San Cristóbal de La Laguna, May 7, 2025 – The Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival City of Laguna Isla Calavera announces the call for the submission of feature and short films for its competitive and panorama sections, for its ninth edition, which will take place from November 7 to 16, 2025 in Tenerife.
This year, Isla Calavera celebrates its recent incorporation into the prestigious Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF), the most relevant network of fantastic film festivals in Europe. Thanks to this distinction, the Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival will include for the first time the award category of the Silver Méliès Award for Best European Short Film. The winning film will directly enter the competition for the Méliès d’Or, the highest continental recognition of the genre.
Submissions open to all sections
The call is aimed at fantastic genre works (horror, science fiction, fantasy, thriller, black comedy…), both animated and live-action, in fiction or documentary format, produced in any country and any language. Works can be submitted through the platforms Festhome and Filmfreeway, or by sending an email to programacion@festivalislacalavera.com with the subject “2025 CONTEST” and a private viewing link. The deadline is October 1, 2025.
New section: ‘Made in the Canary Islands’
As an prominent novelty, Isla Calavera also inaugurates the non-competitive section ‘Made in the Canary Islands’, aimed at feature and short films produced between 2022 and 2025 that present a special link with the Canary Islands. Works shot totally or partially in the Canary Islands, directed, written, or starring Canary Island residents, produced by companies based in the islands, or with at least 50% of the crew residing in the Canary Islands are eligible. This section seeks to give visibility and value to the talent and cinematographic creativity of the region.
The Isla Calavera Festival was born in 2017 and in its first eight years of trajectory has achieved an important international impact and is considered one of the most relevant fantastic film meetings in the country, thanks to the sponsorship by La Laguna City Council and its Department of Culture, Promotour, Turismo de las Islas Canarias, Islas Canarias Latitud de Vida, Cabildo de Tenerife, Gobierno de Canarias, among other public and private entities.
Awards and recognitions
In addition to the Silver Méliès, the festival includes jury and audience awards in its competitive sections, including awards for best feature and short films, best direction and screenplay, best acting, best special effects and best costumes. Details and specific requirements for each section can be found in the festival’s official rules and regulations.
Daniel Fumero and Ramón González Trujillo, co-directors of the festival, emphasize: “The incorporation of the Silver Méliès and the ‘Made in the Canary Islands’ sections are significant steps that corroborate our commitment to the international repercussion of fantastic cinema and the support for local talent”.
