#FIRSTLOOK: “DARK MATCH” PREMIERES AT FANTASIA FILM FESTIVAL 2024

On Sunday, July 21st, Dark Match had its World Premiere screening at Fantasia Film Festival. Writer & Director Lowell Dean was in attendance with wrestling superstar Chris Jericho (TERRIFIER 2), Ayisha Issa (Transplant), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead, Westworld), Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries), Michael Eklund (THE CALL, ERRORS OF THE HUMAN BODY), Jonathan Cherry (GOON), Mo Jabari (AEW Dark: Elevation) and Justin Lawrick (Wrestling with the Past) and Skene Kittle.

The premiere delighted fans with a wrestling inspired red carpet and film merchandise.

(Left to Right) Skene Kittle, Sara Canning, Mo Jabari, Chris Jericho, Lowell Dean, Jonathan Cherry, Ayisha Issa, Michael Eklund, Justin Lawrick, Steven Ogg

Chris Jericho & Lowell Dean in front of a full house at the World Premiere of DARK MATCH.

Writer/Director Lowell Dean

Chris Jericho

SYNOPSIS:
A small time wrestling company accepts a well-paying but too good to be true gig in a backwoods town only to learn, too late, that the community is run by a mysterious cult leader… and their event is now a pay-per-view fight to the death.

Written and Directed by
Lowell Dean

(Photo credit: Shawn Goldberg)

#FIRSTLOOK: TRAILER FOR “BOOKWORM” STARRING ELIJAH WOOD

BOOKWORM starring Elijah Wood is set to open this year’s Fantastia Film Festival in Montreal. Here’s the Trailer and additional info about its premiere.

FANTASIA SCREENING DETAILS:
Opening Night Film
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)
1455 rue Maisonneuve O (rue Bishop)
Montréal QC H3G 1M8
Click here for more information.

SYNOPSIS:
During a time of crisis, a washed-up American magician Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood) and his precocious estranged daughter Mildred (Nell Fisher) take to the New Zealand wilderness, in search of a mythical black panther.

KEY CAST:
Strawn Wise – Elijah Wood (Yellowjackets, Come to Daddy, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy)
Mildred – Nell Fisher (Choose Love, Evil Dead Rise, Northspur)
Arnold – Michael Smiley (Obituary, Bad Sisters, Come to Daddy)

COUNTRY: New Zealand
LANGUAGE: English
RUNTIME: 104 minutes

DIRECTOR: Ant Timpson (Come to Daddy, Crab Boy)
WRITER: Toby Harvard (Come to Daddy, Tropical Cop Tales, The Greasy Strangler)
PRODUCERS: Emma Slade, Roxi Bull, Victoria Dabbs, Mette-Marie Kongsved, Laura Tunstall

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Daniel Katz, ISC
EDITOR: Dan Kircher
COMPOSER/SCORE: Karl Sölve Steven

CANADIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Photon Films

#FIRSTLOOK: “YAKUZA PRINCESS” TRAILER

Jonathan Rhys Meyers is back in Fantasia 2021 selection YAKUZA PRINCESS. Check-out the new Trailer!

Synopsis:

Set in the expansive Japanese community of Sao Paulo in Brazil — the largest Japanese diaspora in the world — YAKUZA PRINCESS follows Akemi (MASUMI), an orphan who discovers she is the heiress to half of the Yakuza crime syndicate. Forging an uneasy alliance with an amnesiac stranger (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) who believes an ancient sword binds their two fates, Akemi must unleash a war against the other half of the syndicate who wants her dead.

YAKUZA PRINCESS is available via VOD/Digital on September 3, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Magnolia Pictures)

#FANTASIA: FANTASIA FESTIVAL 2021 PREVIEW

By Justin Waldman & Amanda Gilmore

Fantasia Festival 2021 officially kicks-off on Thursday August 5, 2021 through Wednesday, August 25, 2021, now in its 25th year, with an incredible line up of films and features!

Our Team’s Justin Waldman and Amanda Gilmore had an opportunity to preview some of the amazing films to premiere at the Montreal-based Festival, celebrating genre Film! See some of their recommendations. Throughout the Festival, we will be sharing their reviews on what to see as well. Be sure to check back! Note, most films are available virtually through the duration of the Festival unless otherwise stated.

JUSTIN WALDMAN (@DUBSREVIEWS)

Fantasia 20201 comes at us with some of the craziest, most outrageous movies I’ve seen this year! These movies range from Supernatural Thrillers to Puppet Zombie masterpieces of truly epic proportions and outlandish house parties gone wrong and zombie madness. There are definitely some movies that deserve a memorable shoutout like Sion Sono’s new film, Prisoners of the Ghostland starring the incomparable Nicolas Cage, Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break which won over audiences at SXSW, Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror, a Documentary on Horror films. There is so much to see at Fantasia 2021 and here are five of the movies that I’ve seen thus far that have been some of the best! More to come!

BRAIN FREEZE

Zombie Comedy-Horror films, few and far between get the movie and genre bending films right. Brain Freeze absolutely hits the nail on the head, it is a genuinely brilliant Zombie film with an interesting way explaining the spread of the disease, with fantastic gore and zombie action. There is so much fun that audiences will be smiling ear to ear, with their jaws falling off from laughter and pure joy from the zombies.

A small rich gated community wants to make sure their golf course stays green longer and uses a new fertilizer, however that fertilizer unfortunately is infected with a mutated gene that manages to turn people into Zombies. Everyone has been infected, the government doesn’t want the spread to get any further out of hand, and one lonely child Andre (Iani Bedard) must find his way out of the community, after all exits have been cut off or bombed. It’s a fight for survival, that is a bloody good time.

Brain Freeze is for fans of the Zombie genre, filled with blood, guts, and tons of laughter. This zombie comedy will entertain audiences. The cast encapsules the embodiment of zombies without landing on usual tropes, while providing some scares and silliness at the same time. Brain Freeze is not to be missed at Fantasia!

FRANK AND ZED

Frank and Zed, there is so much to say about this insanely bonkers film that one cannot simply describe! One must absolutely gush about the ingenuity and sheer joy that is brought by six years of labour into this masterful puppetry of brilliance that is Frank and Zed. Jesse Blanchard, dedicated six years of his life to make this wonderful insane masterpiece of blood, guts, and puppets. Frank and Zed is such a delight, it must be consumed to truly be believed.

Frank and Zed are two re-animated corpses who are dependent on each other to survive, one being a Frankenstein-esque monster and one being a Zombie, the two appear to be great friends and truly inseparable. Everything is fine in their lives, until one of the villagers discovers that they are living on the outskirts of the city and threatens their way of life. The reason the villagers are so terrified of them is because of an old prophecy: the orgy of blood! Everything about Frank and Zed is truly spectacular and cannot be missed. It will leave you in stitches!

Jesse Blanchard is truly someone to watch out for moving forward, his ability to tell and direct a story is simply sublime. Frank and Zed is some of the most fun, most gory, most insane feature I’ve seen all year. There is something so delightful and bloody fun about Frank and Zed that needs to be seen to be believed!

OFFICE ROYALE

Office Royale is part-Scott Pilgrim, part-Battle Royale and part Tarantino if that does not get audiences excited, then there is something wrong. The Movie focuses on different Office Lady’s who are all part of different cliques who battle for office supremacy. In this wild ride, audiences get to see some masterful fights that are pure entertainment and filled with some excellent choreography and blood.

