53 Fantastic Films Selected from 23 Countries!

This year, we received an incredible range of submissions from across the globe! Films arrived from 33 countries spanning 5 continents. After careful selection, the festival has chosen a record of 54 films representing 23 countries to compete in our program.

The competition showcases the diverse and boundless imagination of the fantastic genres: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism, surreal comedy, and everything in between. The lineup includes a vivid mix of live-action and animation, student works and seasoned filmmakers, experimental visions and heart-pounding stories.

Audiences can look forward to unforgettable tales of monsters, ghosts, surreal love stories, dystopian futures, and folkloric nightmares – told through the unique perspectives of filmmakers from Iceland, the United States, Iran, Sweden, Brazil, Spain, Denmark, South Korea, and beyond.

This year’s program not only highlights the strength of the fantastic genre worldwide but also underscores our mission to celebrate imagination, encourage new voices, and spark inspiration from Nordic and Icelandic folklore.