PROGRAM 2025 (13-22 NOVEMBER)
The poster for the thirteenth edition of the Festival, created by artist Mario-Paul Martínez using a combination of pencil and digital color, pays double tribute to Japanese culture.
On one hand, there is the animation film “Ghost in the Shell” (1995), which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, showing its protagonist being repaired with the excess of futuristic machinery so characteristic of cyberpunk. This image uses chiaroscuro inking typical of Japanese manga or comics, based on screens and dots. On the other hand, superimposed on it, we find a bright and multicolored explosion of characters from Japanese culture in the Kawaii style. Underneath this more adorable aesthetic appear such iconic figures as Godzilla, Ultraman, Mazinger Z, Pikachu, Pochita, etc.
The thirteenth edition of the Festival will be held from November 13 to 22, 2025. The program will include the screening of the aforementioned film “Ghost in the Shell” (1995) as its opening event. Mamoru Oshii’s masterpiece revolutionized anime and, along with other titles, left an indelible mark on the world of Japanese cyberpunk.
* All festival activities are free of charge until full capacity is reached.
* Screenings are not recommended for people under 18 years of age.
OPENING
Click on the tab to access the information.
THURSDAY, 13 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – ODEON CINEMAS (THEATRE B).
C/ Juan Ramón Jiménez, 18. Elche (See map).
20:00h-21:30h: OPENING + SCREENING OF THE FILM “GHOST IN THE SHELL” (1995), BY MAMORU OSHII.
Special Opening Session.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no reservations required.
Country: Japan.
Running time: 83 min.
Language: Spanish.
Synopsis: Year 2029. In a huge Asian city, a female cyborg police officer investigates the sinister activities of a mysterious hacker, a supercriminal who is invading the information superhighways. This year, the festival pays tribute to the 30th anniversary of Mamoru Oshii’s legendary anime which, along with other titles, marked a turning point in the Japanese cyberpunk universe. The film will be screened in its original version released in cinemas in 1995, without subsequent digital retouching.
FEATURE FILMS
Click on each tab to access the information.
FRIDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – ABC CINEMAS AT THE L’ALJUB SHOPPING CENTRE (ROOM 10 VIP).
C/ Jacarilla, 7. Elche (See map).
19:00h-21:00h: SCREENING OF THE FILM “GAUA” (2025), BY PAUL URKIJO ALIJO.
Official Competition Section.
Popcorn will be given out to attendees.
To attend this event, you must register in advance using the following form:
https://cclaljub.com/inscripcion-a-las-proyecciones-fantaelx-2025-en-laljub/
Country: Spain. Running time: 87 min. Language: Basque with Spanish subtitles. Local premiere.
Synopsis: Basque mountains, 17th century. In the midst of a witch hunt, Kattalin flees from her husband, abandoning the farmhouse in the middle of the night. Lost in the darkness of the forest, she senses a presence following her. On her way, she encounters three women who, while washing clothes by the river, share scary stories and village gossip. To her amazement, Kattalin will end up becoming part of those very stories.
SATURDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – ABC CINEMAS AT THE L’ALJUB SHOPPING CENTRE (ROOM 10 VIP).
C/ Jacarilla, 7. Elche (See map).
19:00h-21:00h: SCREENING OF THE FILM “DECORADO” (2025), BY ALBERTO VÁZQUEZ.
With the assistance of Alberto Vázquez for the presentation and subsequent colloquium.
Popcorn will be provided to attendees.
To attend this activity, prior registration is required using the following form:
https://cclaljub.com/inscripcion-a-las-proyecciones-fantaelx-2025-en-laljub/
Country: Spain. Running time: 96 min. Language: Spanish.
Synopsis: Arnold is a middle-aged mouse caught in an existential crisis. His marriage is falling apart, his life seems absurd, and he begins to suspect that everything around him is a big sham. When his best friend dies in suspicious circumstances, Arnold becomes convinced that something is not right. What begins as everyday paranoia turns into a desperate escape towards something that resembles, even if only slightly, freedom. Feature film based on the acclaimed short film of the same name by Alberto Vázquez himself, which won an award at FANTAELX in 2016.
SUNDAY, 16 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – ABC CINEMAS AT THE L’ALJUB SHOPPING CENTRE (ROOM 10 VIP).
C/ Jacarilla, 7. Elche (See map).
19:00h-21:00h: SCREENING OF THE FILM “LUGER” (2025), BY BRUNO MARTÍN.
Official Competition Section.
With the assistance of Bruno Martín along with part of the technical and artistic team (Mario Mayo, Ángel Acero, José Luis Rancaño and Irene Guerrero) for the presentation and subsequent colloquium.
Popcorn will be provided to attendees.
To attend this activity, prior registration is required using the following form:
https://cclaljub.com/inscripcion-a-las-proyecciones-fantaelx-2025-en-laljub/
Country: Spain. Running time: 90 min. Language: Spanish. Local premiere.
Synopsis: Rafa and Toni are two hustlers who work for Angela, a lawyer with flexible morals who offers her clients quick solutions outside the law. The story unfolds over the course of a frantic day in a labyrinthine industrial estate, when they are tasked with recovering a stolen car belonging to one of these clients. In the boot, they find a mysterious safe containing a relic from the Second World War: a Luger P08 pistol, highly coveted by dangerous figures in the underworld.
MONDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – LA VALONA UMH BUILDING (CINEMATECA, 3RD FLOOR).
Zone 6.4 of the Miguel Hernández University Campus in Elche (See map).
19:00h-20:30h: SCREENING OF THE FILM “DISFORIA” (2025), BY CHRISTOPHER CARTAGENA.
Official Competition Section.
With the assistance of Christopher Cartagena for the presentation.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
Country: Spain. Running time: 82 min. Language: Spanish. Local premiere.
Synopsis: Esther and Tomás, a young married couple fleeing the looting of their city, head with their eight-year-old daughter Say to the country house they bought in better times, with the plan to sell it for cash and flee to France the next day. Tomás, however, has another plan in mind. This is the debut feature film by Elche-born filmmaker Christopher Cartagena.
TUESDAY, 18 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – LA VALONA UMH BUILDING (CINEMATECA, 3RD FLOOR).
Zone 6.4 of the Miguel Hernández University Campus in Elche (See map).
17:30h-20:30h: SCREENING OF THE FILM “ISHIRO HONDA: MEMOIRS OF A FILM DIRECTOR” (2024), BY JONATHAN BELLÉS.
Official Competition Section.
With the assistance of Jonathan Bellés for the presentation and subsequent colloquium.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior booking required.
Country: Spain. Running time: 73 min. Language: Japanese, Spanish and English (subtitled). Provincial premiere. Fourth national screening.
Synopsis: This documentary film explores the life and film career of Ishiro Honda, father of kaiju eiga and one of the great Japanese directors of his generation. This portrait is articulated through an analysis of his filmography from a historical and personal perspective, including his experiences in the war and his obsession with the atomic bomb, recurring themes in his films, and his friendship with Akira Kurosawa.
THURSDAY, 20 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – AUDITORIUM OF CONGRESS CENTRE “CIUTAT D’ELX”.
C/ Filet de Fora, 1. Elche (See map).
_
17:00h-19:00h: SCREENING OF THE FILM “THE VIRGIN OF THE QUARRY LAKE” (2025), BY LAURA CASABÉ.
–
–
Official Competition Section.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
–
Country: Argentina. Running time: 96 min. Language: Argentine Spanish. Provincial premiere.
–
Synopsis: Film based on two stories by the famous Argentine writer Mariana Enríquez. Natalia, Mariela and Josefina are three inseparable friends who live on the outskirts of Buenos Aires and are madly in love with Diego, their childhood friend. In a hot summer of 2001, after the outbreak of violence that ended in a deep economic and social crisis, Silvia appears, older and more worldly, who captivates Diego. Natalia, determined to win Diego back, asks for help from her grandmother, Rita, who introduces her to the realm of spells and black magic.
SHORT FILMS
Click on each tab to access the information.
FRIDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2025 – EVENING – CATRAL.
C/ La Virgen, 11. Catral (See map).
21:30h-23:30h: SCREENING OF COMPETITION SHORT FILMS.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
– Escena Final, by Diego Kompel. Dur: 20 min. Winning short film at the 1000 Gritos Festival 2025. Out of competition.
– Tinieblas, by Raúl Cerezo and Carlos Moriana (Spain). Dur: 15 min.
– In London, by Jordi Romero Oya (Spain). Fake trailer. Dur: 1:00 min.
– Lo que te falta, by Sara Bermejo (Spain). Dur: 15:00 min.
– Te debo una, by Santi Capuz and Diego Jiménez (Spain). Dur: 11:00 min.
– Ucún, by Joan Martín Giménez (Spain). Dur: 13:23 min. Out of competition.
– El revisor, by Jandro (Spain). Dur: 12:08 min.
– Que el cielo nos perdone, by Andrés Buitrago (Colombia). Dur: 16:48 min.
– El aspirante, by Sam Orti (Spain). Dur: 15:00 min.
FROM MONDAY 17 TO THURSDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – MEGASCREEN AT THE L’ALJUB SHOPPING CENTRE.
C/ Jacarilla, 7. Elche (See map).
__
20:00h: ALJUB SESSIONS IN MEGASCREEN.
Screening of four short films from this year’s festival on the megascreen at L’Aljub shopping centre, the largest interactive LED screen installed in a Spanish shopping centre.
_
– Monday 17: Tristan, by Mallory Grolleau (France). Dur: 14:05 min.
– Tuesday 18: Abril, by Alexandra Iglesias (Spain). Dur: 18:00 min.
– Wednesday 19: Ginoide, by Celia Galán (Spain). Dur: 20:00 min.
– Thursday 20: Padre, by Michele Gallone (Italy). Dur: 19:03 min.
–
FRIDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – AUDITORIUM OF CONGRESS CENTRE “CIUTAT D’ELX”.
C/ Filet de Fora, 1. Elche (See map).
_
16:30h-19:00h: SCREENING OF COMPETITION SHORT FILMS.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
With presentations by the authors._
_
– Dancing in the Rain, by Chao-chun Yeh (Japan). Dur: 6:26 min.
– Ángulo muerto, by Cristian Beteta (Spain). Dur: 15:00 min.
– Perromaquia, by Borja López Ferrer (Alicante). Dur: 7:00 min.