Naoko Tanaka (Mei Nagano) is one of the very few office lady’s who decides to sit outside of the cliques and just go about her day, not affiliating herself with any of the cliques and fights that we can notice. This changes when she meets who is deemed the ultimate office lady, Ran (Alice Hirose) who seems to be able to take down all the cliques and make one ultimate clique for the office itself. Things take a turn though when others learn of Ran and the Office Royale truly becomes a battle for supremacy.

While the Movie focuses on tropes, with taking comedic takes on them, it feels very meta. The performances throughout Office Royale are great as they take on all the tropes, while packing a punch both figuratively and literally for the audience. The fast pace action sequences are top notch, and Office Royale is a blast from start to finish.

SWEETIE YOU WON’T BELIEVE IT

Sweetie You Won’t Believe It, is one of the most brutally-insane films I’ve ever seen. It is everything you could expect from a day trip gone wrong comedy one could expect, it is insane. Three friends who cannot figure out what they’re actually doing, getting stalked by some of the most inept hitmen the worlds ever seen being hunted by a mute person who emerges from the forest.

Das (Daniar Alshinov) is tired of all the issues he is running into at home so he plans a day out with his two equally tired friends, Arman (Azamat Markenlov) and Merat (Erlan Primbetov) as they go on a fishing expedition which starts off as a three stooges skit. From there they stumble across the world’s dumbest hitmen and notice them disposing of the body and they now become the hunted. However, to no one’s knowledge there is now a one-eyed man who is hunting them all down at this remote location. With screwball comedy and some blood and guts, Sweetie You Won’t Believe It delivers on all fronts of absolute insanity.

Audiences will be delighted to see the madness and hilarity that is going to delight crowds at Fantasia that is Sweetie You Won’t Believe It. The Movie is such a blast from start to finish, making you laugh or cringe at the Slapstick Comedy and immense violence. Sweetie You Won’t Believe It, is a must see for anyone who enjoys comedy and violence, a must see during this year’s Testival.

WONDERFUL PARADISE

In Wonderful Paradise, the Sasayas are down on their luck and must move out of their house due to a foreclosure. There is a miscommunication that leads to some truly baffling events, some supernatural occurrences, and some drug dealing mishaps, it may be far from a wonderful paradise, but it is a wonderful time.

Akiko (Kaho Minami) misunderstands her dad’s request to make memories and posts on twitter a party at her house, before they must leave, for all to come and enjoy. A mishap cast of a homeless man, a couple, some drug dealers, and some random family all come and make this a night to remember. There is death, there is children disappearing in supernatural ways, and a talking cat, this is truly a Wonderful Paradise of chaos. Wonderful Paradise is sheer madness and a pure delightful film with absolute joy. With everything that is going on, and a magical coffee bean that comes to life, there is something for all fans of genre films in Wonderful Paradise.

Sometimes movies just need to be a mix match of genre bending weirdness to become their own identity, and Wonderful Paradise blends supernatural, comedy, horror, and kaiju madness to become this wonderful melting pot of glorious proportions. This Film is an absolute joy from start to finish, bringing laughter and genuine shock at what is going on. Wonderful Paradise is a love letter to genre cinema, and such a joyful watch.

AMANDA GILMORE (@GilmoreAmanda)

THE SUICIDE SQUAD

James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad is an outrageous, fun action-packed thrill-ride loaded with humour from beginning to end. It’s hard to remember the last time this much fun could happen in the cinema.

This time around, the Squad sees many new additions. Most notably Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Ratcatcher (Daniela Melchoir) King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), Polka-Dot Man (David Dastmalchian) and more. But don’t fret, the fantabulous Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) and Col. Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) are still hanging with this unholy bunch. The new group is sent by Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) to the island of Corto Maltese to destroy what their government is hiding inside the Jotunheim building.

For those familiar with Gunn’s work — and you should be — his particular style of filmmaking is perfectly suited for this band of quirky supervillains. His new and improved The Suicide Squad is gruesome, violent, witty and a non-stop joyride. Even in the bleakest moments a line of dialogue or a character’s reaction slices the tension and causes laughs. Gunn’s always comes with a killer Soundtrack and once again, he delivers. It amplifies the characters inner turmoil, setting, themes and more.

Gunn has crafted a group of brilliant Actors who understand his delightful cocktail of action, gore and humour. It’s remarkable to think about the makeovers which Harley has had in her handful of films. Robbie shines every single time by building off of Harley’s previous endeavours and still making her new. Elba is the perfect fit as a ‘deadbeat dad’ trying possibly a little too late to become a good father. Cena’s comedic flair gets put to good use and he has a great rapport with Elba. Kinnaman brings the Rick Flag we’ve seen before but gives him a deeper desire to be the good guy. The rest of the ensemble, including the supporting members, are perfectly cast.

Overall, The Suicide Squad never disappoints and most impressively it’s entirely unpredictable. It’ll leave you laughing, cheering, gasping and it just might bring a tear to your eye.

The Suicide Squad screens at Fantasia in-person only, August 4, 2021 at Imperial Cinema at 7 PM. Warner Bros. Canada release THE SUICIDE SQUAD on August 6, 2021. Check out our full review then!

MIDNIGHT

This South Korean Thriller from Writer-Director Kwon Oseung, follows Kyung-mi (Jin Ki-joo), who is hearing-impaired, after trying to save a stabbed woman, becomes prey to psychopathic killer Do-shik (Wi Ha-joon). For the rest of the night, Kyung-mi is caught in a hide-and-seek scenario with the killer.

By making the lead deaf it has opened up an array of different ways of telling this particular genre story. Oseung never uses it as a disability but as a tool to show the arrogance of the hearing population. Kyung-mi searches for help from citizens and also the police, but to no avail. This is due to them becoming irritated or impatient with her. This leaves her to rely on herself and become her own saviour. It’s a refreshing take on this killer hunting female storyline.

The Cast is strong with its two main players giving powerful performances. Ki-joo is dynamite at evoking fear through one look and then getting more into the physicality of her performance. The Film plays with sound often cutting it all together when we are experiences life through Kyung-mi’s eyes. In these moments, Ki-joo’s physical performance is even more impactful. And Ha-joon understands that the most iconic psychotic characters have charisma. He plays this up with precision, often changing within seconds from charismatic to sinister.

Sometimes fear comes from knowing why someone did something. But sometimes it comes from there is no reason at all. What makes Midnight scary is that there is no reason as to why Do-shik is killing innocent women.

Midnight screens at Fantasia on Virtual Projection August 22 at 9 PM and August 24 at 9 AM.

THE NIGHT HOUSE

This Psychological Thriller will constantly keep you on your toes.

It follows Beth (a fantastic Rebecca Hall) in the aftermath of her husband’s, Owen (Evan Jonigkeit), unexpected suicide. Beth now resides in the empty house her late-husband built for them. However, when she begins searching for an explanation for her husband’s decision, she discovers some disturbing and spiritual secrets.

Director David Bruckner has found an effective way to use jump-scares that force even the most seasoned horror fan to be on edge. This happens right from the beginning, at times in daylight and with no cues (such as cutting the sound). In doing so, Bruckner forces his audience to expect anything at any time. Thus, creating a continuous atmosphere of fear that is rare in this genre today. Bruckner, along with the production design, film in a home that is simple and modern. There are no cobwebs, dust and creaking old floors. That’s because Bruckner and the Production Design team have effectively used camera angles and framing to play tricks on our eyes. Making us see spirits where there may —or may not— be any.

At the core of the Film, is the powerful performance from Hall. The majority of the nights, Beth is searching her house. In another’s hands, this could easily become aimless wandering. Yet, Hall puts immense intension behind each of Beth’s movements. Additionally, the grief-stricken Beth doesn’t shy away from death and the afterlife, instead she refreshingly runs toward it. And Hall exposes the curiosity, fear and at times relief that pass through Beth’s thoughts with mastery.

