Following the event, “The Tree House” by Luis Calderón and the ten Basque short films competing in FANT LABURREAN – EUSKAL FILMAK within the Official Section were screened.

The Fantasy Film Festival – FANT, organized by Bilbao City Council, launched its 32nd edition with an opening gala held yesterday evening at the Campos Elíseos Theatre. The event was attended by Gonzalo Olabarria, Councilor for Culture and Governance; Leixuri Arrizabalaga, Provincial Deputy for Basque Language, Culture and Sport of the Provincial Council of Bizkaia; Amaia Domingo, Director of FANT; Bilbao-born composer Aránzazu Calleja; directors Eugenio Mira and Luis Calderón; actresses Sandra Escacena and María Rivera; actor Claudio Portalo; members of the Municipal Corporation; as well as a broad representation of the city’s social and cultural life. During the gala, this year’s FANT Honorary Award was presented to Aránzazu Calleja, while director Eugenio Mira received the Fantasy Star Award.

Aránzazu Calleja has enjoyed an extensive career in cinema. Her work includes films such as “The Platform”, “Lullaby”, “Marco”, “Irati”, and “Coven”. For the latter, she received the Goya and Platino awards for Best Original Score alongside Maite Arroitajauregi. Her most recent projects include the score for “Los Aitas” by Borja Cobeaga; “Maspalomas” by Jose Mari Goenaga and Aitor Arregi, nominated for the Goya and Feroz Awards for Best Original Score; and “Gaua” by Paul Urkijo Alija, composed in collaboration with Maite Arroitajauregi. She is currently working on the soundtrack for “Salitre”, the debut feature by Bilbao-born director Norma Vila.

The first short film by director, musician, and writer Eugenio Mira, “Fade” (2000), caught the attention of Guillermo del Toro, who supported his career from the very beginning. His first feature film, “The Birthday” (2004) — which will be screened during the Festival — has become a cult classic over the years. He later directed “Agnosia” (2010) and “Grand Piano” (2013). In 2022, Mira directed the entire season of the HBO Max series “¡GARCIA!”.

The audience enjoyed the screening of “The Tree House”, directed by Luis Calderón, followed by the ten Basque short films competing in FANT LABURREAN – EUSKAL FILMAK within the Official Section.