Málaga presents 3 unsettling titles from the 36th Fancine: What is known

The 36th Fancine Málaga already has its first three confirmations: 'Hen,' 'Victorian Psycho,' and 'Ghost in the Cell.' The University of Málaga’s fantastic film festival will screen them from November 10 to 17, alongside four premieres gathered under the slogan 'Programmed to Love.' The first hint of the lineup arrives with psychological terror, supernatural horror, and a thematic program that looks at love from far less predictable angles.

The three films opening the Fancine lineup

Which horror titles will be shown in Málaga?

The first batch gathers three proposals with presence on the festival circuit and very different origins. For the Málaga audience, the interest lies precisely there: the preview is not limited to a single type of fear but combines an African debut, an American literary adaptation, and an Asian co-production.

From South Africa comes 'Hen', written and directed by Nico Scheepers. The film is a psychological horror story shot in black and white, a visual choice that clearly distances it from more conventional genre productions.

Its previous run has also given it concrete support: 'Hen' won the best feature film award at the Neuchâtel Festival (Nifff). The recognition has a particularly striking fact: it became the first African film to achieve this in the entire history of that festival. For Fancine, including this title means placing a South African voice in the first advance of its upcoming edition.

The second confirmation is 'Victorian Psycho', an adaptation of Virginia Feito’s novel of the same name. The author also wrote the screenplay, while American Zachary Wigon handles directing.

Maika Monroe, known for 'It Follows,' plays a governess who fulfills her duties while her intentions turn out to be disturbing. The combination of a bestseller novel, the Victorian era, and a protagonist portrayed through that double tension places the film in a very recognizable zone for the Fancine audience: that of horror lodged beneath social norms and apparent correctness.

What does 'Ghost in the Cell' bring to this selection?

'Ghost in the Cell' brings the element of supernatural horror and social critique. It is a co-production between Indonesia and South Korea that sets the action inside a maximum-security prison, a setting with obvious narrative weight even before knowing more story details.

Joko Anwar’s return also connects this edition with the filmmaker’s recent trajectory at the festival. Anwar previously participated in past editions with 'Impetigore,' 'Gundala,' and 'Satan’s Slaves,' and now returns with a new work that expands the presence of Asian cinema in the programming preview.

The editorial reading of these three confirmations is clear: Fancine is not presenting a uniform horror lineup. There is black and white, literature, closed institutions, prison, social critique, and an African perspective accompanied by a historic award. Fear here comes with a passport and nuances.

Four premieres to understand the slogan 'Programmed to Love'

Which films make up the 2026 thematic section?

The thematic section will gather four world premieres on the Albéniz screens. For those following Málaga’s programming, this section offers the other key to this edition: the festival does not present love as a pause from fantasy, but as the starting point to tell stories crossed by strangeness.

The selection includes the Spanish premiere of 'Little Doors', the feature directorial debut of American Anthony Oberbeck. Oberbeck himself stars in the film alongside his partner, Megan Koester, a detail that adds a personal dimension to this first foray behind the camera in feature format.

The cycle also includes 'Mum, I'm Alien Pregnant', a New Zealand production by Sean Wallace and Jordan Mark Windsor. Both creators work under the name Thunderlips, and their film is part of the pair of debuts devoted to family bonds.

The African presence continues with 'Paradise', co-produced with Ghana and directed by Jérémy Comte. The filmmaker was Oscar-nominated for his short 'Fauve' and debuts in feature filmmaking with a story linking two teenagers separated by the ocean, though united by the same absence.

How does Fancine reinvent love stories?

The answer lies in the variety of the four titles: a Spanish premiere, a couple relationship in front of and behind the camera, family ties, a separation between teens, and a vampire story set in the Atlantic.

The fourth title is 'No Rest for the Wicked', by Dane Kasper Kalle. The film reinvents the vampire mythos through a love story set in the Faroe Islands at the beginning of the 19th century. The location and historical period diverge from the genre’s more usual settings, although the source does not provide more plot details.

With 'Programmed to Love,' the 36th Fancine arranges a thematic selection spanning several territories: the United States, New Zealand, Ghana, and the Faroe Islands are linked by stories of affection, absence, family, and desire. This mix matters in Málaga because it turns the thematic section into a different gateway to the festival, even for those not seeking horror alone.

The alliance with the Málaga Festival also strengthens the framework of this edition, which will be held from November 10 to 17. The slogan is not reduced to a promotional phrase: the four announced films show that the festival wants to examine love from the alien, the familiar, the impossible, and the vampiric.

Dates, venue, and call for students

When and where will the 36th edition take place?

The 36th Fancine will be held in Málaga from November 10 to 17, in alliance with the Málaga Festival. The ‘Programmed to Love’ section will bring its four premieres to the Albéniz screens, while the first three confirmed films will be integrated into the festival’s general programming.

This information already places the event on the city’s cultural calendar, although the organizers have only announced the first batch of films so far. Therefore, the full lineup remains pending new confirmations. What is defined, however, is the thematic axis and the diverse origins of the first titles.

How can University of Málaga students get involved?

Students can register until October 20 through the form available on the festival’s website. The call includes tasks in organization, communication, translation, merchandising, and support for the sessions of the educational project.

Planned duties include attending guests, managing social media, and audiovisual coverage of events. Also included are the translation of texts and interviews, selling merchandise, and supporting the sessions of the educational project.

The selection will consider each applicant’s profile and order of registration, as well as specific requirements for each task. The collaboration offers a certificate of participation and allows requesting recognition of up to three ECTS credits, at one credit per 25 hours completed.

For students, this is not just about attending screenings. The call opens the possibility to participate in the festival’s operation from within, with tasks related to guests, communication, translation, audiovisual work, and audience services. It is a concrete way to gain experience during an edition that has already begun to reveal its cards.

The 36th Fancine Málaga will start with three horror bets — ‘Hen,’ ‘Victorian Psycho,’ and ‘Ghost in the Cell’ — and will add four premieres under the slogan 'Programmed to Love.' Dates are set from November 10 to 17; the thematic section will be shown at the Albéniz, and students can apply until October 20. The lineup has only begun to unfold, but the mix of origins, genres, and perspectives already offers a pretty clear sign of what the festival is preparing.