The Night House screens at Fantasia in-person August 12 at Imperial Cinema at 7 PM. Searchlight Pictures release The Night House August 20, 2021. Check out our full review and chat with Hall then!

PAUL DOOD’S DEADLY LUNCH BREAK

Charity-shop worker, Paul Dood (Tom Meeten) is set on winning the big national talent show. But when the actions of five selfish people cause him to miss his audition, he sets out to seek deathly revenge. It’s one lunch break, five spectacular murders.

This is quintessential British Dark-Comedy at its finest. At its core is the story of a middle-aged man who really wants to attain his dream. It appears to be a standard run-of-the-mill underdog story but it’s got a hilarious twist. A want hiding deeper within Paul than winning the national talent show is that he wants to be famous. It’s this desire for fame that Meeten latches onto and delivers one of the funniest performances of the Festival. His natural wit and charm make us root for Paul even when we know what he’s doing is wrong.

Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break could easily just be a darkly-comedic film, but it’s more than that. Co-writer and Director Nick Gillespie introduces the impact of social media on Paul’s insatiable need for fame. In order to become a star, Paul videos his journey to the audition. However, he doesn’t turn it off as he follows out his deathly revenge. And somehow, society tunes in and Paul believes he’s becoming a star. This is a Comedy with a powerful message on our current society’s obsession with likes and fame.

STRAWBERRY MANSION

In a future where the government records dreams and taxes them, a dream auditor James (Kentucker Audley who also co-writes and directs) gets caught up in ageing eccentric Arabella‘s (Penny Fuller) dreams. Thus, making him question the extent of control the government and corporations have over their dreamscape.

This Sundance 2021 hit is sure to spark conversation from the Fantasia audience. Co-Writers and Directors Audley and Albert Birney have created a futuristic world where capitalism has managed to expand and now invades every aspect of our lives — even if we aren’t aware of it. The inventive decision to show this through an eccentric’s dreams, lets this filmmaking pair take us on a journey to some surreal places. Impressively, no matter how surreal this Film gets the message is never lost.

Along this fun, magical ride is some great comedic moments. These primarily come from James’ recurring pink room dream where a man only known as Buddy (a hilarious Linas Phillips) brings him the same bucket of fried chicken from the same fast-food chain. These scenes, along with the rest of this film, are visually stunning. The dazzling Cinematography from Tyler Davis gives off a hazy, dreamy look to the Film overall. If that wasn’t enough to impress, the entire cast gives strong performances that are anchored in the want to have our dreams be our own.

More on the Festival here.

(Photo credit: Fantasia Festival)

#FANTASIA: 2021 FANTASIA FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

FANTASIA 2021 is set to kick-off August 5, 2021, with a special screening of James Gunn‘s THE SUICIDE SQUAD kicking everything off on August 4th. This year marks the Festival’s 25th anniversary and closing the Festival will be Takashi Miike‘s THE GREAT YOKAI WAR – GUARDIANS on August 25th, receiving its international premiere.

Some other high-profile titles, retrospectives and conversations that comprise this year’s Festival:

WHAT JOSIAH SAW

In director Vincent Grashaw’s Southern Gothic nightmare WHAT JOSIAH SAW, an estranged family grapples with the sins of the past… yanking the skeletons right out of their closet, kicking and screaming all the way! The superlative cast includes Robert Patrick, Nick Stahl, Kelli Garner, Tony Hale, Scott Haze and Jake Weber. It’s this year’s THE DARK AND THE WICKED. WORLD PREMIERE.

THE DEVIL’S DEAL

In his first picture since the Cannes selection THE GANGSTER, THE COP, THE DEVIL, Lee Won-tae returns with the masterfully directed THE DEVIL’S DEAL. What starts as a critical political satire escalates into a white-hot thriller in which corruption, insider trading, and organized crime run the show. Leading a fabulous cast, actor Cho Jin-woong (ME AND ME) delivers one of the best performances of his career, portraying with disarming naturalism the multiple facets of an ambitious and tortured politician, as endearing as he is loathsome, whose life literally depends on his election. With its immersive score, captivating plot, and clever twists, THE DEVIL’S DEAL is a must-see. WORLD PREMIERE.

BULL

A feared gang enforcer (Neil Maskell, KILL LIST), vanished for ten years, returns to hunt the mobsters he once ran with in BULL, the ferocious British revenge thriller from BAFTA-winner Paul Andrew Williams (LONDON TO BRIGHTON). A brutal and subversive work that frequently plays out like a horror film, stunningly executed and grounded by well-scripted characters, with a cast that includes Tamzin Outhwaite (EASTENDERS) and David Hayman (TABOO, SID AND NANCY) in a frightening turn that ranks with the strongest of British mobster portrayals. WORLD PREMIERE.

TOKYO REVENGERS

Takemichi may just have a chance to change the future – if he can survive his own past! A jawbreaking, juvenile delinquent street fight royale combined with a high-stakes time travel thriller and dashes of adolescent angst and romantic comedy, TOKYO REVENGERS is the live-action feature adaptation of Ken Wakui’s enormously popular award-winning manga of the same name. Director Tsutomu Hanabusa (KAKEGURUI 1 and 2, also at Fantasia this year) succeeds mightily at adapting this complex science-fiction story; amid a barrage of bloody, brutal hoodlum battles, he still finds room for the sweetness of first love. INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE.

GLASSHOUSE

A memory-shredding neurochemical permeates the atmosphere like airborne dementia, but safe within an airtight glasshouse a family preserves their past through rituals of collective memory. Sensual and savage, GLASSHOUSE weaves aspects of dystopian science fiction with notes of folk horror and perverse, brooding, Gothic melodrama to craft a taught existential tale that ultimately explores the importance of storytelling and memory. It’s a stunning feature debut from South African filmmaker Kelsey Egan, starring Adrienne Pearce, Jessica Alexander, Anja Taljaard, and Hilton Pelser. WORLD PREMIERE.

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

Freshly arrived from Tokyo to a fading village in the Japanese countryside, Akira becomes fascinated with an isolated girl who is obsessed with a crop circle in her grandfather’s fields. This multi-layered, sci-fi coming-of-age story by first-time director Yoichi Narita is a true gem with a dazzling narrative. The majestic, rich cinematography, which highlights the magnificent rural landscapes, and judicious use of music recall Shunji Iwai’s masterpiece ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU. FOLLOW THE LIGHT will leave a lasting impression with its soft visual splendour and sensitive storytelling. WORLD PREMIERE.