– El Fantasma de la Quinta, by James A. Castillo (Spain). Dur: 17:13 min.
– Aitana, by Daniel Muñoz Sánchez (Alicante). Dur: 20:00 min.
– Holy Heavêness, by Negah Khezre Fardyardad and Farnoosh Abedi (Iran). Dur: 8:57 min.
– Ten Candles, by Coral Maciá, Jaime Pastor, Pablo Tenza, Sandra Cantó and Lucía Candela (Alicante). Fake trailer. Dur: 2:03 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– The Call, by Kiko Prada (Spain). Dur: 9:20 min.
– Berta, by Lucía Forner Segarra (Alicante). Dur: 16:58 min.
– La terrorífica posesión maliciosa de un fantasma con el pelo guarro a la rubia de siempre en el templo Ketemato. The final last dance of the world, by Guillermo Rojo (Alicante). Fake trailer. Dur: 3:00 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Leonardo, by Álvaro G. Company and Meka Ribera (Alicante). Dur: 15:55 min.
– El perverso mundo de los cubitos de hielo, by Joaquín Górriz (Spain). Dur: 20:00 min.
IMPORTANT: ALL WORKS SCREENED DURING THIS SPECIFIC SESSION WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AUDIENCE AWARD (TO BE ANNOUNCED DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONY).
SATURDAY, 22 NOVEMBER 2025 – MORNING – AUDITORIUM OF CONGRESS CENTRE “CIUTAT D’ELX”.
C/ Filet de Fora, 1. Elche (See map).
_
11:30h-13:30h: SCREENING OF COMPETITION SHORT FILMS.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
With presentations by the authors.
_
– Amira, by Javier Yañez Sanz (Spain). Dur: 16:07 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Kore, by Sara Llinares (Alicante). Dur: 7:13 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Prou bé, by Anna Carbonell (Spain). Dur: 12:23 min.
– Mefisto, by Emma Planchon (Alicante). Dur: 5:25 min.
– Hell Troops, by the Gallego Bros (Alicante). Dur: 8:48 min.
– Radix, by Anne Breymann (Germany). Dur: 4:14 min.
– El mal donat (The evil eye), by Alfons Casal and Hector Mas (Andorra-Spain). Dur: 20:00 min.
– Reflexions, by Zain Mehdee (Germany). Dur: 8:46 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Simulación 73, by Álex Gil (Alicante). Dur: 6:53 min.
– Pimple, by Fernando Alle (Portugal). Dur: 4:17 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Dagon, by Paolo Gaudio (Italy). Dur: 6:07 min.
– Pálpito, by Marisa Crespo and Moisés Romera (Spain). Dur: 17:30 min. In Spanish and Valencian with subtitles.
IMPORTANT: ALL WORKS SCREENED DURING THIS SPECIFIC SESSION WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AUDIENCE AWARD (TO BE ANNOUNCED DURING THE CLOSING CEREMONY). IN ADDITION, AFTER THE SCREENINGS IN THIS SESSION, THREE VOUCHERS WORTH 50€ EACH WILL BE RAFFLED OFF AMONG THE ATTENDEES, TO BE USED AT “CINEMA PARADISO, TU TIENDA DE CINE”.
–
SPECIAL SESSIONS
Click on each tab to access the information.
MONDAY, 17 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – LA VALONA UMH BUILDING (CINEMATECA, 3RD FLOOR).
Zone 6.4 of the Miguel Hernández University Campus in Elche (See map).
17:30h-19:00h: CICLE “ORIGINS OF FANTASTIC VALENCIAN”, WITH THE SCREENING OF THE SHORT FILM “DESPUÉS DE LA BODA” (1980), BY RAFAEL POMARES PERAL.
Screening subtitled in Valencian.
With the attendance of Rafael Pomares Peral for the presentation and subsequent colloquium.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
Born in Elche in 1946, Rafael Pomares Peral was a primary and secondary school teacher and one of the pioneers in the integration of audiovisual language into education in Elche. He was one of the founding members of the Agrupación Cinematográfica Amateur Ilicitana (ACAI), where, together with Diego Pomares, he developed a prolific creative activity. His filmography covers a wide variety of themes and genres.
“Después de la boda” (1980) is a 27-minute short film shot in Super 8, in colour and with dubbed sound. Rafael Pomares Peral, with the help of Diego Amorós, took Alfred Hitchcock’s popular film “Psyco” (1960) as a reference, paying tribute to the shower murder scene.
After the screening, there will be a colloquium coordinated by Jaime Quiles, filmmaker and lecturer at the Miguel Hernández University in Elche, which will be attended by Rafael Pomares Peral. This is a unique opportunity to meet one of the pioneers of Elche’s fantastic cinema first-hand.
TUESDAY 18, AND WEDNESDAY 19, NOVEMBER, 2025 – MORNING – I.E.S. TIRANT LO BLANC.
C/ Pedro Juan Perpiñán, 91. Elche (See map).
–
9:00h-12:00h: FANTASTIC TRAINING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
–
The exchanges between fantasy and cinema also provide an ideal space for debate and learning about our audiovisual culture. The festival continues to develop activities aimed at young audiences; in this case, this year there will be two specific workshops for students at the I.E.S. Tirant Lo Blanc secondary school in Elche who are interested in the audiovisual field and the fantastic genre, with the participation of their teachers.
WEDNESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – LA VALONA UMH BUILDING (CINEMATECA, 3RD FLOOR).
Zone 6.4 of the Miguel Hernández University Campus in Elche (See map).
17:00h-18:30h: CUT (TO) FANTASTIC.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no reservation required
From our “Cut (to) Fantastic” section, and in collaboration with the Management, Technology, and Fashion Degree program at Miguel Hernández University in Elche, we aim to establish a dialogue around the latest connections between cinematography, the fantastic genre and costume design. To this end, we are inviting professionals from the sector to discuss the particularities and techniques of their craft and to talk with the public and new generations of students about those aspects that are currently leading to this specific field of fashion and audiovisual media.
This year’s guest is Darsy. Self-taught, she began her career making costumes for various events and musical platforms, until she started working at the Ciudad de la Luz film studios, participating in various productions such as “The Borgias” “Asterix and Obelix” and “La dama boba”, among others. She later worked in Los Angeles (USA) with Paramount Pictures, and since returning to Spain, she has been working as a freelancer providing costume services for various international productions such as “Game of Thrones”, “The Witcher”, “El Pacto” and “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”. In addition to creating costumes for film, she produces material for theater, advertising, music videos, concerts… (and all from Alicante!).
WEDNESDAY, 19 NOVEMBER 2025 – AFTERNOON – ABC CINEMAS AT THE L’ALJUB SHOPPING CENTRE (ROOM 10 VIP).
C/ Jacarilla, 7. Elche (See map).
–
20:00h-21:30h: CEREMONY + FANTAELX-L’ALJUB SPECIAL AWARD (III EDITION).
This session has special subtitles with audio description for people with hearing impairments.
To attend this activity, prior registration is required using the following form: https://cclaljub.com/inscripcion-gala-fantaelx-2025-en-laljub/
–
Presentation and screening of a selection of the best animated short films from the Degree in Audiovisual Communication and the Double Degree in Journalism and Audiovisual Communication at the Miguel Hernández University in Elche, coordinated by their teachers. The FANTAELX-L’ALJUB Special Award will be awarded from among all the works. This prize includes the awarding of two Diverplanes from the L’Aljub Shopping Center (sponsor of the Festival) to each of the members of the winning short film.
–
– ¿Dónde estás amor?, by Matías Roca Castro, Alba Bailón Plaza, Pablo Revelles Torres, Adrián Romero de la Osa and Jose Ángel Ruiz Olivares. Dur: 7:39 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Invisible Besties, by Sandra García Sánchez, Cristina Aguilar Rubio, Clara Alemany Martínez, Paula Aránega Cortés and Isabel Serrano. Dur: 4:58 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Kaizen, by Carlos Romero López, Jaime Lucerón Calero, Ignacio Ortiz Caro, Damián Bieco Ivorra, Alba Díez Gilabert and Rafael Marín Pérez. Dur: 3:18 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– La grieta, by Sara Adán, Laura Ortega, Sandra Pastor, Jin Sanmartín, Lidia Sempere and Rocío Valero. Dur: 6:00 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Aluna, by Andrés Campos. Dur: 6:12 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Hibernació, by Lucía de Bunder, Maravillas Espín, Alejandro Ramón, Guillermo Rojo and Elia Sempere. Dur: 7:02 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
– Lo sentimos, Elisa, by Andreu Mas, Diego de la Encina and Philip Coveney. Dur: 4:02 min. Subtitled in Valencian.
–
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025 – AFTERNOON – AUDITORIUM OF CONGRESS CENTRE “CIUTAT D’ELX”.
C/ Filet de Fora, 1. Elche (See map).
19:00h-21:00h: “CROSS SECTION” (SCREENINGS + COLLOQUIUM).
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
“Cross Section” aims to highlight and discuss the various aspects surrounding gender, queer, and LGTBIQ+ issues in fantastic audiovisual productions. This section also features the Helena Cortesina Film Festival, a festival that highlights the role of women in cinema and awards a special mention linked to this particular section of FANTAELX.
With this objective, a thematic selection of short films will be screened and a discussion will be held with experts in the field:
– Víctor M. Sánchez Pacheco: Bachelor’s degree in Audiovisual Communication from the Centro de Estudios Ciudad de la Luz. Head of communication and content for the Helena Cortesina Film Festival. Studied for a Master’s degree in Cinematography at the University of Córdoba and documentary film at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. Above all, a film buff specializing in Spanish cinema.
– Eva Ramírez: Graduate in Audiovisual Communication and Journalism, currently researching at the Observatory of Masculinity at Miguel Hernández University in Elche. She is also passionate about cinema (especially when women are behind the camera) and enjoys being part of creative and collective projects that promote new perspectives in audiovisual media.
– Ben Manzanera: Screenwriter and author who, among other selections in screenplay competitions, has won the XI Concurs de Guió Transmèdia del GAC, the DigiFicc/Seriesland Lab in Bilbao, and the Fantboi Lab with “Recortes de Personal”, and the 2021 Solinas Award with “El Papel De Sus Vidas” (“Il Ruolo della loro Vita”). He has also written, directed, and produced the short film “HOMOpatriarcado” (currently in post-production) and is developing the film project “Marciana” as a fantastic-based denunciation of ageism.
