Fantasporto — Porto International Film Festival

Fantasporto – International Film Festival of Porto Founded in 1981, Fantasporto is one of the world’s most respected festivals dedicated to genre cinema, held annually in Porto, Portugal. With a programme spanning fantasy, horror, sci-fi, and experimental film, it brings together premieres from emerging directors, cult discoveries, and boundary-pushing works from across the globe. Known for identifying future classics and supporting new voices in cinema, the festival attracts cinephiles, critics, and broader audiences alike. Fantasporto has received wide international recognition: Variety has referred to it as one of the most prestigious genre festivals in the world; Dread Central listed it among the Best Horror Festivals in 2021 and 2022; and MovieMaker Magazine named it one of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in 2023. In Portugal, it has been awarded the Medalha de Mérito Cultural by the Ministry of Culture for its lasting contribution to national arts and culture. The festival currently features four official competitive sections: the Official Fantasy Film Competition, focused on international fantasy cinema; Directors’ Week (Prémio Manoel de Oliveira), highlighting auteur-driven works beyond genre; Orient Express, dedicated to contemporary Asian film; and the Portuguese Cinema Award, celebrating national production and emerging talent. With over four decades of independent programming, Fantasporto continues to shape the global conversation around genre film. Discover where cult classics begin—Fantasporto, Portugal’s acclaimed genre film festival, shaping cinema since 1981.