IDA RED

Midwest filmmaker John Swab (LET ME MAKE YOU A MARTYR) returns to Fantasia with IDA RED, a propulsive, gripping, crime thriller that escalates his career to the big leagues. Cast-as-criminals Josh Hartnett, Frank Grillo, and Melissa Leo (as a modern Ma Barker) have never been better. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

THE SADNESS

In an alternate version of Taiwan, a rapidly spreading pandemic suddenly mutates into a rabies-like affliction, and the infected find themselves unable to control their id. A nightmare vision steeped in unspeakably upsetting moments of violence, Rob Jabbaz’s THE SADNESS plays like a return to the no-holds-barred shock sensibilities of ’90s Hong Kong Category III films. Electrified with an existential fear that punches spikes of panic energy straight into your nervous system, and told with incredible style, THE SADNESS is a force to be reckoned with. Fantasia is proud to be bringing this extreme horror rollercoaster to North American shores, hot off its bow at Locarno. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

THE DEER KING

Following its world premiere at Annecy, and ahead of theatrical release in Japan, comes the highly anticipated THE DEER KING, co-directed by anime veterans Masashi Ando and Masayuki Miyaji. Based on the books by bestselling Japanese fantasy author Nahoko Uehashi, the epic saga of the legendary warrior Broken Antler Van comes to life with the peerless standards of quality we expect from the studios of Production I.G (GHOST IN THE SHELL, NEON GENESIS EVANGELION). Elegant and exacting design and animation seamlessly pair with Uehashi’s sturdy world-building and compelling conflicts to create a transporting animated otherworldly tale. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

DON’T SAY ITS NAME

When an environmental activist is called back to the world of the living after a suspicious accident takes her life, an ancient spirit is reborn outside a small northern town. With a wealth of Indigenous talent both in front of and behind the camera, DON’T SAY ITS NAME, the eerie feature debut from director/co-writer Rueben Martell, builds its chills with compellingly real characters and strong performances from Madison Walsh (SOMETHING UNDONE), Sera-Lys McArthur (OUTLANDER), Samuel Marty (GODLESS), Carla Fox, and Julian Black-Antelope (HOLD THE DARK). WORLD PREMIERE.

GRAND BLUE DREAMING

Stuck in a surreal, nudist loop somewhere between GROUNDHOG DAY and MEMENTO, two young men end up trapped in a scuba diving club full of muscular party animals and pretty girls with a temper. Based on a popular manga series, GRAND BLUE DREAMING, by Tsutomu Hanabusa (TOKYO REVENGERS), is as weird as it is hilarious. Astonishingly fast-paced and loaded with politically incorrect humour, this wild comedy also finds moments of calmness with beautiful and relaxing underwater shots. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

THE DEEP HOUSE

Two daredevil Youtubers with a passion for abandoned urban edifices film themselves as they take a deep dive into the bottom of a lake where there lies a mysterious house with a sinister past. Award-winning French genre maestros Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury (INSIDE, KANDISHA) display numerous filmic skills with this intelligent found footage style feature. The immersive darkness, the floating strangeness, THE DEEP HOUSE takes us down and further down, from mere unfamiliar discomfort to absolute and unfathomable terror. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

MIDNIGHT

A wave of murders hits the city and, lurking in the shadows, a killer has just identified his new prey – a deaf woman. South Korea has become the go-to source for fans of dark, intense, unpredictable thrillers that deliver cutthroat tension, and Kwon Oh-seung’s debut feature MIDNIGHT follows in this tradition. A breathless tale boasting hallucinatory sound design that relishes in testing the nerves of even the most seasoned viewers. CANADIAN PREMIERE.

PERRY BLACKSHEAR

A brother and sister face off against a mysterious force responsible for years of devastating misfortunes in WHEN I CONSUME YOU, a haunting new work from award-winning indie filmmaker Perry Blackshear. Reuniting with Evan Dumouchel, MacLeod Andrews, and Margaret Ying Drake, the core acting trio of his previous films THEY LOOK LIKE PEOPLE and THE SIREN, Blackshear and his team dole out powerful blows of tragedy, devastation, and personal struggle while a demonic figure looms just out of focus, yellow eyes burning in the background. WORLD PREMIERE.

SEPTET: THE STORY OF HONG KONG

A sifu hardens his students with “Exercise” in Sammo Hung’s evocation of childhood. Ann Hui stages a stirring tribute to Hong Kong educators in “Headmaster.” Patrick Tam Kar-Ming depicts the emigration of Hong Kongers by way of an impressionistic love story, “Tender is the Night.” Master action choreographer and director Yuen Woo-ping addresses generational divides in the 90s with “Homecoming.” Johnnie To details the city’s capitalistic hustle in “Bonanza.” The expanding harbour opens the floodgates of memory in Ringo Lam’s posthumous film “Astray,” and the decade to come is evoked by Tsui Hark’s futuristic, tongue-in-cheek closer “Conversation in Depth.” An exceptional omnibus comes to us at a crucial time in Hong Kong history, SEPTET: THE STORY OF HONG KONG reunites seven legendary Hong Kong directors for a heartfelt project composed of personal, resonant stories. QUEBEC PREMIERE.

CATCH THE FAIR ONE

A mixed Indigenous ex-boxer infiltrates the sex trafficking world in search of her missing sister in this ferocious thriller propelled by a commanding performance from WBA Super Lightweight Champion Kali “K.O. Mequinonoag” Reis. Pulverizing with fury and grief, CATCH THE FAIR ONE is the culmination of a four-year collaboration with director Josef Kubota Wladyka (MANOS SUCIAS), who co-wrote with his star. As much a hard-hitting revenge thriller as it is a personal interpretation of true crimes, the film addresses North America’s horrific crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women with urgency. Co-produced by Darren Aronofsky and 2021 Oscar-winner Mollye Asher (NOMADLAND) and winner of the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival. INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE.

ON THE 3RD DAY

The latest from Argentinean director Daniel de la Vega (WHITE COFFIN) and production house Del Toro Films (South America’s answer to Hammer Studios), ON THE 3RD DAY follows an anguished mother (Mariana Anghileri) trying to find her missing son, and the missing memory of what happened on the night of a terrible car accident. INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE.

THE NIGHT HOUSE

From director David Bruckner (THE RITUAL, THE SIGNAL) comes THE NIGHT HOUSE. Reeling from the unexpected death of her husband, Beth (Rebecca Hall) is left alone in the lakeside home he built for her. She tries as best she can to keep it together – but then nightmares come. Disturbing visions of a presence in the house calling to her, beckoning her with a ghostly allure. Against the advice of her friends, she begins digging into her husband’s belongings, yearning for answers. What she finds are secrets both strange and disturbing – a mystery she’s determined to unravel. THE NIGHT HOUSE stars Rebecca Hall (GODZILLA VS. KONG), Sarah Goldberg (Barry, Elementary), Vondie Curtis Hall (DIE HARD 2, EVE’S BAYOU), Evan Jonigkeit (Togetherish, Sweetbitter), and Stacy Martin (VOX LUX, NYMPHOMANIAC). CANADIAN PREMIERE.

MIDNIGHT IN A PERFECT WORLD

Near-future Manila is now a “perfect” world; the powerful forces keep it so, thoroughly hidden from view yet pressing down subconsciously and oppressively on the citizens. With rumoured blackouts happening around the city past midnight, the only refuge becomes government-sanctioned “safe houses” scattered around Manila. While many believe them to be a hoax, the truth of what they cover up may be something far worse. Taking its title from a DJ Shadow cut, and unfolding with an air of Philip K. Dickian strangeness, Dodo Dayao’s (VIOLATOR) long-awaited sophomore effort MIDNIGHT IN A PERFECT WORLD is, like his previous film, a uniquely savvy and nightmarish trip befitting the world’s ongoing dystopian situation, and one that cements Dayao’s unique voice in independent Filipino cinema. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

THE CAMERA LUCIDA section adds this final title to its competition, along with the following selection of short and medium-length films: AQUATIC BIRD (China – Dir. Zhang Nan); BORN PISCES (Japan – Dir. Yoko Yamanaka); DEATH VALLEY (United States – Dir. Grace Sloan); DOUBLE HELIX (China – Dir. Qiu Sheng); NOSES ON THE RUN (South Korea – Dir. Kim Boram) and TAIPEI SUICIDE STORY (Taiwan – Dir. KEFF).

BABY, DON’T CRY!

