Quick Snaps: Nacho Vigalondo Dances Through Fantastic Fest 2007

In 2007, Spanish filmmaker Nacho Vigalondo brought home the Best Feature award at Fantastic Fest for Los Cronocrímenes (Timecrimes), which had its world premiere at the film fest. Shortly after the science-fiction thriller played Fantastic Fest, Timecrimes was picked up for distribution by Magnolia Pictures -- the first distribution deal linked to the Austin festival.

I had the honor of sitting next to Nacho during the second screening of Timecrimes, and he thanked me for all of my screaming and jumping during the film. Attendees at the Fantastic Fest Karaoke Party were later treated to Nacho's animated version of "I'm Too Sexy,"which he re-enacted with Tim League in the above photo.

In 2008, Fantastic Fest attendees enjoyed the collected works of Nacho's short films, including the Academy Award-nominated short 7:35 In the Morning. Several of his short films were subtitled in English for the first time for this program.

Nacho has made a few other shorts I like: Choque, in which Nacho stars as a man driven over the edge in a gaming arcade, and Sunday, where a young couple bicker while documenting the most important single occurrence in the history of mankind.

Although Nacho is busy with the development of his latest feature, Gangland, he will return to Austin to screen his new short film, Marisa. Be sure to check it out when it screens with Kenny Begins at Fantastic Fest next week.

[Photo credit: "Tim and Nacho" by Jette Kernion]