A new thriller connected to Ibiza is looking for international production partners as its director and screenwriter Samaj Moreno takes the project to the San Sebastián Film Festival's industry environment.

El efecto Doppler is planned as a feature film for 2027 and is currently in pre-production. Moreno has travelled to San Sebastián to present the project, meet potential producers and explore additional financing for the film.

The project is being produced by La Moyano Films, with Looking For listed as a co-production partner. Spain's Ministry of Culture currently classifies the film as a drama and psychological thriller, with an estimated running time of 85 minutes.

A thriller being developed in Ibiza

El efecto Doppler is an adaptation of Jesús Ferrero's 1990 novel of the same name.

Moreno, a filmmaker and writer based in Ibiza, is directing the adaptation and has written the final screenplay together with Ferrero following several revisions.

The project is expected to bring the story into an Ibiza setting, with Moreno's version intending to portray an intimate and everyday side of the island rather than relying on familiar tourist imagery.

Planned locations mentioned in the current development include areas such as ses Figueretes and a traditional Ibicencan country house.

A story beginning with a family tragedy

The film opens with Rosaura celebrating her fortieth birthday.

During the gathering, she takes a gun and shoots herself in front of the other guests.

Her cousin Darío Dolfos becomes obsessed with reconstructing the events and circumstances that preceded the tragedy.

As he investigates, the story explores Rosaura's personal crisis, relationships, family tensions and the changing dynamic between her and her teenage daughter.

Spain's Ministry of Culture currently describes the project as a psychological thriller and lists the screenplay as written by Jesús Ferrero.

From a 1990 novel to a new film

Ferrero's El efecto Doppler was originally published in 1990 after winning the International Plaza & Janés Novel Prize.

The original novel is set in Paris and follows Darío Dolfos, a student who becomes involved with his older cousin Rosaura.

Moreno's film adaptation is being developed as an Ibiza-based production, making the island a more central part of the cinematic world being created for the screen.

That distinction is important: Ibiza is associated with the planned film adaptation, while the original literary story was set in Paris.

Seeking international partners in San Sebastián

Moreno's trip to San Sebastián comes while the city is hosting the 74th edition of its international film festival.

During the visit, he has been using the festival's industry environment to meet producers and discuss possible financing and co-production opportunities.

One of those meetings was with Brazilian producer Rodrigo Teixeira, who has production credits on films including Call Me by Your Name and Frances Ha.

Moreno told local media that the meeting could lead to further discussions about a possible involvement in El efecto Doppler, but no agreement has been announced.

Teixeira was one of the producers of Call Me by Your Name, as confirmed by Sony Pictures Classics, and was also involved in Frances Ha.

Additional production interest

The project is also understood to have attracted interest from a French production company and a Basque production company.

At this stage, those conversations remain exploratory.

La Moyano Films, led by Azahara Moyano, is currently handling the production side of the project while financing and additional producers are being sought.

The Ministry of Culture currently lists La Moyano Films as the production company and Looking For as a co-production partner.

Filming planned for March 2027

The current plan is for filming to begin in March 2027.

The project remains in pre-production, meaning financing, production arrangements and other elements are still being developed before cameras can roll.

The Ministry of Culture currently lists 2027 as the expected completion year and describes the project as “in pre-production.”

The cast currently attached to the project

The current Ministry of Culture project dossier lists Iñigo Gastesi, Alain Hernández, Aida Flix, Enzo Oliver and Azahara Moyano among the cast.

Azahara Moyano is also identified as the film's producer through La Moyano Films.

Because the project is still in pre-production, further casting or production changes remain possible before filming begins.

San Sebastián as an industry meeting point

Moreno's visit comes during one of the major industry periods surrounding the San Sebastián festival.

The festival's 2026 Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum took place from September 21 to 23 and brought 15 selected projects into an environment designed to connect filmmakers and producers with potential international partners.

El efecto Doppler is not listed among those 15 selected projects.

Moreno is instead using the wider festival environment to hold meetings and present his project directly to potential partners.

Ibiza as more than a postcard

One of the central ideas behind Moreno's version is to present a side of Ibiza different from its familiar international tourist image.

The planned locations include ordinary neighbourhoods and rural spaces, with the island itself intended to become part of the film's atmosphere and story.

For an Ibiza-based filmmaker, the production also offers an opportunity to place the island within a psychological drama rather than using it simply as a holiday backdrop.

From development to production

For now, El efecto Doppler remains a film in development.

The next steps include securing the remaining financing and production partners, finalising preparations and moving towards the planned March 2027 shoot.

The project already has a production company, co-production arrangements and an attached cast, while conversations in San Sebastián are aimed at strengthening the production before filming begins.

If those plans progress, Ibiza could soon provide the setting for a new Spanish psychological thriller based on one of Jesús Ferrero's best-known novels.