Step aside John Hughes and relinquish your crown because coming-of-age, teen romance will never quite be the same after BABY, DON’T CRY! Directed by Jesse Dvorak and written, designed, and starring Zita Bai, this astoundingly unique and harrowingly sincere film follows Baby, a Chinese immigrant in suburban Seattle, as she makes sense of her troubled home life and outsider existence through her indie DIY films and animalistic visions of the world. When she meets Fox (Vas Provatakis), a Skid Row punk with questionable decision-making skills, a whirlwind of intensity, ferocity, and sexuality engulfs the pair. Teetering between Baby’s fantastical visions and Fox’s raw punk rock ethos the two dive into this powder keg romance headfirst with no-holds-barred. WORLD PREMIERE.

FRANK & ZED

Are you ready for an orgy of blood? FRANK & ZED, one of the year’s goriest films, promises just that. In this bloodthirsty, bone-crunching, and strangely heartwarming movie, an odd-couple monster-duo Frank and Zed, a Frankenstein-type monster and his brain-eating companion, attempt to survive a medieval curse that has befallen a small village. And did we mention they’re all puppets? A true DIY passion project, conceived and made over 6 years, director Jesse Blanchard seizes an opportunity born from limitation to create an irresistible crowd-pleaser that embodies the resilience of thriving underground cinema. QUEBEC PREMIERE.

GIVING BIRTH TO A BUTTERFLY

Welcome to GIVING BIRTH TO A BUTTERFLY, the strange, melodic, and haunting feature debut of Theodore Schaefer. After having her identity stolen, Diana (Annie Parisse) goes on a surreal road trip with her son’s pregnant girlfriend, Marlene (Gus Birney), to find the perpetrators. Shot on pastel-toned 16mm, the film’s dreamy quality lulls you into its unusual atmosphere. As the lines between waking and dreaming life fade, the movie blends its ironic sense of humour with a unique blend of American surrealism that explores kitsch and performance to unearth a deep sense of alienation and loneliness. WORLD PREMIERE.

DR. CALIGARI

In 1989, Stephen Sayadian, aka Rinse Dream, released one of the most iconic and fantastical works in American exploitation cinema. For the first time since its release, thanks to a new restoration, it will finally find its audience and retroactively be appreciated as the Underground masterpiece that it is. Bizarre, stunning, goofy, and unsettling, DR. CALIGARI embraces the avant-garde in its exquisite and hilarious exploitation of America’s repressed libido. As the film’s title might suggest, the feature is a loose remake of the German expressionist classic, centered on Mrs. Van Houten, a woman who seems to be losing touch with reality, and her treatment under Dr. Caligari, who diagnoses her with a “disease of the libido.”

DR. CALIGARI

In honour of the restoration of his seminal underground classic DR. CALIGARI, Stephen Sayadian will sit down and discuss his career; past, present, and future. The multi-talented artist got his start as the creative director for Larry Flynt Publications, designed some of the most iconic film posters of the 1980s (including DRESSED TO KILL, THE FUNHOUSE and THE FOG), and directed some of the most eye-popping and transgressive films of the era. Working under the pseudonym Rinse Dream, Sayadian’s films, including CAFÉ FLESH and NIGHTDREAMS II & III) blurred the line between smut and art. Working in both hard and softcore porn, his surreal films were consistently marked by a dark sense of humour, incredible production design, and hallucinatory imagery. For the first time at Fantasia, Sayadian will regale our audiences with the stories and legends from his incredible career and tease what might come next.

A virtual gallery of some of Sayadian’s best work will also be presented during the festival for amateur and veteran fans of his art. Presented in collaboration with BBAM! Gallery.

DEAR HACKER

Alice’s webcam’s red light flashes. A hacker, a ghost, a god? She decides to expose the identity of the invader. DEAR HACKER, Alice Lenay’s debut documentary, is a patchwork of video calls that come together as a metaphysical reflection. Alice gleefully jumps down the rabbit hole and navigates the infinite universe of the web – our minds’ web – and our interconnectedness at a time when we’ve never been so distant. With her witty observations and sagacious imagination, Lenay writes a visual letter in the form of this film telling a story of perception, reality, and society. The loading circle spirals out, but Alice keeps going. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

ALIEN ON STAGE

A high-spirited group of British bus drivers set their minds to launching a homemade stage play adaptation of Ridley Scott’s ALIEN in Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer’s debut documentary ALIEN ON STAGE. With a Christopher Guest-esque charisma that particularly recalls his community theatre classic WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, the film follows the ups and downs of the delightfully DIY production, with its second-hand costumes and cardboard sets, and the charming crew determined to make it succeed. QUEBEC PREMIERE.

POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ

A fiercely moving tribute to one of the most recognizable and unconventional figures in punk history, POLY STYRENE: I AM A CLICHÉ celebrates the life and legacy of Poly Styrene, famous frontwoman of X-Ray Spex and poster child for the UK’s Riot Grrrl and Afropunk movements. Featuring previously unseen archival footage and a succession of eloquent diary entries narrated by Oscar-nominated actress Ruth Negga and co-directed by the icon’s own daughter, Celeste Bell, and seasoned documentarian Paul Sng. QUEBEC PREMIERE.

LOST BOYS

Following the successful release of his breakthrough documentary REINDEERSPOTTING: ESCAPE FROM SANTALAND (2010), Finnish filmmaker Joonas Neuvonen, along with his friend Antti and the film’s star, Jani, traveled to Southeast Asia or a celebratory trip… Which ended tragically when Jani was found dead and Antti went missing. Co-directed by their longtime collaborator Sadri Centinkaya, LOST BOYS chronicles Neuvonen’s return to Bangkok and Phnom Penh, into an even deeper hellscape of drugs, prostitution, and wandering souls, as he seeks out the truth behind his friends’ demise while picking up the pieces of his own imperfect life. QUEBEC PREMIERE.

THE 12 DAY TALE OF THE MONSTER THAT DIED IN 8

For its 25th anniversary, Fantasia is proud to honour writer, director and video artist Shunji Iwai with a Career Achievement Award and play host to a special masterclass led by the esteemed filmmaker. His latest film, THE 12 DAY TALE OF THE MONSTER THAT DIED IN 8, previously announced as part of the Camera Lucida slate – designed as a relief film for the Japanese film industry during the COVID-19 pandemic – perfectly captures the all-too-online moment in which we find ourselves. This is only the latest example of Iwai’s preternatural talent for capturing and sublimating the unspoken feelings that accompany pivotal moments in life, such as the end of elementary school, the beginning of university, the uncertainty of married life, or turn-of-the-millennium teen angst. He expertly communicates what it means to live in increasingly interconnected times, integrating the language of message boards, dating apps, and handwritten love letters into his work. A chronicler of changing hearts and changing times, Iwai’s filmography stands as one of the most unique and influential in all of Japanese cinema

Also screening as part of this tribute: FIREWORKS, SHOULD WE SEE IT FROM THE SIDE OR THE BOTTOM? (1995), APRIL STORY (1997), ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU (2001).

A LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR STOP-MOTION TITAN PHIL TIPPETT

From the original STAR WARS trilogy to the millennial TWILIGHT SAGA, on top of ROBOCOP, JURASSIC PARK and STARSHIP TROOPERS, Phil Tippett’s inventive, innovative, iconic stop-motion creations have become universally familiar elements of our collective imagination. Fantasia is proud to honour the director and visual effects master with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 for his original vision and his contributions to the advancement of the craft.

This proud moment coincides with the long-awaited completion of Tippett’s personal masterwork— thirty years in the making, MAD GOD sees its North American Premiere at Fantasia this summer. Equal parts harrowing and hilarious, it’s a perpetual motion machine of biomechanical malevolence, a Dantean descent into the depths of Tippett’s imagination that cements him as an artist of the highest order.