Short films in the official competition section selected for screening:
– Medea a la deriva, by Mary Cruz Leo (Spain). Dur: 14:30 min. Helena Cortesina Film Festival Special Mention 2025.
– Drainomania, by Christopher Greenslate (United States). Dur: 15:00 min.
– Venganza travestí (Transvestite Revenge), by Tina Paparelli (Alicante). Dur: 6:31 min.
– KillJote, by Ángel Villahermosa (Spain). Dur: 11:34 min.
If you come to this event, you could also attend the screening of the film THE VIRGIN OF THE QUARRY LAKE. Check out the program!
FRIDAY, 21 NOVEMBER, 2025 – AFTERNOON – ALI I TRUC BOOKSTORE.
Passeig de les Eres de Santa Llucia, 7. Elche (See map).
–
19:30h-20:30h: PRESENTATION OF THE BOOK “NO TE OLVIDES DE AQUELLO QUE CRECE BAJO TUS PIES. ESTUDIOS DEL FOLK HORROR DESDE LA CONTEMPORANEIDAD” (2025).
With the attendance of the authors and editors.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no reservations required.
–
–
Folk Horror, or rural horror, is a subgenre of fantastic that conveys terror through elements of folklore, legends, and superstitions, originating in 19th-century literature and consolidated in the cinema of the 1960s and 1970s. These narratives, marked by the supernatural, witchcraft, paganism, and fear of sects and cults, express the tension between progress and the ancestral, adapting to different cultures from Great Britain to the United States, Australia or Japan. Today, this imagery continues to expand through media such as video games, comics, and television, interacting with other subgenres such as Slasher and Survival Horror. This book brings together new contributions from international experts who analyze its various ramifications within fantasy fiction..
VIII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS
Click on each tab to access the information.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2025 – MORNING AND AFTERNOON – ONLINE.
Online via our YouTube channel (See channel).
9:30h-18:15h: FIRST SESSION (ONLINE) OF THE VIII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF FANTASTIC GENRE, AUDIOVISUALS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
The aim of the Congress is to disseminate research studies within the different thematic lines of the Fantastic Genre, covering all its possible variants and platforms: cinema, television, theater, literature, comics, video games, virtual reality, plastic arts, etc.; and whose main theme in this new edition is Japan and its mark on the Fantastic Genre.
9:30h. WELCOME AND OPENING
9:40h. Inaugural conference: Representaciones del fantasma grotesco en dos relatos de Tanizaki Junichirō. Dra. Ana Piñán Álvarez (Universidad de Estudios Internacionales de Kanda, Japón).
9:55h. De Caravaggio a Godzilla: un diálogo entre el tenebrismo barroco, el elogio de la sombra y el cine fantástico japonés. Dr. Daniel Candil Gil-Ortega (TecnoCampus, Universitat Pompeu Fabra).
10:10h. Sincretismo fantástico: la huella del sintoísmo en One Piece frente a la mitología tolkieniana. Adrián Arana Armesto (Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU).
10:25h. La fantasía videolúdica: preservación cultural y crítica social a través del videojuego. Dr. Ramón Méndez González (Universidade de Vigo).
10:40h. Lo fantástico en clave inmersiva: nuevas experiencias en la realidad virtual. Dra. Beatriz del Caz Pérez (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia).
10:55h. El anime como reescritura de los cuentos de hadas: Las variaciones Grimm, La novia del mago antiguo y Frieren. Cristina Landín Jiménez (Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria).
11:10h. El cine fantástico de Hirokazu Koreeda a la luz de las categorías literarias del grotesco y la sátira menipea: After life (1998) y Air doll (2009). Dr. Antonio Viñuales Sánchez (Universidad de Zaragoza).
11:25h. Criaturas prodigiosas y terroríficas: el género fantástico en los espectáculos de variedades desde la segunda mitad del siglo XVIII. Dra. Raquel Racionero Núñez (Universidad Complutense de Madrid).
11:40h. Del edificio al organismo: representaciones espaciales posthumanas en Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Dr. Marcelo Alejandro Fraile Narváez (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos).
11:55h. Adaptaciones audiovisuales del “Érase una vez”: evolución de la creación de mundos posibles en el panorama fantástico animado. Ignacio Laguía Cassany (Universidad de Navarra).
12:10h. Interfaces de la “nueva carne”: IA, duplicación y horror corporal en el cine de Brandon Cronenberg. Valentín Via Vazquez (Universitat Rovira i Virgili).
12:25h. De ideal femenino a símbolo de resistencia: La evolución de Kaguya-hime entre el Taketori Monogatari y La princesa Kaguya (2013). Dra. Elena Menéndez Requeno (Investigadora independiente).
12:40h. Del imaginario popular a lo fantástico de las mojigangas purépechas de Cuitzeo, México. Dr. José Armando Pérez Crespo (Universidad de Guanajuato, México).
13:00h. BREAK
15:00h. Tokio re-imaginada: las metrópolis japonesas como espacios de worldbuilding. Dr. Francisco José Pinel Cabello (TecnoCampus, Universitat Pompeu Fabra).
