San Cristóbal de La Laguna, September 29th, 2025.- The Festival de Cine Fantástico de Canarias Ciudad de La Laguna Isla Calavera announces the presentation of two new awards in the framework of its ninth edition, to be held from November 7th to 16th, 2025 in Tenerife: the S. S. Venture Award to the Canarian Talent, which recognizes the career of the actress, screenwriter, director and producer Sara Sálamo from Tenerife, and the Isla Calavera Legend of Fantastic Award to the actress Marian Salgado, an inescapable reference of Spanish fantaterror.
With a brilliant and versatile career in film, television and theater, Sara Sálamo is an exponent of the island's talent with international projection, both in acting and in writing and directing, strengthening with her works the presence of Canarian creativity in the audiovisual industry and in festivals around the world. She has worked in film, television and theater under the direction of international figures such as Asghar Farhadi (Everybody Knows2020) and Pedro Almodóvar (Strange Way of Life2023), and with the founding of Montauk Canarias has given a boost to island production and the creation of new stories from the archipelago. Under this label he has produced works such as the psychological horror short film Yaya (2024) or the documentary En silencio, recently presented at the San Sebastian Film Festival. Her social commitment and her defense of the Canarian identity make her a reference and inspiration for new generations.
In previous editions, the S.S. Venture Award has gone to names such as Juan Carlos Fresnadillo (screenwriter and director), Elio Quiroga (writer and director), Carolina Bang (actress and producer), Jonay Bacallado (illustrator and conceptual artist) and Adrián Guerra (film producer).
Marian Salgado, icon of fantaterror
On the other hand, the festival recognizes with the Isla Calavera Leyenda del Fantástico Award Marian Salgado, icon of Spanish fantaterror. Born in Chile and settled in Spain since the age of 6, the actress is especially remembered for her striking work as the protagonist in emblematic titles of national fantastic cinema such as La endemoniada ( Amando de Ossorio, 1975), which will be screened at the Isla Calavera Festival, 50 years after its theatrical release. Salgado also participated in El extraño amor de los vampiros ( Leon Klimowski, 1976) or ¿Quién puede matar a un niño? ( Narciso Ibáñez Serrador, 1976), and gave voice to Regan in El exorcista ( 1975), a milestone in Spanish dubbing. Her contribution, being one of the most recognized disturbing girls of the big screen, is part of the cultural heritage of the genre and will be honored in this edition.
These awards are in addition to the Isla Calavera Award of Honor, which this year will recognize the extraordinary career of Randal Kleiserlegendary director of cult films such as Grease (1979) and Flight of the Navigator (1986), and creator of classics that marked generations with his artistic sensitivity and narrative talent; and the actress from Aliens Jennette Goldsteinwho will receive another Legend of the Fantastic Award.
The Isla Calavera Festival thus reaffirms its commitment to the celebration and dissemination of fantastic cinema, recognizing local and universal talent and paying tribute to those who have left their mark on the history of the genre.