Accompanying MAD GOD is the world premiere of the documentary short WORSE THAN THE DEMON, an intimate and insightful profile by the subject’s daughter, Maya Tippett. Fantasia will present Tippett with his Lifetime Achievement Award by way of a virtual ceremony, followed by a masterclass exploring the deeper roots of his art.

ADDITIONAL THIRD WAVE TITLES

COMING HOME IN THE DARK

New Zealand – Dir. James Ashcroft

This extraordinary neo-noir is a blisteringly tense road movie into hell that plays like a home-invasion thriller set largely in a moving car. Based on the 1995 short story by award-winning New Zealand author Owen Marshall, described by David Hill as “one of the most harrowing narratives in our literature.” Official Selection: Sundance 2021, Calgary Underground Film Festival 2021. QUEBEC PREMIERE.

THE FEAST

UK – Dir. Lee Haven Jones

Shot entirely in the Welsh language and crafted with intelligence and cruelty, THE FEAST plays like a modern fairy tale for greed-fueled end-times. It’s a striking feature debut from BAFTA-winning director Lee Haven Jones (35 DAYS, DOCTOR WHO) dripping with atmosphere, this grotesque shocker is a standout in cinema’s current folk horror revival. Official Selection: SXSW 2021. CANADIAN PREMIERE.

FIGHTER

South Korea – Dir. Jéro Yun

Life is a constant struggle for Jina, a North Korean refugee, but she finds her path in boxing. Director Jéro Yun judiciously uses close-up shots highlighting the glances and silences that say much more than words, thanks to near-surgical editing, displaying a transcendent presence by actress Lim Seong-mi. Official Selection: Berlinale 2021, Busan International Film Festival 2021. CANADIAN PREMIERE

HAND ROLLED CIGARETTE

Hong Kong, Dir. Chan Kin-Long

Triad intrigue involving turtles, smuggled drugs, and instant noodles in the underbelly of neon HK in this refreshing film noir action that recently won the White Mulberry Award for best debut feature at the Udine Far East Film Festival. CANADIAN PREMIERE

JOSEE

South Korea – Dir. Kim Jeong-kwan

After an incident that leaves her electric wheelchair disabled, Josée is rescued by Young-seok, who she then brings in to discover her unique imaginary world. A beautiful, moving, charming, and visually polished film by Kim Jeong-kwan faithfully adapted from the popular novel Josee, the Tiger and the Fish. Official Selection: Busan International Film Festival 2021.

ONE SECOND CHAMPION

Hong Kong – Dir. Chiu Sin-Hang
With the power to see one second into the future, loser Chow becomes a winner in the ring. It’s ROCKY with a high concept and loaded with more humor and high-pressure fun— Hong Kong style, from one of the directors of Fantasia 2017’s VAMPIRE CLEANUP DEPARTMENT. Official Selection: Udine Far East Film Festival 2021. CANADIAN PREMIERE.

OPÉRATION LUCHADOR

Québec – dir. Alain Vézina

Mexican wrestler L’Ange Doré is back, and he’s confronting the dark designs of the Third Reich. Film teacher and documentarian Alain Vézina (LES SOEURS DE NAGASAKI, 2018) embraces the mockumentary genre wholeheartedly with his latest joyous delirium. NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE.

SEOBOK

South Korea – Dir. Lee Yong-joo

A former secret service agent (GongYoo, TRAIN TO BUSAN) struggling with a brain tumor must return to duty for a mission of the utmost importance: protecting Seobok (Park Bo-gum, COIN LOCKER GIRL), the first human clone who has unnatural powers. Few mainstream films integrate ethical reflection with breathtaking, high-octane entertainment to this incredible extent. CANADIAN PREMIERE.

SWEETIE, YOU WON’T BELIEVE IT

Kazakhstan – Dir. Yernar Nurgaliyev

Seasoned Kazakh comedy director Yernar Nurgaliyev plunges into horror-comedy for the first time, serving us a fresh, dynamic mix of genres while spicing it with Kazakh flair in this award-winning film. Imagine TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE meets THE HANGOVER. CANADIAN PREMIERE.

UNDER THE OPEN SKY

Japan – Dir. Miwa Nishikawa

A former driver for the yakuza has just spent 13 years behind bars. Determined to reintegrate into society, he discovers a hostile and changing Japan that he struggles to recognize. Miwa Nishikawa’s (THE LONG EXCUSE) gripping UNDER THE OPEN SKY features Koji Yakusho (TOKYO SONATA) in one of his most moving roles. Official Selection: TIFF 2020. QUEBEC PREMIERE.

WILD MEN

Denmark – Dir. Thomas Daneskov

Armed only with a bow and an ensemble of animal skins, Martin (Rasmus Bjerg, ALL FOR ONE) sets off into the forest in a misguided attempt to overcome his midlife crisis. A chance meeting with a fugitive named Musa (Zaki Youssef, SONS OF DENMARK) leads to a twisted trip through the fjords with police, drug runners, and Martin’s family not far behind. Those who have any doubt that the funniest movies being made today come from Denmark need not look any further. Official Selection: Tribeca 2021. CANADIAN PREMIERE.

FANTASIA RETRO PRESENTS A PACK OF RESTORATION PREMIERES

In addition to the aforementioned restoration of Stephen Sayadian’s DR. CALIGARI (1989), Fantasia is proud to announce the following classics, resurrected in stunning new transfers.

UZUMAKI

Japan, 2000 – Dir. Higuchinsky

Higuchinsky’s elusive adaptation of Junji Ito’s cult classic UZUMAKI (SPIRAL) returns to Fantasia after 20 years, screening in a brand new 4K restoration. Decadently stylized and as beguiling as ever – practically dripping with blue-grey grime and oozing slime – the film stands out for its cosmic horror stylings and the ways it comes closest to the haunted tape at the centre of RINGU. The film itself now appears to us as cursed – full of shifty details and disturbing artefacts – as it unfolds with an almost experimental slice-of-life logic. One of the more peculiar films in the J-horror canon. World Premiere of Toei’s new 4K restoration.

TOMBS OF THE BLIND DEAD (La noche del terror ciego)

Spain, 1972 – Dir. Amando de Ossorio

One of the most gloriously mythical, highly original zombie films ever made bursts from the grave, fully uncut in a striking new restoration from Synapse Films scanned from the original camera negative. The film re-envisions medieval Catholic military order the Templar Knights as satanic monks living under an occult curse, forced to walk the earth as eyeless undead in need of human flesh. In an imaginative twist, given their blindness, they are able to track the living by listening for their heartbeats.

World Premiere of Synapse Films’ new restoration.

MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN (Il mulino delle donne di pietra)

Italy, 1960 – Dir. Giorgio Ferroni

The first Italian horror produced in colour, Ferroni’s landmark Italian Gothic boasts an impressive saturated signature, a style which was later picked up by Mario Bava when he made BLOOD AND BLACK LACE (1964). As a result, much like the later features by Bava, the film stands out stylistically for its bold painterly qualities, in this case layered in gorgeous, dark, fairy tale artifice. Picking up the baton from Gothic romance-tinged mad science films, such as HOUSE OF WAX (1953), MILL OF THE STONE WOMEN takes the staple ‘woman-into-wax’ trope into unconventional territory with strange experiments, weird vampirism, and the dead coming back to life. World Premiere of Arrow Video’s new restoration.