15:15h. Punto de fuga, reencuadre abisal y descorporeización como estilemas y poética de la liminalidad en Kairo (2001), de Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Julio Ángel Olivares Merino (Universidad de Jaén).
15:30h. Poéticas visuales de la infancia y la otredad: Trazos emocionales desde E.T. hasta el cine de animación actual. Dr. Javier González Torres (Universidad de Málaga).
15:45h. Del onryō japonés en Ringu de Hideo Nakata a lo monstruoso-femenino en The Ring de Gore Verbinski: un cambio de paradigma transcultural. Dra. Marta Miquel Baldellou (Universidad de Lleida).
16:00h. Los Garage Kits, la olvidada cuna de un escenario de productos y consumo de imaginería fantástica. El taller de modelos a escala Twinch Squad (Valencia 2001-2006) como caso de estudio. Enrique Millán Almenar (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia).
16:15h. El murciélago en la cultura maya y su relación con el vampirismo. Propuesta teórico-práctica desde el dibujo y la video-animación. Almendra Sheira Castillo Valderrama (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia).
16:30h. La saga Devilman como mito moderno y tragedia clásica: Un análisis comparativo. Guillermo González Hernández (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha).
16:45h. Hey, that’s my story! El vampirismo intelectual y la intersección de géneros narrativos en Split Fiction. Dra. Jessica Blanco Marcos (UDIT – Universidad de Diseño, Innovación y Tecnología).
17:00h. La Casa Modelo: Realidad virtual para la reconstrucción crítica del espacio doméstico. Tana Garrido Ruiz (Independent researcher).
17:15h. Visualizing Middle-earth: Aesthetic Legacy and Sub-creation in Tolkien’s Art and Its Digital Afterlife. Adrián Arana Armesto (Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU).
17:30h. Westworld (Almas de metal). La fantasía robótica y la cultura poshumana. Dr. Juan Agustín Mancebo Roca (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha).
17:45h. The Imaginary of the Uncanny and the Xenomorph: The Fantastic of Alien in Film, Comics, and Video Games. Luiz Gabriel Pereira (Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brasil).
18:00h. Canarias como territorio de lo fantástico: Paisaje, Mito y Ensoñación. Dr. Domingo Sola Antequera and Dra. Irene C. Marcos Arteaga (Universidad de La Laguna).
18:15h. CLOSING OF THE SESSION.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2025 – MORNING AND AFTERNOON – ONLINE.
Online via our YouTube channel (See channel).
9:30h-18:45h: SECOND SESSION (ONLINE) OF THE VIII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF FANTASTIC GENRE, AUDIOVISUALS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
The aim of the Congress is to disseminate research studies within the different thematic lines of the Fantastic Genre, covering all its possible variants and platforms: cinema, television, theater, literature, comics, video games, virtual reality, plastic arts, etc.; and whose main theme in this new edition is Japan and its mark on the Fantastic Genre.
9:30h. PRESENTATION.
9:40h. Inaugural conference: Dragon Ball como obra transmedia: del manga a los videojuegos. Dr. Eduardo López-Pintor Madrid (Universidad de Valencia).
9:55h. Escultura translúcida y lo siniestro digital: artes visuales, IA y cultura fantástica en la era contemporánea. Roberto Català Nacher (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia).
10:10h. Del Queer Panic al movimiento Woke en el cine fantástico y de terror. Ben Manzanera (Independent researcher).
10:25h. El juego de rol japonés: Ontología comparativa del JRPG digital y analógico. Dr. Joan Josep Pons López (TecnoCampus, Universitat Pompeu Fabra).
10:40h. La mujer caballero: análisis de la evolución del personaje femenino en el cine de fantasía medieval. Dra. Elena Menéndez Requeno (Independent researcher).
10:55h. Narrativas del cuerpo glitch: horror visual y subjetividad fragmentada en la literatura postdigital. Dra. María José González Dávila (Universidad Internacional de La Rioja).
11:10h. Parasite Eve: la adaptación videolúdica del terror japonés al mercado internacional. Dr. Ramón Méndez González (Universidade de Vigo).
11:25h. La materialización de lo fantástico: narrativa transmedia e inmersión en The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Dra. Elisabet Fonts González and Dra. Eva Villegas Portero (Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña).
11:40h. Brujería (C. Murray, 2023) o la Recta Provincia sota el prisma del fantàstic. Dr. Enric Antoni Burgos Ramírez (Universidad de Valencia).
11:55h. Lo fantástico en el cine digital: lo siniestro y el uncanny valley como mecanismos narrativos. Dra. Irene Achón Lezaun (Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza).
12:10h. Más allá de la realidad: El género fantástico y de ciencia ficción como recurso innovador en la enseñanza de Redacción Periodística. Dr. Jesús Mula Grau (Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche).
12:25h. El arte ukiyo-e como recurso estético en los videojuegos japoneses. Maider Véliz Ramas and Dra. Ana Urroz Oses (Universidad de Barcelona).
12:40h. De lo burlesco a lo heroico: la figura del enano en El Señor de los Anillos. Marcela Naranjo Velásquez (Universidad de Huelva).
