VIDEO March 5 highlights of fantastic films at Fantasporto
Sala 1
15.15
SR/OE
Lopsided / Tigkiliwi - Tara IIlenberger- 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.
17.15
CF
Skeleton Girls, a Kidnapped Society Richard Eames- 107’ (Australia) - INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE - punk thriller, futurista
Anna lives almost enslaved by her boyfriend who locks her up at home. To escape, Anna kills him and quickly finds herself in the city's underworld,
made up of an excess of messages, abusive media, property speculation, violence, drugs and people on the margins of society. To survive, everyone
has to learn to deal with the Skeleton Girls, a group of avengers. This ‘punk thriller’ is Richard Eames' first film, after an extensive career as a visual
effects specialist, and reflects the director's imaginative character. It was selected for the Perth Film Festival.
19.30
CF
Endless Land –Vassilis Mazomenos – 80 ́(Gre) - drama
A poetic and visually striking elegy on memory, exile and generational cycles, set in a remote village of Epirus Northern Greece, delivering a moving story
about loss and continuity, rooted in the timeless rhythms of rural life and migration. Letting the images speak for themselves, sometimes poignantly, this is
one of the most beautiful examples of modern European cinema.
The director is a member of the European Film Academy and screened his first film at Fantasporto, “Money, a Mythology of Darkness” (2000), as well as
many of the eleven he directed afterwards, including the most recent “Exile” (2019) and “Purgatory” (2020). He has now won 36 international awards and
is one of the best-known voices in Greek cinema. He received the Fantasporto Career Award in 2001.
21.30
CF
Luger - Bruno Martín- 96’ (Esp) - Thriller, terror
A builder hires two thugs to recover his stolen car. When he finally gets it back, he finds a small safe in the trunk. But where is the bag of money that
was in there before? Inside the safe is a weapon from World War II, a Luger. From then on, it's pure chaos, oscillating between comedy and tragedy
with the various gangs, at a breakneck pace provided by a very well-written story, violent but not without tenderness, reminiscent of ‘Pulp Fiction’.
An excellent direction by Bruno Martín and beautiful performances by the protagonists David Sainz and Mario Mayo. Bruno Martín is a director with
extensive experience in television series. He directed the short film ‘I'll Crush You All’ (2024), which won awards at the Sitges and Toledo Film
Festivals. “Luger” is his second feature film, the first being ‘Herederos da la Revolución’ in 2010.
Sala 2
1
5.00
CM FANTASTICAS 3
In - Van Poynton – 3’ (Irl)
The lens of a camera passes through two women standing opposite each other and focuses on another, very beautiful woman who seems oblivious
to everything around her. But appearances can hide horror. Award-winning director and screenwriter Van Poynton is known for “Where Monsters
Go” (2009) and “The Late Men” (2013).
Big Bang- Han Zhu 19’26 (China)
The director’s graduation film from the London Film School is a surreal comedy that tells the story of a weary police officer in a chaotic world where
incompetence reigns, confronting superiors who are never around, bomb threats, bureaucratic structures and strange encounters, in an atmosphere
of general madness.
Watch Me Burn Sofia Spotti- 20’ (Reino Unido)
Rue is a deaf teenager who moves with her family to a village surrounded by forest after a serious accident. There she meets three other young girls
who integrate her into their group through cruel games. Rue gives in, with no way out. The director began filming in 2021 with “Fango”. This is her
sixth short film. Selected for the Frightfest Festival in London.
Le Cocon - Aurélien Coquery, Léa Kermanach, Soline Maugin, Abel Tixador, Jean Baounon, Romane Selter-Fiette 7’ 12’’ (Fra)
Young Aurore returns home to find lost comfort. Her mother awaits her. And amid strings, bows and harps, the girl will fight for her freedom. But she
is not alone. An animation from the Rubika School.
Mucura – Fabiano Barros- 16’ (Brasil)
A woman in a shack that is falling apart. People are entering through the door whom she does not even know. A daughter who appears and
disappears. An atmosphere of disorder and chaos in which the woman struggles. A horror that builds up within those walls. Brazilian cinema at its
best. Fabiano Barros is a theatre and film director, specialising in cultural management.
A Good Death - Kaz PS - 11’13’’ (EUA)
Ten seconds is enough time to get to know someone or to destroy the world. Made with artificial intelligence and based on a true story. Chih Hao
Shen is an award-winning writer-director and multidisciplinary creator, namely he won at the New York Film Awards with his short “Imagine Peace”
(2025). Having directed more than 30 shorts, his films explore the human condition, environmental justice, animal welfare, human rights, and anti-
war themes.
Señuelo- Martha G.Ayerbe – 16’ 25’’ (Esp)
Two men and one of their sons, young Martin, set off into the forest. The main objective is to teach Martin how to hunt. Fear and learning come
together reluctantly. But for the adults, it is all part of the boy’s growing up. However, no one expects what lies ahead. This is the first film by Martha
Ayerbe, who also wrote the screenplay. The film was produced by J. A. Bayona, among others, director of “The Orphanage”, “The Impossible” and
“Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom”. Sitges Film Festival selection.
Total:104’
17.00
PCP - FILMES
Cativos- Luís Alves 92’ (Port)
Love is captivity. This is the premise that guides this film. A man
imprisons a woman in a basement and quotes lines from well-known films to her. He tells her that she is his ex-girlfriend who left him. What follows
is a game of power and seduction that keeps the audience in suspense. Director Luís Alves is known for several short films such as ‘A Cova’ (2011)
and ‘O Caso Coutinho’ (2022), which was screened at Fantasporto in 2023 and won at the Thess International Film Festival, among other awards.
With Ana Varela in a memorable performance and Filipe Amorim in the difficult role of the kidnapper, this is the director's first feature film.
19.00
RETRO Noruega
My Uncle Jens Brwa Vahabpour- 98’ (Nor)
Akam, a Norwegian teacher, enjoys a comfortable life in Oslo until he receives an unexpected visit from his uncle, who has arrived from Iran. Feeling
obliged to take him into his home, he soon realises that his uncle has no intention of leaving. But his uncle’s visit hides more than he thinks. Munich
Film Festival selection.
21.15
CF/OE
The Curse- Kenichi Ugana, 95’ (Jap) - Horror sobrenatural
Reading messages or opening photos on social media can be very dangerous. Young Riko trusts her ex-boyfriend, who lives in Taiwan, to help her
unravel the violent deaths of her friends Shuffen and Airi. But whatever is troubling her, all has to do with violent messages her friends read and a
photo involving a curse. Now she too sees a woman with long hair. Riko and her ex-boyfriend Jiahao go looking for help. One of the most anticipated
horror films of the year, it explores ancient evil myths and combines them with modernity through a story of social media, playing on young people's
curiosity for danger and thrills. From the director of the short film “Visitors”, screened in Fantasporto 2022.
