The Lund Fantastic Film Festival (25-31 October) is set to return with a diverse programme of screenings, Q&As and professional events dedicated to fantastic cinema. The festival, held annually in the southern Swedish city of Lund, continues to serve as one of the country’s most important showcases for European and international genre films.

This year’s selection includes the Swedish premiere of Dog of God [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film] by Latvian directors Raitis and Lauris Ābele, Latvia’s Oscar entry for Best International Feature Film (see the news). The rotoscope-animated movie, also shortlisted for Best Animated Film at the European Film Awards (see the news), depicts a 17th-century witch trial in Livonia that exposes a werewolf within a religious community. Director Lauris Ābele and art director Harijs Grundmanis will attend the screening.

Another highlight is The Black Hole [+leggi anche:
intervista: Moonika Siimets
scheda film] by Estonian filmmaker Moonika Siimets, screening in competition for the Méliès d’Argent Award. The sci-fi drama explores themes of isolation and connection through a distinctive visual style, and marks Siimets’ first appearance at the festival.

As a member of the Méliès International Festivals Federation (MIFF), Lund Fantastic will once again host the Méliès d’Argent Award, recognising outstanding achievements in European fantastic cinema. Nominees for Best European Feature include Watch Out for Zombies! by Emil Broo (Sweden), El Instinto by Juan Albarracín (Spain), Straight Outta Space by Michael Middelkoop (Netherlands), Stream by Sergio Pereda (Spain), Tummy Monster by Ciaran Lyons (UK), and the aforementioned Dog of God and The Black Hole. Furthermore, eight short films will be competing for Best European Short Film. The winners will be announced on 31 October, with the selected films proceeding to compete for the Méliès d’Or.

The Finn Fantastic competition, now in its fourth year, will showcase the best Swedish short films. Screenings will be held on 26 and 27 October at Kino in Lund, followed by Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. Participants include Scilla Kättström (Näcken), Henry Moore Selder (The Musical Spider), Mats Udd (Don’t Be Afraid), Francesco Loi and Nicola Camoglio (Qubit), and several other emerging directors.

International guests expected at the festival include director Ashley Butcher and script supervisor Anja Selivanova (Terminus), Austrian cinematographer Felix Pochlatko and producer Clara Maria Bacher (Ever After [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Carolina Hellsgård
scheda film]), Mexican filmmaker Alejandro Alberola (Black Hole Barry), and Martin Pahlén, Jakob Hauptmann and Jonas Ericsson, the team behind Eyes on the Screen, among others.

In parallel with the screenings, the festival will host Fantastic Forum 2025, its two-day industry platform dedicated to the future of genre storytelling. Taking place on 25 and 26 October at Kino Atrium, the forum invites filmmakers, producers, students and other creatives to exchange ideas and explore opportunities in the fantastic film landscape. This year’s programme will focus on short-film distribution, emerging Swedish talent and international collaboration through a series of panels, workshops and networking sessions. Speakers include commissioner Jeanette Schjerva (Film i Skåne), producer and project manager Hanna Olsson (International Resource Office), and producer and strategist Anna Huth (Audiovisual Institute, film:lab, team4set). The event will conclude with the interactive Pitch Your Crew networking format and the New Swedish Cinema Showcase, celebrating the latest works from Swedish filmmakers.