This year, FANTAELX pays tribute to the origins of the fantastic genre with a poster created by artist and professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Miguel Hernández University (UMH) Elisa Martínez. The image is inspired by the animated film The Adventures of Prince Achmed, by Lotte Reiniger, which celebrates its centenary. Festival entry is free, subject to capacity.
The Festival is organized by the Association for the Development and Promotion of the Fantastic Genre “Unicornio Negro”, the Research Center in Arts (CíA), and the MASSIVA Research Group, both from the UMH. The program will include the screening of Reiniger's work accompanied by live music from groups Miclono and Los Turanga, reviving the artisanal dimension and spectacle spirit of early silent film screenings. This event will open the festival.
Within the Official Section, there will be short film screenings and provincial and regional premieres of films such as Gummy, by Javi Prada; Ghost in the Cell, by Joko Anwar; 5 minutos más, by Javier Ruiz Caldera; Upiro, by Óscar Martín; The End of It, by María Martínez Bayona; Crawlers, by Ángel Gómez Hernández; La muerte de Drácula, by Burnin’ Percebes; Nightborn, by Hanna Bergholm; or Yesterday Island, by Sam Voutas.
The program will also feature the ninth edition of the International Congress on Fantastic Genre, Audiovisuals, and New Technologies, as well as various special activities such as a practical characterization workshop led by Tono Garzón, a special effects technician with experience in films like Exodus or Terminator: Dark Fate. Organized with the Alicante Institute of Culture Juan Gil-Albert, the workshop will demonstrate techniques for creating and applying prosthetics on a professional actor. The Transversal Section, dedicated to diversity and LGBTQ+ issues in fantastic cinema, will also return.
On Saturday, November 21st, at 6:00 PM, there will be a meeting with Berto Romero, who will receive the festival's Honorary Award this year. His career as a comedian, screenwriter, actor, and director has allowed him to bring a unique perspective to the fantastic genre. His participation in films like Spanish Movie or series like Zombis, as well as his creation of El otro lado, solidifies his voice in contemporary Spanish fantastic cinema.
Later, at 7:30 PM, the Closing Ceremony will take place, presented by actress and director Silvia Conesa. During the ceremony, the Honorary Award will be presented to Berto Romero, and the complete list of winners will be revealed, along with screenings of several awarded works.
FANTAELX is supported by the Department of Culture of the Elche City Council, Visit Elche, the Valencian Institute of Culture (IVC), the Provincial Council of Alicante, the Vice-Rectorate for Culture, Equality, and Diversity of the UMH, the Alicante Institute of Culture Juan Gil-Albert, and the shopping center L’Aljub.