12:55h. Entre lo espectral y lo sublime: un estudio de Kwaidan (El más allá, Masaki Kobayashi 1964). Dr. Juan Agustín Mancebo Roca (Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha).
13:10h. From samurai cinema to video games: Bushido and Shintoism in the gameplay. Dra. Kim Martínez (Universidad de Burgos).
13:30h. BREAK
15:00h. Figuras de la monstruosidad en el género fantástico japonés. Dr. Rodrigo García Aparicio (Universidad de Burgos).
15:15h. Criminales y monstruos: aproximaciones criminológicas al imaginario del género fantástico. Alba Benítez Boldo (Universidad Camilo José Cela).
15:30h. Vivir las leyendas tirando el dado. El juego de rol como catalizador inmersivo de la cultura popular. Dra. Irene Solanich-Sanglas and Dr. Miquel Pujol-Tubau (Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya).
15:45h. Entre la Épica y el Apocalipsis: El Mito como Herramienta Política en Tolkien y McCarthy. Adrián Arana Armesto (Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU).
16:00h. Origami y fantasía en la cultura japonesa: simbolismo, mitos y tradición. María Asenjo Bejarano (Universidad Complutense de Madrid).
16:15h. ¿De antiguas diosas/fuerzas de la sexualidad a entidades vampíricas? La Tlahuelpuchi, vampira de origen nahua precolonial. Breve acercamiento a la construcción de un arquetipo. Almendra Sheira Castillo Valderrama (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia).
16:30h. La familia y la reproducción en la literatura fantástica inglesa: análisis de distopías y poshumanismo desde Engels. Dra. Laura Blázquez Cruz (Universidad de Jaén).
16:45h. Organología fantástica: el piano en el cine de Luis Buñuel. Bárbara Verdú Fernández (Universidad Politécnica de Valencia).
17:00h. Paisajes ficcionales y arqueologías imaginadas: la obra de Alejandro Bombín en el marco de La Naturaleza del Paisaje. Dra. Mónica Martínez-Bordiú Aznar (Universidad Complutense de Madrid).
17:15h. La imposibilidad como refugio: el papel del género fantástico en la representación del duelo personal y colectivo en la cultura japonesa. Mtra. María Fernanda Herrera Morales (Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla, Mexico).
17:30h. La utopía de la mediocridad: la evolución del subgénero anime Iyashikei desde 1995 hasta 2025. Sara Mai Ortiz de Manuel (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid).
17:45h. Leonor Fini: rebel, poderosa i enigmàtica. Dra. Irene Ballester Buigues (Universidad de Valencia).
18:00h. La autogestión por parte de mujeres y disidencias en México: una mirada hacia las artes visuales desde el fanzine, la colectividad y su socialización en la cultura digital. Valentina Velázquez de León López (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México).
18:15h. Google Me. Dr. José Luis Ortega Lisbona (Universidad de Sevilla).
18:30h. Morte en série: le néo-fantastique néerlandophone macabre. Dra. Isabelle-Rachel Casta (Université d’Artois, France).
18:45h. CLOSING OF THE SESSION.
THURSDAY, 20 NOVEMBER, 2025 – MORNING – AUDITORIUM OF CONGRESS CENTRE “CIUTAT D’ELX”.
C/ Filet de Fora, 1. Elche (See map).
9:30h-13:30h: THIRD SESSION (IN PERSON) OF THE VIII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF FANTASTIC GENRE, AUDIOVISUALS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
The aim of the Congress is to disseminate research studies within the different thematic lines of the Fantastic Genre, covering all its possible variants and platforms: cinema, television, theater, literature, comics, video games, virtual reality, plastic arts, etc.; and whose main theme in this new edition is Japan and its mark on the Fantastic Genre.
9:15h. OPENING.
9:30h. PRESENTATION.
9:40h. Inaugural guest conference: El presidio mineral. La mujer de la arena de Hiroshi Teshigahara y Kōbō Abe. Dr. Pau Pascual Galbis (University of Madeira, Portugal).
10:00h. La grulla y la tortuga: símbolos de longevidad y equilibrio en Dragon Ball y la tradición japonesa. Dr. Eduardo López-Pintor Madrid (University of Valencia).
10:20h. Epifanía musivisual de la shōjo en el anime fantástico de Oshii Mamoru. Dr. Emilio José Cano Pérez (Jaume I University) and Dr. Antonio Loriguillo López (University of Murcia).
10:40h. Nature as a Source of Fear in Fantasy Horror: The Role of Film Grammar. Viktorija Lankauskaitė (Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania).
11:00h. La Lanza del Destino: reliquia y mito como herramienta de legitimación política. María Barrios Hermida (Independent researcher).
11:20h. WMT y TMS: Adaptaciones literarias, la puerta de entrada del Anime en Europa. Dra. Anna Tarragó Mussons (University of Barcelona).
11:40h. Anatomy of girlbands: Evolution and Deconstruction. Ben Manzanera (Independent researcher).
12:00h. Matango (Ishirō Honda, 1963): una relectura del terror marítimo de William Hope Hodgson desde la modernidad urbana japonesa. Dr. Miguel Muñoz-Garnica (Loyola University, Andalusia).
