The Bilbao Fantasy Film Festival – FANT, organized by Bilbao City Council, begins today with the screening of the film “The Tree House” during the opening gala taking place this evening, May 8, at the Campos Eliseos Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

This morning, the film directed by Luis Calderón was presented to the media at a press conference attended by Amaia Domingo, Festival Director; the film’s director; actress Sandra Escacena; actor Claudio Portalo; and producer Maria Rivera. During her speech, Amaia Domingo recalled that this feature film “was shot in Biscayan locations such as Zeanuri and Bilbao itself, in recognizable places that in this film become somewhat frightening. It is the director’s vision of the fantasy and horror genre that makes us sometimes enjoy, and other times suffer, within a familiar environment whose lights and shadows he reveals to us.” The FANT director also thanked the film team for being present in Bilbao and highlighted that this would be “the first film to be screened in the Festival’s official program, on the very same day it premieres in cinemas.”

“The Tree House” tells the story of Ale and her boyfriend Jesús who, accompanied by their dog Drago, enjoy a romantic weekend in a treehouse suspended more than 20 meters high in the forest of Zeanuri. In the middle of the night, Alejandra wakes up startled by Drago’s barking and, when she goes out to investigate, she sees Jesús fall from the cabin and die instantly. One year later, Ale returns to the Zeanuri forest convinced that Jesús’ death was not an accident and that something living in the forest took him away from her. But now Ale has a plan: to prove that there is a presence in the forest. A presence that must be hunted.

This is the first feature film by Seville-born Luis Calderón, an auteur slasher that won the award for Best International Film at the Utah Horror Fest and has successfully toured European festivals, establishing him as one of the emerging voices in Spanish horror cinema. Director, screenwriter, and producer, Luis Calderón debuted in 2015 with the short film “Sabbat”, which won awards at the Los Angeles LAUFF festival and received international acclaim.

After studying at EFTI Madrid, he founded La Barbería Films, an independent production company currently focused on horror cinema. He has directed and produced music videos and commercials for major brands and international artists. He is also the founder of the PXXR Cinema movement.

Sandra Escacena stars in “The Tree House” alongside Claudio Portalo, Kandido Uranga, Apolonia Lapiedra, Ai-xing Cobos, Asier Hernández, Mala Rodríguez, and Inge Ugarte. The Madrid-born actress has worked in theatre, film, and television. For her role in “Verónica” by Paco Plaza, she was nominated for Best New Actress at the 27th Actors Union Awards, the 2018 Goya Awards for Best New Actress, and the 2018 Feroz Awards for Breakthrough Actress. For the same film, she also won Best Actress at the Cinepocalypse Festival and received the Breakthrough Actress Medal at the 73rd edition of the CEC Awards from the Circle of Cinematographic Writers.

TICKETS AND FESTIVAL PASSES

Tickets for the opening session and the Basque short films session can be purchased at the Campos Theatre for €5 each, while tickets for the closing gala and the award-winning film screenings at BBK Hall will be available at the same price.

Tickets for screenings scheduled at the Azkuna Zentroa Auditorium and Cinema 1 at Golem Alhóndiga cinemas will also be available for €5.

Tickets may be purchased for €4 by holders of Cine Club FAS, Azkuna Zentroa membership cards, or subscriptions to El Correo or Club Campos Elíseos.

Admission to Cinema 2 at Golem Alhóndiga cinemas will be free until full capacity is reached.