The winners of HÕFF 2026
TALLINN, Estonia – The Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival (HÕFF) has concluded its 21st outing on a high note, setting a new benchmark for attendance. The festival reached a total of 5,936 visits, slightly surpassing last year’s figures and confirming the event’s status as a cornerstone of the Baltic genre scene.
“It was worth it,” said festival director Helmut Jänes, who quite literally sacrificed for the event—injuring his leg while representing the festival at the Walpurgis Night run, after which it was put in a cast. He expressed heartfelt thanks to audiences who continue to trust the festival’s programming.
The festival screened 35 feature films from 25 countries, alongside a selection of short film programmes.
Méliès d’argent Award Winner – Short Films @ HÕFF Film Festival 2026
The winner of the Méliès d’Argent Award for Best European Fantastic Genre Short Film at HÕFF is “I Owe You One” by Santi Capuz and Diego Jiménez (Spain, 2025).
Spain. Raúl and Lucas have been lifelong friends.
One ordinary day, Raúl takes Lucas home… but before that, he
asks him for a favor. An important one. After all, Lucas owes him.
“It kept the audience engaged from the beginning to the very end. After seeing this film, you’ll think twice about to whom you promise to return a favour” stated the jury, comprising director Elis Rumma, film distributor Erkki Joasoon, journalist Kaire Reiljan and Latvian critic Kristīne Simsone.
The win serves as a precursor to the final round of the Méliès d’Or competition.
HÕFF – The Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film Festival is part of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, an association currently consisting of 35 film festivals, whose mission it is to promote European fantastic cinema around the globe. The Méliès d’argent is awarded to short films for cinematic quality and creativity. The winning short film qualifies for the competition for the Méliès d’or.
Don’t forget to watch the MELIES D’ARGENT Special Programs on our Méliès Fantastic Hub!