#FANTASIA: PREVIEW OF FANTASIA FEST 2020

By Amanda Gilmore

Good news Cinephiles, Fantasia Fest is still happening during these uncertain times! And to mould with the moment it’s going to be completely virtual. It’s all kicking off this week starting August 20th and will run until September 2nd with a mix of VOD and Live Screenings. That means those who want to attend won’t have to travel to Montreal this year, making this one of the more easily accessible Film Festivals of the year. And there are many films in the lineup this year gathering buzz.

Kicking off the festival is the opening night live screening of Niel Marshall’s (2019’s Hellboy) latest The Reckoning. The Film takes place in 1665 and follows a woman accused of being a witch after losing her husband to the plague. It stars Charlotte Kirk, Joe Anderson and Sean Pertwee. One film garnering buzz is Fried Barry, which follows drug-addict Barry (a fantastic Gary Green) who’s body gets hijacked by an alien and taken on a joyride through Cape Town. There is plenty of love for our homegrown Canadian talent as well. Slow-burning Thriller The Oak Room unravels a mystery though eery storytelling, cabin-set Isolation Film Bleed with Me follows a shy girl who struggles to integrate herself on a weekend getaway, and high-octane For the Sake of Vicious is a home-invasion gorefest with killer stunts and acting. There are also Documentaries making waves such as Canadian-made Clapboard Jungle which examines the life and career of an independent Filmmaker, and You Cannot Kill David Arquette which follows a wrestling comeback for its quirky subject.

The Films aren’t the only events you can virtually tap into! There are plenty of events happening, and what’s best is they are completely free! Afrofuturism takes place on August 21st at 5 PM and examines how Afrofuturism changed the lack of representation of BIPOC people in the Science Fiction genre. There’s going to be a talk with the Screenwriter of Horror-hits The Guest and You’re Next Simon Barrett on August 24th at 5 PM, Doctor Sleep and The Haunting of Hill House Writer-Director Mike Flanagan will be speaking about adapting literary works into film and making them your own on August 30th at 3 PM. And the legend of Horror himself, John Carpenter, is not only being honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Fest, but he will also be giving a masterclass on August 22nd at 4 PM.

Don’t forget to check-back daily as we bring you reviews from the hottest Films to come out of the Fest!

If you want to get tickets or learn more about Fantasia Festival 2020 head over to fantasiafestival.com.

(Photo credit: Fantasia Festival)