After receiving a total of 80 projects in its inaugural call, the screenplay competition of Curtas Festival do Imaxinario already has a winner. The proposal titled “A rañala!”, written by screenwriter Adrián Nájera, has been selected by an exceptional jury composed of director Olga Osorio, screenwriter and critic Javier Trigales, and producer Raúl Cerezo.
This initiative, born from the collaboration between the festival and the production company Producciones Mutantes, establishes itself as a true “gateway” to the professional industry, offering new talents in the fantastic genre a production and mentorship platform unprecedented on the national scene.
A Folk horror in the shellfish beds of Carril
The winning screenplay immerses us in a story of resentment and supernatural horror starring Sabela, a fifty-year-old shellfish gatherer with a difficult temperament. After being punished in the “cursed nursery” of Carril, Sabela finds a white rose floating on the water that hides a sinister artifact: “O ollo do demo” (The Devil’s Eye). What begins as a mystical revenge to eliminate her coworkers ends up becoming a spiral of ruthless irony, proving that playing with the forces of evil always carries a bitter price.
A unique opportunity for training and production
Adrián Nájera will now begin a top-level professionalization process before heading to the film set. The winner will receive a luxury mentorship package to polish the project:
- Screenwriting Mentorship: A personalized consultancy with Beto Marini (Sleep Tight, La Unidad) to perfect the narrative and structure of the work.
- Directing Mentorship: Filmmaker Miguel Ángel Vivas (Kidnapped, Your Son) will provide his experience to define the staging and the approach behind the cameras.
- Full Production: The filming of “A rañala!” will take place this coming summer of 2026 entirely on locations in Vilagarcía de Arousa, featuring a professional technical crew and the support of the organization.
Premiere and international circuit
The resulting film will have its grand world premiere during the 54th edition of Curtas Festival do Imaxinario, which will be held from October 23 to November 1, 2026. Following its festival run, the short film will begin an ambitious journey through international festivals, showcasing emerging talent and the landscapes of Arousa on screens worldwide.
With this competition, Curtas Festival do Imaxinario reaffirms its commitment not only to exhibiting the best fantastic cinema but also to active creation and direct support for the voices that will define the future of the genre.
Curtas Festival do Imaxinario will celebrate its 54th edition from October 23 to November 1 with the institutional support of the Concello de Vilagarcía de Arousa, the Deputación de Pontevedra, and the Xunta de Galicia, and the sponsorship of De Angeles Films, Gadis, and Rei Zentolo.