Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival Concludes 10th Edition with Star-Studded Awards Ceremony
The tenth edition of the Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival concluded in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, celebrating international genre cinema with top honors for the film Sicko and tributes to industry legends.
The tenth edition of the Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival "Ciudad de La Laguna" wrapped up this weekend, cementing its status as a premier event for the genre in Spain. Held at the Teatro Leal in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, the closing ceremony celebrated the festival's growth and its success in attracting international talent.
The event featured several high-profile guests who were honored for their contributions to film. Christopher Lambert, Sean Young, Alejandro Amenábar, and Carlos Areces received the Isla Calavera Honorary Award, while Lloyd Kaufman and Lone Fleming were named Legends of Fantastic Cinema. These awards reflect the festival’s goal of bridging the gap between classic genre cinema and today’s new creators.
In the competition, the film Sicko was the night's biggest winner, taking home the top prize along with awards for Best Costume Design and Best Actor for Ayan Utepbergenov. Indonesian director Joko Anwar was recognized for his direction and special effects in Ghost in the Shell. Other winners included Rebecca Hall for Best Actress, Berto Romero for Best Screenplay for 5 minutos más—which also won the Audience Award—and a special mention for the film River.
The festival also engaged younger audiences and the public. The youth jury chose Adolescencia, Sexo y Muerte en Campamento Miasma and the short film Versipellis as their favorites, while the audience selected Caye Casas’ short film Amor de Padre. In the short film categories, Plankgas by Ignjat Miletic won the jury’s top prize, and Jandro’s Influenzer received the Silver Méliès.
Beyond the awards, the festival emphasized education and community. Sunday’s program featured documentaries like Clint Spain Connection and Woman in Fan, alongside a roundtable discussion on how content creators are shaping the industry. The festival also highlighted its commitment to social causes by presenting the Isla Calavera Fantastic Social Award to the Activoz association during a special 30th-anniversary screening of Matilda. The event concluded with a tribute to The Fly, featuring a comparative screening of the 1958 and 1986 versions, highlighting the festival's dedication to the history and craft of fantastic cinema.