Fantasporto, the Oporto Intl. Film Festival, began in Porto, Portugal, showcasing a diverse selection of films with a focus on fantasy genres. The festival, now in its 44th edition, opened with Denys Arcand's satire 'Testament' and will close with the Chinese fantasy epic 'Creation of Gods I: Kingdom of Storms' by Wuershan.
The festival organizers, known for their eclectic tastes, have a track record of discovering emerging talent. Notable directors such as David Lynch, James Cameron, and Pedro Almodovar had their first films screened at Fantasporto. Additionally, directors of seven Best Picture Oscar winners debuted their work at the festival.
Among the anticipated films at Fantasporto is 'The Complex Forms' by Fabio D'Orta, a fantasy horror that garnered acclaim at the Torino Film Festival. Another highlight is 'The Last Ashes,' a debut feature likened to 'Game of Thrones' and Luxembourg's Oscar entry.
World premieres at the festival include 'La Sombra del Tiburon' by Gonzalo López-Gallego, 'The Floor Plan' by Junichi Ishikawa, and 'Heart Strings' by Ate de Jong, blending reality TV and country music.
Asian filmmakers view Fantasporto as a gateway to the European market, with 11 Japanese films featured, including 'The Forbidden Play' by Hideo Nakata. The festival also showcases a retrospective of Kazakh films, with 'Goliath' by Adilkhan Yerzhanov among the highlights.
The shorts program includes award-winning works like 'Alicia' from Spain, 'Stabat Mater' from France, and 'Elegy' from Belgium. A Hungarian retrospective features 'Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time' by Lili Horvat, winner of the Directors' Week Award in 2021.