THE UNKNOWN MAN OF SHANDIGOR (L’Inconnu de Shandigor)

Switzerland, 1967 – Dir. Jean-Louis Roy

This long-lost mid-1960s Cold War super-spy thriller is a marvelous and surreal hall of mirrors– part DR. STRANGELOVE, part ALPHAVILLE– with sly nods to British TV shows like THE AVENGERS and DOCTOR WHO. All mod sunglasses and bizarre architecture (including Antoni Gaudi’s famed La Pedrera/Casa Mila), the long-unavailable SHANDIGOR has been beautifully restored by the Cinematheque Suisse. Starring Marie-France Boyer, Daniel Emilfork, Howard Vernon, and Serge Gainsbourg! North American Premiere of a new 4K restoration by the Cinematheque Suisse. Presented by Deaf Crocodile Films.

FUNKY FOREST: THE FIRST CONTACT

Japan, 2005 Dirs. Katsuhito Ishii, Hajime Ishimine, Shunichiro Miki
If you look at them just right, the most mundane elements of daily life can seem utterly bizarre. That’s the lunatic logic behind 2005’s fan-favourite cult classic FUNKY FOREST; a sprawling omnibus of the obvious and the oddball, the casual and the completely insane. Collaborating with hotshot advertisement directors Hajime Ishimine and Shinichiro Miki, director Katsuhito Ishii set them loose to confuse you, amuse you, repulse you, excite you, and just plain freak you out. World Premiere of Error 4444’s new HD restoration.

THE WARPED FOREST

Japan, 2011 – Dir. Shunichiro Miki

We’re not out of the woods yet! Witness the wonders of time-warping and dream-tinkering! Giggle at bellybutton sex and pornographic fruit snacks! Squirm when the local baker sneaks out for an illicit encounter with a furry little nipple-sucker and so much more. Shunichiro Miki flies solo on THE WARPED FOREST, an essential, long unavailable, work in the millennial new wave of radical, hallucinogenic Japanese comedies that blend deadpan humour, delirious dream logic, creeping paranoia and empathic, easygoing optimism into the strangest of cinematic brews. North American Premiere of Error 4444’s new HD restoration.

JURIES AND COMPETITIONS

Fantasia is pleased to announce the 2021 Cheval Noir competition titles:

ALL THE MOONS – Spain / France, Dir. Igor Legarreta

THE DEVIL’S DEAL – South Korea, Dir. Lee Won-tae

HELLBENDER – USA, Dirs. Toby Poser, John Adams, Zelda Adams

GHOSTING GLORIA – Uruguay, Dirs. Marcela Matta, Mauro Sarser

THE GREAT YOKAI WAR – GUARDIANS – Japan, Dir. Takashi Miike

HOTEL POSEIDON – Belgium, Dir. Stef Lernous

INDEMNITY – South Africa, Dir. Travis Taute

LOVE, LIFE AND GOLDFISH – Japan, Dir. Yukinori Makabe

MARTYRS LANE – UK, Dir. Ruth Platt

REMAIN IN TWILIGHT – Japan, Dir. Daigo Matsui

THE RIGHTEOUS – Canada, Dir. Mark O’Brien

TOKYO REVENGERS – Japan, Dir. Tsutomu Hanabusa

VOICE OF SILENCE – South Korea, Dir. Hong Eui-jeong

WONDERFUL PARADISE – Japan, Dir. Masashi Yamamoto

The following industry professionals make up the Fantasia 2021 juries:

CHEVAL NOIR COMPETITION

Agnieszka Smoczyńska (Jury President) – Poland – Director, Screenwriter

Kambole Campbell – UK – Writer, Critic

Paula Devonshire – Canada – Producer

Mónica García Massagué – Spain – Author, Professor, General Manager of the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival

Simon Rumley – UK – Director, Author

NEW FLESH COMPETITION FOR BEST FIRST FEATURE

Kim Newman (Jury President) – UK – Author, Critic, Broadcaster

Jill Gevargizian – USA – Director, Screenwriter, Producer

Gigi Saul Guerrero – Mexico – Director, Screenwriter

Brian O’Malley – Ireland – Director, Screenwriter

Myriam Sassine – Lebanon – Producer, Co-Founder of the Maskoon Fantastic Film Festival

INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION

Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani (Co-Jury Presidents) – Belgium – Directors, Screenwriters

Prano Bailey-Bond – UK – Director, Screenwriter

Yfke van Berckelaer – Netherlands – Director, Screenwriter

Faye Jackson – Scotland – Director, Screenwriter

AQCC CAMERA LUCIDA COMPETITION

• Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma (Québec Critic’s Association)

Jean-Marie Lanlo – Canada – Critic, Publisher

Martin Gignac – Canada – Critic

Claire Valade – Canada – Critic

AXIS ANIMATION COMPETITION

Hefang Wei (Jury President) – France – Director, Artistic Director, Co-founder of Weilaï Productions

Ashkan Rahgozar – Iran – Director, Writer, Founder and CEO of Hoorakhsh Studios

Kalp Sanghvi – India – Director, Writer, Co-founder of Ghost Animation Collective

PANELS AND SPECIAL EVENTS, ACCESSIBLE WORLDWIDE

While Fantasia 2021’s films are geo-blocked to Canadian audiences, all of the festival’s panels and special events are free and accessible worldwide, allowing these unique experiences to be enjoyed by fans on every corner of the Earth.

In addition to the aforementioned artist talks by Shunji Iwai, Stephen Sayadian, and Phil Tippett, Fantasia is pleased to announce the following special events.

Presented in association with WarnerMedia

HAUNTING THE NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS: THE RISE OF INDIGENOUS HORROR

Saturday, August 7 – 4PM EDT

Presentation by Dr. Kali Simmons

In the article “The Rise of Indigenous Horror,” Haudenosaunee writer Alicia Elliott notes that, “…many non-Indigenous horror writers depict situations that Indigenous people have already weathered.” The recent exposure of genocidal violence against Indigenous children within the “residential school” programs which operated in Canada and the United States stresses the truth of this observation even more.

In this lecture, expanded from work presented at the Miskatonic Institute for Horror Studies, film scholar Dr. Kali Simmons will analyze the ways that horror has been deployed in the service of settler-colonialism as well as the ways Indigenous writers, actors, and filmmakers speak back to these troubling stories.

SOUTH AFRICA SCREAMS: VOICES FROM THE NEW WAVE OF S.A. GENRE CINEMA

Sunday, August 8 – 2PM EDT

With panelists Nosipho Dumisa (NUMBER 37), Kelsey Egan (GLASSHOUSE), Bradley Joshua (Producer, Gambit Films, BLOOD & WATER), Ryan Kruger (FRIED BARRY), Michael Matthews (FIVE FINGERS FOR MARSEILLES), and Travis Taute (INDEMNITY); Moderated by Todd Brown (XYZ Films)

In recent years, South Africa has lit up the international cinema world with inspired and sophisticated genre film reworkings that frequently win awards and leave audiences breathless. Fantasia has proudly showcased— and in some cases, launched— many of these works. This year, Fantasia will be World Premiering not one but two South African works, Travis Taute’s INDEMNITY and Kelsey Egan’s GLASSHOUSE. To celebrate, the festival will be presenting a special roundtable discussion between some of the leading talents in S.A.’s new wave. Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear insights and production stories from some of the country’s most exciting artists, brought together for what’s sure to be an unforgettable time.

