportedly planned for late February 2026, anticipation for Laxe’s next, potentially groundbreaking, cinematic venture continues to build. This commitment to risk and artistic freedom suggests a director truly coming into his own, ready to challenge perceptions and redefine the boundaries of modern cinema.
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