One of the main attractions in a carnival, a fortune-teller sees his talent for foreseeing the future and the unknown vanish when the unexpected return of his sister leaves him disturbed. “Stump the Guesser” is a fascinating and disconcerting surrealist comedy – or, rather, an eccentric melodrama -, peppered with excellent visual gags. The direct references to silent cinema, such as the opening of “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”, the soviet old-school-like editing, and the actors’ broad and exaggerated gestures are quite representative of Guy Maddin’s unmistakably meta-nostalgic style, in his post-modernist appropriation of avant-garde cinema tradition and of early cinema’s narrative techniques. Working since the late 80’s and one of the most original voices in contemporary cinema, Maddin has directed 12 features, which he alternates with multidisciplinary projects and short films. Since 2011, he has collaborated with Galen and Evan Johnson in the Development Ltd collective. Maddin’s debut at Curtas’ competition was in 2001, with “The Heart of the World”, and since then he has returned with “Cowards Bend the Knee” (2004), “Odin’s Shield Maiden” and “My Dad is 100 Years Old” (both in 2008). Out of competition, Curtas has presented his feature “The Green Fog” (2018), codirected with the Johnson brothers. (MD)