SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 25 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Actress Tami Stronach, known for her role as the Childlike Empress in the 1984 film adaptation of Michael Ende’s ‘The Neverending Story’, directed by Wolfgang Petersen, is confirmed as a guest for the eighth edition of the Canary Islands Fantastic Film Festival Ciudad de La Laguna Isla Calavera, scheduled to take place from 8 to 17 November in Tenerife.
Tami will be awarded the Legend of the Fantastic Award for her memorable portrayal, which has left a lasting impression on numerous generations, and she will also introduce her latest film, ‘Man & Witch: The Dance of a Thousand Steps’, at Multicines Tenerife. This film, directed by Michael Hines, serves as a heartfelt homage to the fantasy films of the 1980s, featuring contributions from other notable figures from that era, including Christopher Lloyd (‘Back to the Future’) and Sean Astin (‘The Goonies’). In this narrative, a solitary goat herder learns that he was cursed at birth, destined to remain without a wife. In a bid to lift the curse, he strikes a deal with a forlorn witch, but he must complete three insurmountable tasks to discover true love.
Additionally, Tami Stronach will partner with director Lisa Downs to present the documentary ‘Life after the Neverending Story’, which celebrates Wolfgang Petersen’s classic through interviews with cast and crew members, such as Noah Hathaway (Atreyu), Deep Roy (Teeny Weeny), singer Limahl, and special effects and makeup expert Colin Arthur. Both Tami and Lisa will participate in the ‘Industry Meeting: Filming in the Canary Islands’ during the Isla Calavera Festival. This gathering, scheduled for Saturday, 9 November, will unite influential producers, directors, and creatives with representatives from the Canarian audiovisual sector in Tenerife.
SKULL ISLAND DOCUMENTARY SECTION
The Isla Calavera Festival prominently features documentary films centred around fantasy cinema, with this eighth edition including another five remarkable contributions, including ‘Chain Reactions’ by Alexandre O. Philippe. After showcasing his documentaries ‘Memory: The Origins of Alien’ (2018) and ‘Lynch / Oz’ (2022) in previous editions of Isla Calavera, the filmmaker returns to examine the influence of ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ on personalities such as Takashi Miike, Stephen King, Karyn Kusama, Patton Oswalt, and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.
This screening will be part of a significant event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the original 1974 ‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’, directed by Tobe Hooper, which will also feature a screening of the original film and a dialogue with Marcus Nispel, the director of the 2003 remake, who will be honoured with an award at the Festival for his outstanding contributions to cinema.
Furthermore, the Festival will welcome another pivotal figure in Spanish fantasy cinema, and a regular participant at Isla Calavera, Víctor Matellano, who will unveil his new project ‘Call Me Paul’. This film delves into the character and creative genius of renowned Madrid filmmaker Jacinto Molina, better known by his stage name, Paul Naschy, who became an instrumental figure in global fantasy cinema, initially as a screenwriter and actor and subsequently as a director. The narrative is conveyed by English actress Caroline Munro, who collaborated with Naschy on ‘El Aullido del Diablo’; American actor Jack Taylor, who participated in projects such as ‘Dr. Jekyll and the Wolf Man’ and ‘La Venganza de la Mama’; Producer Sergio Molina, Naschy’s son and co-star in several of his works like ‘Mi Amigo el Vagabundo’ and ‘El Aullido del Diablo’; as well as dubbing artist Héctor Cantolla, who lent his voice to Naschy in multiple films.
Also premiering at Isla Calavera is the Spanish production ‘Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director’ by Jonathan Bellés. Following his documentary on the origins of Godzilla entitled ‘The Dawn of Kaiju Eiga’ (2019), the filmmaker delves into the career of the director of ‘Godzilla: Japan under the Terror of the Monster’ (1954), the inaugural film about the famed titan. The programme also includes the documentary ‘José Lifante, My Adventure in Cinema’, directed by David García Sariñena, who previously worked on the short film ‘El Último Guion’ and the documentary ‘Sanjulián, El Poder de la Ilustración’. This exploration reflects on the unique and artistic journey of José Lifante (1943-2024), one of Spain’s most significant and prolific supporting actors, who attended the Isla Calavera Festival in 2021 to discuss ‘No Desratar la Tumba de los Muertos’ and his recent work, ‘Vampus Horror Tales’.
