Nicholas Jaquinot as troubled filmmaker Max Wren in Lenore.

Two new Australian films, Lenore and Skeleton Girls. A Kidnapped Society, have been selected to screen at Fantasporto Film Festival in Porto, Portugal – one of the world’s leading and longest-running genre film festivals.

Lenore, the debut feature film by director David Ward, is a haunting psychological drama that explores grief, obsession, and the dangerous pull of memory. 

Set against an unsettling and intimate backdrop, Lenore follows terminally online sycophant Max who goes hunting for answers when a controversial influencer Lenore suddenly disappears, only to come face-to-face with the monstrosity of his own sins. As the narrative unfolds, the film steadily blurs the line between reality and inner turmoil, inviting audiences into a world that is as emotionally raw as it is unsettling.

“Fantasporto is an incredible platform for a film like Lenore,” says Ward. 

“It’s a festival that champions bold, genre-driven work, and we’re thrilled to share the film with an international audience in Portugal.”

Director David Ward, producer Riley Sugars, and stars Nicholas Jaquinot and Ruby Duncan will be in attendance.

Additionally, the World Premiere of the film will take place at the Horror on Sea Film Festival in Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom on January 23rd.

Lenore will screen as part of the Fantasporto Film Festival in Porto, Portugal, on March 2.

Alla Malakhitova in Skeleton Girls. A Kidnapped Society

Western Australian underground punk feature Skeleton Girls. A Kidnapped Society will also have its International Premiere at Fantasporto Film Festival where it will screen in Competition in the Fantastic Cinema section on March 5.

Written and directed by WA filmmaker Richard Eames and co-produced by Eames and Helena Tay, Skeleton Girls is a provocative independent film starring a massive all-WA cast of Alla Malakhitova, Alex Arco, Cara McCarthy, Ashleigh Zinko, Dean McAskil and performance poet Splodge to name a few. The film was shot by rising local cinematographer Meredith Lindsay (Proclivitas).

Described as ‘raw, rebellious and unapologetically local’ (Variety Australia) Skeleton Girls is a wild punk thriller about a young woman on the run who must survive a news cycle frenzy in order to escape a dangerous plot involving a notorious girl gang.

Skeleton Girls. A Kidnapped Society had it’s World Premiere at the 28th Revelation Perth International Film Festival in July last year before screening at the 19th Sydney Underground Film Festival in September.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be apart of Fantasporto. It’s such a legendary festival with an incredible track record of discovery spanning decades,” says Eames. 

“It’s a huge honour to bring our film to an international audience at this festival and as independent filmmakers their support means the world to us. We also look forward to exploring the beautiful architecture and rich history of Porto, as well as many films while we are there.”

Perth audiences will get their chance to see the film ahead of its premiere in Portugal at a special screening in late February as part of the 7th WA Made Film Festival, WA’s premiere screen industry event for all things Western Australian cinema held annually at Palace Raine Square.

The film’s pulsating original electronic score by WA musician Steven Alyian (Usurper of Modern Medicine, Injured Ninja, Selfless Orchestra, Doublethink Prism) is also scheduled for release to coincide with the film’s international premiere in early March.

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