12:20h. La torre de los siete jorobados (Edgar Neville, 1944): Pionera del fantástico español y su luz expresionista en la era de los estudios CEA. Roberto Oliver Sánchez García (Miguel Hernández University of Elche) y Dr. Elpidio del Campo Cañizares (Miguel Hernández University of Elche and López-Piñero Interuniversity Institute).
12:40h. Moyashimon y Cells at Work!, dos formas distintas de ver el mismo mundo microscópico. Dr. Manuel Sánchez Angulo (Miguel Hernández University of Elche).
13:00h. Motoko y la Silla Argyle: prótesis urbanas para una ecoestética ciborg. Juan Carlos Castro-Domínguez and María José Marcos Torro (University of Alicante).
13:30h. CLOSING OF THE SESSION.
FRIDAY, 21 NOVEMBER, 2025 – MORNING – AUDITORIUM OF CONGRESS CENTRE “CIUTAT D’ELX”.
C/ Filet de Fora, 1. Elche (See map).
9:30h-13:30h: FOURTH SESSION (IN PERSON) OF THE VIII INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF FANTASTIC GENRE, AUDIOVISUALS AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no prior reservation required.
The aim of the Congress is to disseminate research studies within the different thematic lines of the Fantastic Genre, covering all its possible variants and platforms: cinema, television, theater, literature, comics, video games, virtual reality, plastic arts, etc.; and whose main theme in this new edition is Japan and its mark on the Fantastic Genre.
9:15h. OPENING.
9:30h. PRESENTATION.
9:40h. Inaugural conference: La Persistencia Estética del Yurei en la Cultura Japonesa — del arte tradicional al cine J-horror. Kazuto Shimizu (University of Salamanca).
10:00h. Fantasmas del siglo XX: Borrado y persistencia de la clase obrera en el fantástico moderno japonés. Dr. Luis Pérez Ochando (University of Valencia).
10:20h. DRAGON MAGAZINE: el origen de la fantasía de espada y brujería japonesa. Dr. Jorge Rodríguez Cruz (University of Salamanca).
10:40h. Authorship and fandom in Japanese fantasy literature – Tasaki Ray’s Kōyasai: a case of participatory worldbuilding? Marta Panuele (University of Turin, Italy).
11:00h. Lo Fantástico detenido: Hiroshi Sugimoto y la estética espectral del tiempo en el imaginario audiovisual japonés. Dr. Hernando Gómez Gómez and Dr. José Luis Rubio-Tamayo (Rey Juan Carlos University).
11:20h. Espadas y kami: el uso de la mitología y la religión japonesas como elemento narrativo fantástico en el manga Noragami. Sara Gómez Gómez (University of Salamanca).
11:40h. Tsukumogami. No-humanos al acecho. Dr. Santiago Lucendo Lacal (Complutense University of Madrid).
12:00h. Entre el J-Horror y el Hypnotic Horror: hipnosis e imaginería de lo sugestivo en Cure (1997) y Uzumaki (1998-1999). Dr. Juan Marcos Bonet Safont (University of Valencia).
12:20h. Onirismo deforme en The Substance: juventud, monstruo y fama. Santiago Peña-Bossano (Complutense University of Madrid).
12:40h. La estética de lo épico: composición visual y narrativa del combate en el anime Dragon Ball. Dr. Eduardo López-Pintor Madrid (University of Valencia).
13:00h. Cuando el monstruo llora: archivos espectrales de una humanidad perdida en el anime fantástico contemporáneo. Laura Palau Bravo (Jaume I University).
13:20h. Entre la arena y el algoritmo: la estrategia corporativa de Dune frente a la apropiación comunitaria en TikTok. Sandra Arias Montesinos (University of Alicante) and Dr. Francisco Javier Zamora Saborit (International University of Valencia).
13:30h. CLOSING OF THE SESSION.
MEETING WITH CARLOS ARECES, HONORARY AWARD + CLOSING CEREMONY
Click on the tab to access the information.
SATURDAY, 22 NOVEMBER, 2025 – AFTERNOON – AUDITORIUM OF CONGRESS CENTRE “CIUTAT D’ELX”.
C/ Filet de Fora, 1. Elche (See map).
18:00h-19:00h: MEETING WITH CARLOS ARECES, HONORARY AWARD.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no reservation required.
Carlos Areces‘ versatility as an actor, screenwriter, and cartoonist has allowed him to bring a unique perspective to the fantasy genre by blending dark humor, irony, and the grotesque with a deep knowledge of popular culture. His participation in films such as “Balada triste de trompeta”, “Lobos de Arga” or “Las brujas de Zugarramurdi”, and in series such as “30 Monedas”, “Superestar” or “Muertos S.L.”, has redefined the boundaries between the absurd and the tragic. His musical side in “Ojete Calor”also confirms this mix, consolidating him as one of the most unique voices in contemporary Spanish fantastic.
Break
19:30h-21:00h: CLOSING AND AWARDS CEREMONY.
Free admission until full capacity is reached, no reservation required.
Closing Ceremony conducted by Silvia Conesa. Actress, director, screenwriter and festival jury member.
During the Closing Gala, the Honorary Award will be given to Carlos Areces, and the winners of this year’s edition will be announced, along with the screening of several of the award-winning works.
To keep up to date with all the latest news, you can subscribe to our newsletter and/or follow us on Instagram.