THE DOCUMENTARY "FANTASY ART. LUIS ROYO. ROMULO ROYO. GOYA" ARRIVES AT THE 2026 SITGES FILM FESTIVAL
The universe of Luis Royo and Romulo Royo hits the big screen with Fantasy Art. Luis Royo. Romulo Royo. Goya, a feature-length documentary directed by Mirella R. Abrisqueta that will premiere at the 2026 Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia.
Shot over two years, the film follows both artists during the creation of an artistic project inspired by the darker, more fantastical side of Francisco de Goya. A journey combining creation, art, and travel brings face-to-face two universes separated by more than two centuries, yet connected by a shared fascination with the fantastic.
The film delves especially into the Goya of Los Caprichos, Los Disparates, and the Black Paintings, a realm inhabited by witches, monsters, grotesque characters, and dreamlike visions that naturally connects with the imagery of Fantasy Art. Rather than a biographical approach or a conventional tribute documentary, the film offers a true "game of mirrors": two contemporary artists confront their own fantastical universe with Goya's, establishing a dialogue between eras, languages, and different ways of understanding creation. The documentary offers an insider's look into the creative process, revealing how the artworks come to life.
The result is an intimate portrait of the creative journey shared by Luis and Romulo Royo, as well as a reflection on the place Fantasy Art holds in today's contemporary art world.
A Journey from Zaragoza to Lucca
The creative process also becomes a physical journey. The camera accompanies the artists from Zaragoza to Barcelona, Brussels, and Florence, visiting locations tied to their own careers as well as Francisco de Goya's.
The path starts from sites like the small church in Remolinos (Zaragoza), where Goya painted his first spandrels, and passes through the European Museum of Modern Art (MEAM) in Barcelona and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, before reaching Lucca (Italy).
It is there that the work of Luis Royo and Romulo Royo is presented within the framework of Lucca Comics & Games, one of the major international events dedicated to fantastic art, comics, video games, pop culture, and cinema.
Thus, the film captures not only the creation of the artworks, but also the journey that accompanies them and the various spaces that help us understand the trajectory of its protagonists.
Fantasy Art as the Main Character
One of the central themes running through the documentary is the evolution of the art world and the growing presence of Fantasy Art in international artistic circuits.
Through collectors, gallery owners, historians, authors, agents, and friends, the documentary expands its view on both artists and poses a question that weaves through the entire film: what place Fantasy Art occupies in the history of contemporary art today, along with the assertion that it deserves a greater presence in major museums. Among the personalities appearing in the feature film, we can mention Raquel Gallego, curator of the temporary exhibition Goya. Traveler and Artist of the Grand Tour; Alain Huberty, director of the Huberty & Breyne gallery in Brussels; Emanuele Vietina, director of Lucca Comics & Games; Miguel Marcos, director of the Miguel Marcos gallery in Barcelona; Rafael Martínez, director of Norma Editorial; Sergio Rincón, art agent; and Juan Royo, economist and collector, among others.
Mirella R. Abrisqueta, Director of the Documentary
The film is directed by Mirella R. Abrisqueta, a director, screenwriter, and producer. Over the course of her career, she has written and directed feature documentaries such as El olvido del mar, La mujer que soñaba con números, and Cazando lo invisible.
Her works have screened at festivals such as the Málaga Film Festival, the Mallorca International Film Festival, and the Zaragoza Film Festival, receiving accolades including Best Documentary at the Simón Awards, presented by the Aragonese Film Academy.
Regarding the origin of this film, the director explains: "this documentary grew out of my knowledge and long-term interest in the careers of Luis Royo and Romulo Royo: two artists with enormous international impact who, paradoxically, do not share that same level of recognition in their own country outside comic and Fantasy Art circles. Their exhibition on Goya, another artist from Aragon, seemed like the perfect opportunity to bring their work to the general public".
A Sitges Premiere for a Film About Fantastic Art
The presentation of Fantasy Art. Luis Royo. Romulo Royo. Goya at the Sitges Film Festival 2026 marks a particularly significant milestone for a project centered around fantastic art.
The 59th edition of the International Fantastic Film Festival of Catalonia will take place from October 8 to 18, 2026, maintaining its status as one of the world's premier gatherings dedicated to genre cinema.
Bringing the story of Luis Royo and Romulo Royo, their connection to Goya, and the evolution of Fantasy Art to a stage like Sitges helps translate this universe to an international cinematic and genre audience, continuing to expand the space this genre occupies in contemporary culture.
We look forward to seeing you all at the 2026 Sitges Film Festival!