The sixth edition of the Festival Isla Calavera de Cine Fantástico de Canarias Ciudad de La Laguna opens its doors in a week, with a wide program of premieres and classics that can be seen at Multicines Tenerife, the official venue, between November 18 and 26. The Official Competition Section will include a total of 15 feature films and 19 short films.
In addition to the titles already announced, the feature film competition also includes such eagerly awaited entries as 'Venusthe new film by Jaume Balagueró, the second project of The Fear Collection, the Spanish film label specializing in the horror and suspense genre, produced by Álex de la Iglesia's company and Carolina Bang Pokeepsie Films (Banijay Iberia), and starring Ester Expósito. A story that moves H. P. Lovecraft's 'Dreams in the Witch's House' to an apartment complex in Madrid.
Also of Spanish production, the competition in the official section includes the supernatural terror 'Stoyan', by Roberto Ruiz Céspedes, about loss and the ghosts of the past, starring Tristán Ulloa and Marta Milans. The film is based on the award-winning short film ' Broken Basket ' (2015), by the screenwriter and writer, which starred Belén Rueda.
From Mexico, witchcraft, legends and superstitions come together once again in the horror film 'Mal ojo'.Evil Eye' by screenwriter and director Isaac Ezban; while five other renowned Latino directors are responsible for the segments of the anthology film 'Satanic HispanicsEduardo Sánchez, Alejandro Brugués, Demián Rugna, Mike Méndez and Gigi Saúl Guerrero, with Greg Grunberg ('Star Wars' saga) as the main storyline.
For the strongest stomachs, Skull Island presents one of the sensations of the year: 'Megalomaniac', by Belgian filmmaker Karim Ouelhaj, inspired by the case of the Butcher of Mons, a mysterious serial killer who spread panic in his country in the late 90s. Winner of the Fantasia festival, it dives into the most violent consequences of patriarchy in society.
After its presentation in the official section at Cannes and Sitges, the unique 'Smoking causes coughing' ('Fumer fait tousser'), by the director of 'Jaws', 'The Deerskin Jacket' and 'Rubber' Quentin Dupieux arrives at Isla Calavera. A surreal comedy about five vigilantes known as "Tabac Force" who, while on a spiritual retreat after a fierce fight against a demonic turtle, will have to react to the threat of Lézardin, emperor of evil.
From South Korea comes 'Hunt', the directorial debut of renowned actor Lee Jung-jae, known to the general public for last year's worldwide phenomenon 'The Squid Game'. This fast-paced thriller, starring the director himself and veteran Jung Woo-sung, sets the action in the Korean socio-political context, in which a spy for the North Korean regime infiltrates the neighboring country to obtain information that could lead to a future military invasion.
And for science fiction fans, the selection includes the dystopian 'Vesper', directed by Kristina Buozyte and Bruno Samper, which raises the possible collapse of the Earth's ecosystem.
Other feature films in competition
The program of feature films in competition will be completed by 'La piedad', by Eduardo Casanova, 'Irati', by Paul Urkijo Alijo, 'Viejos', by Raúl Cerezo and Fernando González Gómez, 'The Paradox of Antares', by Luis Tinoco, 'The Lair', by Neil Marshall, 'Huesera', by Michelle Garza Cervera and 'Project Wolf Hunting', by Kim Hong-sun.
