The exhibition on film costume design by the Bilbao-based designer will be on display at the Abando Municipal Centre until May 29.

“Zinemako jantziak / Dressing Films” is part of the parallel activities of the Bilbao Fantasy Film Festival, which also include literary presentations, other exhibitions, and professional events. 

The Bilbao Fantasy Film Festival – FANT, organized by the Bilbao City Council, yesterday launched its new section OUT OF FRAME, dedicated to everything that, while not in the spotlight, sustains the industry. The section opened with the exhibition “Zinemako jantziak / Dressing Films” by award-winning Bilbao costume designer Nerea Torrijos. 

Located at the Abando Municipal Centre, the exhibition will run from May 4 to 29 and features a selection of original pieces used in films she has worked on. Visiting hours are from 16:30 to 20:30, and admission is free until full capacity is reached.

Yesterday’s opening was attended by Iñaki López de Aguileta, Director of Culture of the Bilbao City Council; Amaia Domingo, Director of FANT; Nerea Torrijos herself; and figures from Bilbao’s cultural and film scene. During the event, the designer gave a guided tour to attendees.

Visitors to the exhibition will be able to explore how, through a selection of original pieces, the designer uses fabrics, textures, and color to build cinematic worlds, always taking into account the traits and personality of each character when choosing their wardrobe.

Nerea Torrijos’ work has been recognized with several awards, including a Goya Award for Best Costume Design for Akelarre (2020, directed by Pablo Agüero), and a FilmQuest award for Errementari (2017, directed by Paul Urkijo). She was also nominated for the Goya Awards in 2023 for Irati (directed by Paul Urkijo) and in 2024 for 20,000 Species of Bees (directed by Estibaliz Urresola Solaguren). Her designs also appear in Gaua, a film by Paul Urkijo that was screened last November in the PreFANT program.

“ZINEMAKO JANTZIAK / DRESSING FILMS”

In cinema, what is not immediately visible often sustains the illusion. There is a silent language that needs no script to explain who a character is, what era they belong to, or which deities they fear. That language is costume design. However, costume design has historically been part of that “invisible work”: a precise technical and artistic craft that, despite being the very fabric of visual storytelling, is often relegated to the background in the collective imagination.

This exhibition aims to tear away that veil of invisibility—not only from a profession that gives soul to characters, but also from women working in film. Women who, like Nerea Torrijos, lead teams, research historical periods, and create entire worlds from behind the spotlight.

The exhibition invites visitors to closely observe the texture of dreams—and perhaps nightmares. It includes pieces from Irati, fabrics and ornaments where historical rigor merges with mythology and nature, creating designs that seem to emerge from the earth itself and Basque folklore. The costumes used in Gaua capture in their fibers and seams the mystery and darkness that shape the film’s atmosphere. Her work on costume design for posters of the San Sebastián Horror and Fantasy Film Festival goes beyond pure promotion, turning the image into a space where body, fabric, and imagination interact to suggest stories that exist between the visible and the hidden.

Nerea Torrijos’ work goes far beyond designing garments. Her process begins with deep immersion: she researches the historical period, weaving and dyeing techniques, colors, and fibers originally used, sometimes even reproducing traditional methods to create each piece. The Bilbao designer combines this technical and historical research with the vision of the film’s director, achieving a perspective that is subtly conveyed through the choice of fabrics and accessories. It is an art that penetrates the audience’s mind almost unconsciously thanks to her impeccable craftsmanship.

Each dress, accessory, and costume on display is not just a garment; it is a storytelling tool, a cultural artifact, and proof of the female talent shaping contemporary cinema. When we stop to look at them, they are no longer invisible—they become protagonists.

MORE EVENTS IN “OUT OF FRAME”

Alongside Nerea Torrijos’ exhibition, OUT OF FRAME also includes the exhibition “Batman, Guardian of the Night”, at the Begoña Municipal Centre from May 8 to 30. The Abando Municipal Centre will also host the presentation of the book “Rowan March: The Consensus” by mobility journalist Jaime Novo on May 7 at 19:00.

Two days later, the Bastida Hall at Azkuna Zentroa will host the presentation of the book “My 100 Years of Cinema. Memoirs” by actor Jack Taylor. The event, starting at 12:30, will feature Jack Taylor himself, Bego del Teso, and Víctor Matellano.

On May 10, at 12:30 in the same venue at Azkuna Zentroa, the book “Revelations” by Edith del Campo, Kate Lynnon, and Madame Eloise will be presented.

During the Festival, the FANTESKOLA program will screen the films “Maya, Give Me a Title”, “Oink Oink”, and “Hello Frida”. Aimed at children aged 5 to 12, they will be shown at Sala BBK from May 11 to 14 at 11:00.

SUPPORT FOR WOMEN CREATORS

The Bilbao Fantasy Film Festival also supports film works created by women. One example is its collaboration with GIDOI—the Basque Screenwriters Association—which has launched the third edition of its Short Film Screenplay Competition for Women Authors, focused exclusively on fantasy and horror scripts, in line with FANT. The Festival’s collaboration with this annual initiative, which aims to give voice to female talent in audiovisual media and is also supported by (H)emen, takes shape through the inclusion of an Industry Day titled “Women Screenwriters, Cinema That Moves Forward.”

This session will feature filmmaker Tamara García Iglesias, musical artist Amancay Gaztañaga, and Aránzazu Calleja (FANT Honorary Award 2026), and will focus on creation and the role of women in the evolution of the sector. This will be followed by a pitch session, where the six finalists of the III Short Film Screenplay Competition for Women Authors will present their projects to industry professionals. This event, part of the new OUT OF FRAME section, will take place tomorrow, May 6, at the Dome Hall of the Campos Elíseos Theatre from 18:00, with free admission until full capacity is reached.

The winners of the competition organized by GIDOI will be announced during FANT Bilbao, at the closing gala on May 16 at 19:30 at Sala BBK.