The Festival de Cine Fantástico de Canarias Isla Calavera presents the complete program of screenings for its fourth edition, which will take place from November 13 to 21 at Multicines Tenerife (C. C. Alcampo, La Laguna), sponsored by the Cabildo de Tenerife, the Government of the Canary Islands, the City Council of San Cristóbal de La Laguna and the Development Society of the City Council of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, among other public and private entities.
The Official Competition Section for Feature Films will consist of 10 productions, two of them of Spanish nationality, while the short films section will include 17 titles. Out of competition, 7 feature films, 3 shorts and several documentaries will be screened.
In addition to the feature films already announced ('The Reckoning' by Neil Marshall, 'Vampus Horror Tales', 'Skin Walker', 'The Owners', 'Unearth', 'Come True' and 'Sea Fever'), the following will be shown for the first time in the Canary Islands: the co-production between Uruguay and Argentina 'Al morir la matinée'; the new film by Kike Maíllo, 'Cosmética del enemigo'; and the American thriller 'Alone', by John Hyams.
Uruguayan filmmaker Maximiliano Contenti will present the horror feature film 'Al morir matinée' in Tenerife. 'Al morir la matinée' (When the matinee dies)a tribute to the slasher subgenre starring psychopathic killers like Jason Vorhees from 'Friday the 13th' or Michael Myers from 'Halloween'. Set in a movie theater on a stormy night in Montevideo, 1992, it narrates the nightmare suffered by the audience attending the last show.
'Cosmética del enemigo' ('A perfect enemy') is the third feature film by Catalan director Kike Maíllo, after 'Eva', with which he won the Goya Award for Best New Director in 2012, and 'Toro'. A co-production between Spain, France and Germany, shot in English, it is based on the best-selling novel by Amélie Nothomb and stars Tomasz Kot, Athena Strates, Marta Nieto and Dominique Pinon. The film tells the story of Jeremiasz Angust, a successful architect who misses his flight because of a mysterious young woman who suddenly approaches him. A relationship will develop between them, which will gradually turn into something sinister and criminal.
Another killer is on the loose in the thriller 'Alone' by John Hyams (creator of the 'Black Summer' series and director of such titles as 'Universal Soldier: Judgment Day' and 'The Eyes of the Dragon' with Jean-Claude Van Damme), in which a recently widowed traveler is kidnapped by a stranger. When she manages to escape, she is forced to battle the elements of nature as her pursuer closes in.
Classics
On the other hand, as part of the classics program, titles such as 'Desafío total', '[REC]3: Génesis' and 'No matarás... al vecino' (Thou shalt not kill... thy neighbor) will be remembered.
Paul Verhoeven's adaptation of the Philip K. Dick novel starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone and Michael Ironside celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. In 'Total Defiance'after undergoing a virtual memory implant, Douglas Quaid's simple, routine life becomes a nightmare in which it is impossible to distinguish what is real and what is not.
On the occasion of the tribute to Paco Plaza, who will receive this year one of the Isla Calavera de Honor awards in recognition of his career and his outstanding contribution to the fantastic, will be screened his film '.[REC]3: Genesis' (2012), a prequel to the legendary Spanish horror saga that surprised audiences in 2007 with a first installment made with a low budget but a lot of talent and became a great success with both audiences and critics.
On the other hand, the Festival Isla Calavera will offer the screening of 'Thou Shalt Not Kill... the Neighbor', a black comedy directed by Joe Dante and starring Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher and Corey Feldman. Aimed at family audiences, this session comes from Reel One Entertainment as a preview of the release of this title on Blu-Ray in the Spanish market.
These titles join the already announced classics: 'Friday the 13th, Part III', which can be enjoyed in 3D; 'A Million Years Ago' and 'The Frenchman's Orchard'.
Documentary section
In the documentary section, you will be able to see 'Deodato Holocaust', which breaks down the behind-the-scenes and ins and outs of one of the most controversial horror films in history, 'Cannibal Holocaust', and its controversial director, Italian Ruggero Deodato.
In addition, a selection of making of some of the most memorable creations of the factory created by the famous Stan Winston, responsible for creatures of the collective imagination as the physical dinosaurs of 'Jurassic Park', the aliens of 'Predator' or the androids of 'Terminator' will be screened.
On the other hand, the Festival's Closing Gala, to be held on Saturday, November 21, will feature the screening of the documentary short film 'La dama del Fantaterror', by Diego López, a work that addresses the importance of the German actress Helga Liné in the fantastic and horror genre developed in Spain during the 60s and 70s of the twentieth century.
Panorama
The Closing Gala will be followed by the screening of the Venezuelan horror film 'Infection', which will close the program of the 2020 edition of the Festival. In the feature film directed by Flavio Pedota, a strange population contagion takes place in the South American country. It spreads rapidly and the infected, who run with great skill, develop a predilection for devouring human flesh.
The complete program, including screenings and parallel activities, is available on the Festival's website and on its social networks.
About the Festival de Cine Fantástico de Canarias Isla Calavera (Skull Island Fantastic Film Festival of the Canary Islands)
This year, the Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival Isla Calavera adapts its format to the current situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, complying with all safety and health measures to offer attendees a safe cultural event. Organized by the Asociación Cultural Charlas de Cine, the Asociación Cultural Isla Calavera, Multicines Tenerife and the specialized publication TumbaAbierta.com, it is directed by Ramón González Trujillo and Daniel Fumero.
The fourth edition of the Festival Isla Calavera is sponsored by the Cabildo de Tenerife, the Government of the Canary Islands, Canarias Cultura en Red, the Sociedad de Desarrollo del Ayuntamiento de Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Concejalía de Cultura del Ayuntamiento de La Laguna, Tenerife Film Commission and Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey. Coca-Cola acts as the official beverage of the event, which also counts with the collaboration of the Stan Winston School of Character Arts, the University of La Laguna, Fly Luxury, Reel One Entertainment, Juan Antonio Ribas Subtítulos y Ediciones Digitales, Canary Pictures Vehicles, Play Medusa, Applehead Team, Blackout Films, TuBillete.com, Mercado Nuestra Señora de África, Bokanka, Audi Canarias and As Publicidad. Fundación Diario de Avisos, Planet Horror, Televisión Canaria and FlixOlé are media partners.
