Isla Calavera Film Festival Announces Record Short Film Selection for 10th Anniversary Edition

The tenth Isla Calavera Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival is set to take place in Tenerife from November 6th to 15th. The festival has firmly established itself as a key player in the genre film industry, recently announcing the official selection for its short film competition. Organizers reported a record turnout, receiving nearly 600 submissions, from which 19 were chosen to compete.

This high volume of entries highlights both the festival’s growing international reputation and the creative strength of short-form fantastic cinema. The selection is geographically diverse, featuring seven Spanish and five French productions, alongside films from Italy, Serbia, the Netherlands, China, Canada, and the United States. The selected titles include The Colt Pixie, Camp Omega, Versipellis, Coeur de louve, Sail Away, Siempre hay un monstruo, Amor de padre, Ascensis, The One Minute Problem, Plankgas, What Was Taken, Influenzer, The Hound, A Shadow Over Me, Due to Delay, Avant de rentrer…, Vampiria, Hush Little One, and Tenéis que verlo.

Organized by the Charlas de Cine Cultural Association, Multicines Tenerife, and Tumbaabierta.com, the festival remains committed to diverse voices, with six of the selected films directed by women. The program also welcomes back several filmmakers who have previously made an impact at the festival, including Caye Casas—who earned acclaim in 2023 for The Coffee Table—as well as Gastón Haag and Jandro.

The competition also offers a significant professional opportunity: European entries are eligible for the Silver Méliès Award. This prize serves as a qualifier for the prestigious Golden Méliès, awarded by the Méliès International Festivals Federation, cementing Isla Calavera’s status within the top circuit of European genre cinema.

Supported by the La Laguna City Council, the Government of the Canary Islands, and the Cabildo de Tenerife, this year’s festival celebrates the 40th anniversary of David Cronenberg’s The Fly. With a program covering themes ranging from technological horror and social media to folklore and political violence, the festival continues to serve as a vital hub for audiences and creators, proving that the short film remains a perfect medium for experimentation and exploring modern concerns.