VIDEO March 2 highlights of fantastic films at Fantasporto

 Main theatre

15.15
CF
The Dollmaker – José Maria Cicala- 100’ (Argentina) - Horror

In a small town where nothing ever happens, several women disappear. The town's forces search for the culprit. The main suspect is Tomás, who works in a video store and takes care of his mother. He is currently in love with Argentina, a young barmaid. An example of the best Argentine horror cinema, where each character holds multiple mysteries. This is the fourth feature film by director and screenwriter Cicala, known for “Shadow of the Cat” (2021) and “Sola” (2021), winner of the Best Independent Film Award at the Montreal Film Festival.
 

17.30
CF
Lenore- David Ward- 88’ (Australia) - Horror
 

Lenore is a digital influencer who exposes herself on the internet, including her private life and her relationship with her father. A regular and obsessed follower is Max Wren, a director who is, he says, making a documentary. When he is visited by another fan of the influencer, reality becomes blurred. They know that Lenore has disappeared and her followers cannot bear her absence. A film from Australia, based on a theatre play and featuring a remarkable protagonist, Nicholas Jaquinot.

19.15
CF
Crushed- Simon Rumley- 102’ (Reino Unido) - Horror - CENAS EVENTUALMENTE CHOCANTES
 
In the suburban outskirts of Bangkok, a disturbing video of animal cruelty is circulating, eliciting shock and disgust in those that view. The video
punctures the peaceful life of vicar Daniel and his wife May, when it is shown to their young daughter Olivia, shattering her innocence. After her
kitten runs away, an already traumatised Olivia is then kidnapped by Stanley, a desperate opportunist, who plans to sell her into a dark underworld
of exploitation. The director Simon Rumley has won the Sitges Festival with “The Living and the Dead” (2006) and the short “The Handy Man”
(2006). “Crushed” opened in the Edinburgh Festival and was screened in Fright Fest and Sitges.

21.30
CF
The Whisper/ El Sussurro-Gustavo Hernández Ibáñez- 101’(Uruguai/ Arg) - CENAS EVENTUALMENTE CHOCANTES

A mother, Lucia, and her son Adrian flee from an abusive father to an isolated house in the woods. The disappearance of several girls in the area and a cat with a tracking device reveal dangerous neighbours who are part of a criminal network that kidnaps young people to make “snuff movies”. But Lucia also has to deal with the curse that affects her family. Director Gustavo Hernández is known for “The Silent House” (2010), which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival. “El Sussurro” was selected for the 2025 Sitges Film Festival and won Best Film in Mórbido (Mexico) and Rojo Sangre (Argentina) festivals.

Sala 2

15.00
P&P
The Haven
Riccardo Cannella 90’' (Ita) - horror
 
A family, parents and two boys, one of whom is already a teenager, have been living far from civilization on a farm in the middle of the woods for a long time. Outside, a virus is killing even the animals. The father tries to protect them, even from the witch who lives in the woods and from a strange sound that they don't know where it comes from. One day, the son of the deceased farm owner arrives with his two young daughters to claim his property. To survive together, they must accept the rules. Death lurks. And old lies are revealed. Spoken in the ancient Sicilian language, this is Cannella's second feature film after 2022's ‘U Scrusciu du Mari’, an example of Italian independent cinema.

17.00
PCP - FILMES
Paramnésia - A Toca do Lobo e Tiago “Ramon” Santas 78’ (Port) - horror
 
Inês and Duarte, a police officer and an unemployed music teacher, visit a house they want to buy, very modern and spacious but in a remote location. The estate agent surprises them with a very attractive price. The purchase is made, but Inês soon begins to have problems that Duarte is unable to alleviate. Filmed in Viseu and its surroundings, it is a feature film from the same production company that presented “S.O.S” at Fantasporto. Starring Silvia Mitev, Micael de Almeida, Marta Correia, and Rafael Lopes.
 

19.00
RETRO Noruega
Armand Halfdan Ullmann Tondel (Nor)- 118’ - 2024

Selected for the Cannes Film Festival, in the Un Certain Regard section, it tells the story of Armand, a 6-year-old boy accused of crossing the line with
his best friend from primary school. This first film by the director won the Camera D'Or at the Cannes Film Festival and the FIPRESCI Award in 2024.
 

21.15
SR
Lopsided/Tigkiliwi - Tara IIllenberger- 95’ (Filipinas) - drama
 
Tata, a young boy who recently lost his mother, helps his sister Marlin and the entire community which has fallen into poverty, find their way back to
a normal life, especially those rejected by society- such as a woman rumoured to be a witch, a former prostitute, a dwarf, and other lost souls who
simply need dignity. Beautiful portraits of humanity and redemption in the face of evil and adversity. This is the second feature film by Tara
Illenberger, best known for her work as an editor on television series, having already received 11 international awards. In 2008, with ‘Brutus, ang
paglalabay’, she received the Best Asian Film Award.