Bilbao Fantasy Film Festival (FANT), organized by the Bilbao City Council, presents the preview screening today, Tuesday, February 17, of "Aves de Corral," the first feature film by director Antonio Vicent.

The film by the Madrid-based filmmaker was presented earlier this morning at a press conference attended by Iñaki Lopez de Aguileta, Director for Culture and Governance; Leire Artigue, programmer for FANT; Antonio Vicent, the film's director; and actor Diego Anido.

In his remarks, Iñaki Lopez de Aguileta thanked Antonio Vicent for choosing Bilbao and the Festival for the public premiere. “One of FANT's objectives is to showcase a variety of subgenres and styles within the main focus of fantasy, which is its defining characteristic. In fact, we are talking about a well-established festival after 32 editions, recognized for the quality and diversity of its films.” He also noted that “we are committed to promoting the film industry, local production, and projects made in Basque.”

SCREENING OF “BIRDS OF THE POULTRY” BY ANTONIO VICENT

“Birds of the Poultry” is the third preview screening in the PreFANT series, following “Decorado” (in October) and “Gaua” (in November). The debut feature film by director Antonio Vicent will be screened today, Tuesday, February 17th, at 7:30 pm in Room 1 of the Golem Alhóndiga cinemas. The Madrid-born director and one of the lead actors, Diego Anido, will be present, along with other members of the team.

Admission is free until capacity is reached. Tickets must be collected at the cinema box office starting at 4:30 pm today. Priority will be given to those attending the preview with FANT-related merchandise (T-shirts, bags, programs, etc.).

“BIRDS OF THE POULTRY”

Spain, 2026

Directed and written by: Antonio Vicent

Cast: Chechu Salgado, Diego Anido, Olivia Baglivi, José Luis García-Pérez, Roberto Enríquez, Antonio Durán (Morris), Pedro Casablanc

Trailer

A peculiar criminal gang plans to assassinate a CNI (National Intelligence Center) leader, but a couple's weekend getaway gets in the way.

The film is presented as a novel offering in the Spanish film industry, influenced by classic Anglo-Saxon cinema. According to its director, Antonio Vicent: “In this story, nobody is in control. No matter what the plan is, something is going to go wrong. And that applies to both the characters and, in a way, to the viewer. I made this film always thinking about the audience, about the hour and a half they give me to entertain them when they sit down to watch it. Ultimately, the audience is the reason for the existence of the big screen.”

ANTONIO VICENT

The Madrid-born director and screenwriter (1997) studied Economics at the Complutense University of Madrid, completed his training in Dublin – where he discovered his passion for writing – and in New York, where he combined a master's degree with screenwriting courses. It was during this period that he began writing his first screenplays and started his career as a filmmaker. A lifelong film enthusiast, he has directed short films such as “July 29th” (Finalist for Best Young Director at the 2024 Antonio Ferrandis Film Festival) and directed his first feature film, “Poultry,” a thriller with comedic elements, which will have its pre-premiere at FANT Bilbao before its theatrical release on March 6.

DIEGO ANIDO

A Galician actor and playwright (1976), he has developed his career primarily in theater and film, although he has also appeared in television series. A founding member of the "Agrupación Sr. Serrano" company, which won the Silver Lion at the 2015 Venice Biennale, he has participated in numerous theatrical productions as both an actor and director. In film, he has been part of the cast of many short and feature films, including "Pedro y el Capitán," "Trote," "Ons," "Malencolía," "As Bestas," "Honeymoon," "O Corno do Centeo," "Tratamos demasiado bien a las mujeres," and "La Infiltrada," among others.

Winner of the Mestre Mateo Award for Best Supporting Actor, his role in Rodrigo Sorogoyen's award-winning "As Bestas" earned him nominations for Best Supporting Actor at both the Feroz and Goya Awards, and he won the Revelation Actor Award at the Actors Union Awards.

SUPPORT FOR BASQUE-LANGUAGE PRODUCTION

Promoting audiovisual creation is one of the objectives of the Fantastic Film Festival, especially works produced in Basque, as outlined in the strategic guidelines of Bilbao's Strategic Culture Plan 2023-2033. Therefore, for the third year, FANT is launching a call for proposals to support the production of a short fantasy film in Basque. The deadline for submissions is Saturday, March 28.

The selected projects will be eligible for a €5,000 prize to help finance the production of a short film. During the Festival, participants will present and defend their projects (a maximum of two projects per participant, each no longer than 20 minutes) in a public session before a specially appointed jury.

FANT 2026

The 32nd edition of FANT Bilbao will take place from May 8 to 16. The Festival recently unveiled the poster for its 2026 edition, featuring Batman. The image highlights one of the most iconic characters in fantasy cinema and also pays tribute to him, as it marks the 60th anniversary of the first Batman film on television.

The FANT 2026 poster, with its aesthetic reminiscent of the Dark Knight's DC Comics origins, depicts him as just another moviegoer, enjoying his city—which, instead of Gotham City, is the Bilbao skyline.