Fantaspoa, Latin America’s largest film festival dedicated to fantasy genre filmmaking, wrapped up its 2025 edition on Sunday night, April 27, with an awards ceremony at Cinemateca Capitólio.
For 19 days, festivalgoers enjoyed more than 200 films across five different venues: Cinemateca Capitólio, CineBancários, Cinemateca Paulo Amorim, Instituto Ling, and Sala Redenção. In addition to regular screenings, the 21st Fantaspoa hosted 41 Q&As, 7 masterclasses, 3 live-scored film sessions, and 2 parties, drawing an impressive 14 thousand attendees to its in-person events. In addition, a group of international Fantaspoa guests and alumni shot the short film “LICK ME” in and around the festival. The festival also featured an online segment, offering free streaming of 99 short films on the Darkflix+ platform, which garnered an astounding number of 500 thousand views during the event.
The competitive categories at the 21st Fantaspoa included: International, Ibero-American, National, Low Budget Great Films, and Short Films. Below is the full list of winners:
Short Film Competition (Jury: Anami Tara Shucart, André Kleinert, Emiliano Romero)
Best Brazilian Short Film: Carne Fresca, by Giovani Barros Best International Animation Short Film: Tinkerhell, by Noah Sterling Best International Live-Action Short Film: Help, I'm Alien Pregnant, by Thunderlips Mèliés D'Argent Award: L' essence de la Sirène, by Jessica Puppo Honorable Mentions: A Corte da Cúpula Suprema, by Carlo Giovani, Flávio Tambascia When it Comes (It Will Have Your Eyes), by Izibene Oñederra Frascos Vacíos, by Guillermo Ribbeck
Midnight Films Competition (Jury: Fabián Forte, JJ Weber)
Best Film: Scared Shitless, by Vivieno Caldinelli
Brazilian Competition (Jury: Juan Albarracín, Miguel Llansó, Nicanor Loreti)
Best Film: Suçuarana, by Clarissa Campolina and Sérgio Borges
Low Budgets Great Films Competition (Jury: Diego Poloni, Paula Carvalho Joly, Paula Febbe)
Best Film: Contact Lens, by Ruiqi Lu Honorable Mention: King Baby, by Kit Redstone and Arran Shearing
Ibero-American Competition (Jury: Andrew Bell, Christopher Faust, Viktor Taus) Best Film: The Instinct, by Juan Albarracín Best Direction: Edgar Nito, for A Fisherman’s Tale Best Screenplay: Enrique Buleo, for Still Life with Ghosts Best Actor: Sérgio Podeley, for Gunman Best Actress: Antonia Giesen, for The Hyperboreans
Honorable Mentions: Hot Sandwich, for its unique vision and rectal cavity take. A Fisherman’s Tale, for its ensemble female cast.
International Competition (Jury: Dane Taranha, Fernando Sanches, Yasmine Evaristo)
Best Film: The Lonely Musketeer, by Nicolai Schumann Best Direction: Joe DeBoer and Kyle McConaghy, for Dead Mail Best Screenplay: Chris Reading, Anna-Elizabeth Shakespeare, and Hillary Shakespeare, for Time Travel is Dangerous Best Actor: Edward Hogg, for The Lonely Musketeer Best Actress: Talia Zucker, for In Vitro Best Cinematography: Bruce Jackson, for The Lonely Musketeer Best Special Effects: The Brewery, for Time Travel is Dangerous Best Art Direction: Caroline Keenan Russell for Fucktoys
Honorable Mentions Best Soundtrack: Transcending Dimensions Best Supporting Actress: Lily D. Moore (The Other) Best Naked Dancing Duo on a Beach: Ebony and Ivory