Co-director, alongside Jaume Balagueró, of the influential [REC] saga, Paco Plaza revolutionized genre cinema in Spain through the use of “found footage” or mockumentary techniques, achieving an immersive realism and suffocating tension that left a lasting mark on an entire generation of filmmakers and audiences. This aesthetic and narrative approach turned [REC] into an international phenomenon and a landmark of European fantasy and horror cinema.

Paco Plaza’s filmmaking is distinguished by its ability to explore the human dimension of fear, using horror as a vehicle to reflect on deep emotions and experiences. Films such as “Verónica”, 2017 and “La abuela”, combine supernatural horror with realist drama, addressing themes such as death, vulnerability, guilt, and loss from an intimate, close, and deeply unsettling perspective.

With a highly distinctive authorial identity, Plaza blends influences from classic horror with costumbrista, autobiographical, and even ironic elements, creating a body of work that engages both with the genre’s tradition and with the social and emotional reality of its characters. His work has enjoyed wide international exposure, particularly on streaming platforms, consolidating his prestige well beyond Spain’s borders.

The Festival de Cine Antonio Ferrandis, held annually in Paterna (Valencia), is a significant event within the Spanish film landscape due to its role as a platform for the promotion of national cinema and its strong focus on local culture. After a decade of activity, it has become a key date on the national film calendar, with the Gran Teatro Antonio Ferrandis as its main venue for celebrating and promoting cinema. The festival is directed by Pau Gómez, who teaches film at LABA Valencia and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Spain.