Celebrating its 15th edition, Fantaspoa brought to Porto Alegre the best of fantastic cinema from all around the world, between may 16th and june 2nd, 2019. In total, over 100 films were played, with over 100 guests from many diverse countries, bringing together some of the most talented artists in genre cinema.
According to the festival directors and producers, João Fleck and Nicolas Tonsho, this is the most successful edition, given the media coverage and the massive presence of the audience summing up more than 10,000 participants in Fantaspoa 2019.
Honored guests included, among many others, director Ruggero Deodato (who celebrated his 80th birthday in the festival), actress Christina Lindberg (Thriller: A Cruel Picture), producer and screenwriter Larry Wilson (Beetlejuice) and Roger Corman, the man himself.
On the 2nd of june, after the marriage of Brazilian filmmaker Felipe M. Guerra, celebrated by Father Demian Rugna, with the blessings of Roger Corman and Christina Lindberg and before the world premiere of "The Fear of Looking Up", directed by the greek, Konstantinos Koutsoliotas and co-produced by Melancholy Star and Fantaspoa Produções, the winners of the 2019 edition were announced.
Fantaspoa 2019 Award Winners
Short Films (Jury members Ignácio Lopez Vacas and Getro Guimarães)
Honorable Mentions:
For working on animation in Brazil, a country in which is so hard: O Homem na Caixa, directed by Ale Borges, Alvaro Furloni, Guilherme Gehr
For capturing the ciberpunk spirit: Robot Will Protect You, directed by Nicola Piovesan
Best Scream Queen: Sofía Peres, from Dead Teenager Séance, directed by Dante Vescio and Rodrigo Gasparini
Official Awards:
Best Brazilian Short Film: Médico de Monstro, directed by Gustavo Teixeira
Best International Animated Short Film: Wild Love, directed by Paul Autric, Quentin Camus, Léa Georges, Maryka Laudet, Zoé Sottiaux, Corentin Yvergniaux
Best International Live Short Film: Tu Último Día En La Tierra, directed by Marc Martínez Jordán
Animated Feature Film (Jury members Bianca de França Zasso and Carlos Thomaz Albornoz)
Best Animated Feature Film: Seder-Masochism, directed by Nina Paley
Ibero-American Competition (Jury members JJ Weber and Drew Thomas)
Honorable Mentions:
Best Lettering: Soy Tóxico, directed by Pablo Parés
Best Soundtrack: 7 Raons Per Fugir, directed by Esteve Soler, Gerard Quinto and David Torras
Official Awards:
Best Actor: Pedro Barão Dias (Mutant Blast, directed by Fernando Alle)
Best Actress: Gabriela Ramos (¿Eres Tú, Papá?, directed by Rudy Riverón Sánchez)
Melhor Roteiro: Fernando Alle (Mutant Blast, directed by Fernando Alle)
Best Direction: Daniel de la Vega for Punto Muerto
Melhor Filme: ¿Eres Tú, Papá? directed by Rudy Riverón Sánchez
International Competition: (Jury members André Kleinert and Diego Faraone)
Honorable Mentions:
Ende Neu, directed by Leonel Dietsche: Achievement in Cinematography
His Master's Voice, directed by György Pálfi: Artistic Contribution
Alive, directed by Rob Grant: Best Bloodbath
Official Awards:
Best Actor: Eugene Simon, for Kill Ben Lyk, directed by Erwan Marinopoulos
Best Actress: Monique Gabriela Curnen, for Model Home, directed by Patrick Cunningham
Best Special Effects: HeadHunter, directed by Jordan Downey
Best Art Direction: I'm Lying Now, directed by Pawel Borowski
Best Screenplay: Brama (The Gateway), directed by Volodymyr Tykhyy
Best Director: Kirill Sokolov, for Papa, Sdokhni
Best Film: Wilkolak, Directed by Adrian Panek
Best Film Audience Award: Alive, directed by Rob Grant