February 16, 2026. Sant Boi de Llobregat. Since its inception, the Fantboi ( Sant Boi de Llobregat Fantastic Film Festival ) has chosen a theme for each edition. The central theme around which their proposals revolve, and this year, 2026, from May 7th to 10th , the festival’s battle cry—and that of the attending public—will be “ Vive la guillotine !” (Long live the guillotine!). In the words of Fantboi ‘s director , Hugo Cobo, “ The guillotine, beyond its image and shocking use, symbolized at the time the break with abuses of power and the beginning of social change .” And although the guillotine had its golden age during the French Revolution, it has always been linked to the fantasy genre; how can we forget Edgar Allan Poe’s «The Pendulum of Death» or, closer to our time, the death of David Warren in «The Omen,» which had such a profound impact upon its release back in 1976?
The instrument of execution, created to carry out punishment without distinction of social class, is also understood as a symbol of rupture and change, of transgression and revolution. “ From fantasy and horror cinema, genres that have always known how to speak to collective fears and question the system, we want to reclaim critical thinking, rebellion, and creative freedom in a political moment that challenges us all, ” Hugo Cobo points out, “ because, like the guillotine, we believe that culture is one of the best weapons against fascism in these times when countries and citizens are being dragged from one place to another amidst the mad implementation of the dystopias dreamed up by the writer Ayn Rand, and where the supposed champions of freedom turn Orwellian nightmares into reality .”
For all the above reasons, the organizers and programmers are aiming this year for an edition that combines visual impact with fun and innovation – without forgetting the necessary nods to French cinema – and for this reason, Fantboi has enlisted the illustrator Raquel Gu to create this year’s official poster; Raquel’s comic book style, with its unique visual personality, will be the public’s entry point to this year’s festival.
Don’t forget, book from May 7th to 10th and practice the battle cry for 2026: «Long live the guillotine!»
