Macabrostica IX

Charming axolotls, sibylline snakes, obese birds, lysergic Furbys, media-hungry herons, violent human beings, police dogs, addicted Barbies, and bloody self-harm… All this fauna and much more arrives at Macabro from Bilbao with love, in a new edition of “Lo más Macabro de Caostica”, the 9th anniversary of this festival pairing, which this time pays homage to the darkest, rowdiest, and most fun animation. “Eskuburdin” – J Martina (Ximon Agirre) 3 min. Basque Country. Music video for the band J Martina about their song “Eskuburdin”.

Music Video for the band J Martina about their song “Eskuburdin”.

“Spooky Loops” (Stas Santimov) 4 min. Ukraine. Spooky Loops is a compilation of independent productions, 13 ultra-short animated stories about dreams, fears, loneliness, injustice, violence, cruelty, and inhumanity.

Spooky Loops is a compilation of independent films of 13 ultra-short animated stories about dreams, fears, loneliness, injustice, violence, cruelty, and inhumanity.

“Final Show” (Freddy Wallin) 15 min. Sweden. “Final Show” is a story of futile resistance. In a distorted reality, defenseless creatures are imprisoned and forced to humiliate and hurt each other by their captor. Everything is recorded and streamed to thousands of paying customers. Until one day the creatures say enough.

The Final Show is a story of futile resistance. In a distorted reality defenceless creatures are inprisoned and forced to humiliate and hurt each other by their captor. Everything is recorded and streamed to thousands of paying customers. One day they have had enough.

“To bird or not to bird” (Martín Romero) 9 min. Basque Country. “To bird or not to bird,” that is the question. A critical and kaleidoscopic look at today's world told through the tragicomic and grotesque experiences of some birds.

To bird or not to bird, that is the question. This is a critical and kaleidoscopic view of the current world told through the tragicomic and grotesque experiences of some birds.

“Periquitos” (Alex Rey) 6 min. Spain. The great animation film director, Hayao Miyazaki, announces his definitive retirement. But the muses of inspiration have other plans for him…

The great animation-films director, Hayao Miyazaki, has announced his retirement. But the muses of inspiration have other plans for him…

“Un guarda fronterizo y su perro” (Pablo Ballarín) 3 min. Spain. A visit to the border between Belarus and Poland.

A visit to the border between Belarus and Poland.

“Plastic Touch” (Aitana Ahrens) 11 min. Spain. Lucy, a sex doll, wakes up in a room in a doll brothel. She lives with Mina, another doll. Alone, they watch television: their window to the real world. They imagine a life together, far from there. After a while Lucy wants to escape. But Mina doesn't want to leave. Lucy has to choose: freedom, or the doll she loves.

Lucy, a regular sex doll, comes to life for the first time in a bedroom of a doll brothel. She shares room with Mina, another sex doll. They are trapped between four velvet walls. But when no one sees them, they come alive and spend their free time watching TV. The screen is their window into the real world. Mina has been awake for a long time, but for Lucy everything is new. So she is fascinated; she wants to keep discovering.

“El Padrastro” (José Casas) 11 min. Spain. Robert is a handsome gentleman who is about to experience the worst day of his idyllic life.

Robert is a handsome gentleman who is about to experience the worst day of his idyllic life.

“Medusa” – Enrico Dragoni (Maëva Jacques) 4 min. Belgium. An unexpected encounter upsets the small, quiet life of an aquatic creature.

An unexpected encounter upsets the quiet little life of an aquatic creature.