KONVERSATION: TAKAYUKI HIRAO MEETS PASCAL-ALEX VINCENT

Monday, August 9 – 5PM EDT
Interpreter: Zen Nakamura

With SATOSHI KON, THE ILLUSIONIST, French documentarian Pascal-Alex Vincent demonstrates the profound effect that the late master, in whose honour Fantasia’s animation award is named, had on anime and indeed cinema worldwide. Japanese animator Takayuki Hirao, director of POMPO: THE CINÉPHILE, can attest to it firsthand, having spent his formative years working under Kon on MILLENNIUM ACTRESS and PARANOIA AGENT. Kon’s legacy is the starting point of a discussion between the two directors. In English and Japanese with verbal translation.

Untold Horror presents…

MONSTERS MUST LIVE!

Friday, August 13 – 5PM EDT

With panelists Brian Yuzna, William Malone and Richard Raaphorst; Moderated by Dave Alexander

Filmmakers Brian Yuzna (RE-ANIMATOR series, SOCIETY), William Malone (HOUSE ON HAUNTED HILL, MASTERS OF HORROR) and Richard Raaphorst (FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY) discuss their unmade monster movies and the ongoing, often maddening, occasionally hilarious quest to bring some of the coolest creature features to life. Hosted by Untold Horror author and former Rue Morgue editor-in-chief Dave Alexander, Monsters Must Live! proves that when it comes to the film biz, some of the most incredible creations don’t actually exist onscreen.

GRADY HENDRIX LIVE: WELCOME TO THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP

Sunday, August 15 – 5PM EDT

Bestselling author Grady Hendrix (Paperbacks from Hell, My Best Friend’s Exorcism) welcomes you to a very special support group, so have a seat, coffee’s in the back, and remember there’s no cross-talk. Then prepare yourself for a guided tour of the history of murder books, because ever since the invention of the printing press we’ve been using it to tell stories about killing each other, from bizarro 19th century Jack the Ripper fan fiction, through Psycho, the industry-changing success of Silence of the Lambs, all leading up to today. Along the way you’ll encounter astrological assassins, the female authors who wrote serial killer books first, and primal hamster trauma as together we try to figure out what it means that so much of publishing is about selling murder for fun.

Presented in association with WarnerMedia

A DIFFERENT MONSTER: BLACK WOMEN AND THE MONSTROUS

Saturday, August 21 – 4PM EDT

Presentation by Carolyn Mauricette

From Sarah Baartman to Grace Jones, Black women are often thought of as exotic creatures and grossly misunderstood, or, like Frankenstein’s monster, they have been put in a category where they are feared and disliked, with observers quick to vilify or dismiss. Yet, in horror, characters who are supernatural beings or “monsters” are actually an embodiment of Black women’s strength and perseverance. We’ll look at some of the most interesting characters— whether vampires, witches, or supernatural beings— and see how even in their otherness, and within problematic representation, they have power and agency and represent the vulnerability and strength Black women have possessed through the ages.

THE TRANSGRESSIVE URGE: HORROR AND THE TABOO IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Sunday, August 22 – 5PM EDT

With panelists Stephen R. Bissette (Cartoonist, Author, Critic), David Kerekes (Headpress Books), David J. Schow (Writer), John Skipp (Writer, Director), Christina Ward (Feral House), Billy Martin (Writer) and Douglas E. Winter (Writer / Critic); Moderated by Heather Buckley

One of the functions of horror film and fiction has been the unflinching exploration of the forbidden, the underground, and the taboo. In the 1980s and 1990s horror experienced a surge of wild energy, and a backlash against it. While certain restrictions have loosened, and more permissive venues for content have emerged in the years since, practitioners of the genre now face other pressures and penalties, potentially higher than before. In a society with ready online access to just about every kind of content, including eyewitness cameras capturing the most terrible of crimes, how has the cultural sense of the taboo, and the role of horror in breaking them, changed? Join us for a discussion about the evolution of this explicit mode of expression as art, exploitation, and rebellion.

TURBO KID: FROM FILM TO VIDEO GAME / TURBO KID : DU FILM AU JEU VIDÉO

Tuesday, August 24 – 2PM EDT

With panelists RKSS (François Simard, Anouk Whissel, Yoann-Karl Whissel), Anne-Marie Gélinas and Benoit Beaulieu (EMA Films), a member of composing duo Le Matos, and key figures from Outerminds (Rémi Lavoie, Odile Prouveur, Guiz DePessemier) and Vibe Avenue; Moderated by Marc Lamothe and Justin Langlois

Born out of Frontières, Fantasia’s international co-production market, and launched at Sundance, the worldwide cult sensation that is TURBO KID immediately put RKSS, its gifted trio of Québécois filmmakers (François Simard, Anouk Whissel, Yoann-Karl Whissel), on radars across the universe. A video game was the logical follow-up! Like the film, it promises to be an homage to the post-apocalyptic works of the ‘80s with cartoonish gore and a heartfelt story while channelling beloved vintage video games. Celebrated Montreal video game studio Outerminds are working closely with RKSS and EMA Films, producers of the original film, to devise a game that will honour the essence of the breakout hit, with synth-wave band Le Matos returning to compose a brand-new soundtrack while VIBE Avenue provides sound design.

Grab your gnome stick and join us for a bilingual (French and English language) panel discussion with the core creators of both the film and its adaptation to explore TURBO KID’s journey into gameplay.

For more on Fantasia 2021 including tickets, click here.

#FANTASIA: “FOR THE SAKE OF VICIOUS”

By Amanda Gilmore

A kind-hearted nurse Romina (Lora Burke), a revenge-infused Chris (Nick Smyth), and a suspicious hostage Alan (Colin Paradine) are forced to defend themselves against random and violent intruders on Halloween night.

Directors Gabriel Carrer and Reese Evenshen have created a non-stop thrill ride with For The Sake Of Vicious. Screenwriter Evenshen has written three well-developed character’s with clear goals while constructing sufficient mystery within these characters and story. Burke, Smyth and Paradine give gratifying performances which anchor the Film’s many riveting twists. This Intruder Film is parts horror, thriller and action and is filled with gruesome, realistic special effects which are wholly impressive for this smash indie-flick.

For The Sake Of Vicious screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Tue. Sept. 1 at 7:15 PM.

#FANTASIA: FINN WOLFHARD – IN CONVERSATION WITH JAY BARUCHEL

By Amanda Gilmore

It’s clear that Vancouver-born actor Finn Wolfhard is a talented guy. At the young age of 17, he’s a successful musician and actor, solidifying his career through performances as Mike in Stranger Things and Richie in IT. But now he’s making his transition from in front of the camera to behind it. His Short Film Night Shifts, which he wrote and directed, premiered at Fantasia Festival 2020 and has been garnering buzz. It’s about two old friends connecting unexpectedly during a convenience store hold-up. With a running time of four minutes, Wolfhard is able to garner nostalgia for lost friendships through whip-smart direction and hilarious dialogue. Today he sat down on a Zoom chat with fellow Canadian filmmaker Jay Baruchel to talk about his leap from actor to writer-director. Wolfhard’s cast of the film, Malcolm Sparrow-Crawford, Artoun Nazareth and Billy Bryk, also came in half-way through to talk about their experience. Below are some highlights.

Wolfhard on 2020 and career so far:

“It’s easily the weirdest year of my young life so far. I’ve gotten very lucky to have the career I’ve had so far.”

Wolfhard on advice from Shawn Levy (I Am Not Okay With This, Stranger Things):

“Just because you have an idea, doesn’t mean that it’s the idea.”

Wolfhard on his directorial debut, Night Shifts:

“Last year I was shooting the new Ghostbusters. And I was talking to Jason Reitman about making movies and he said, ‘Well, write a Short, it’s the best thing you can do’.”. He asked himself, “What was the most uncomfortable situation you could have with a friend from high school? And I was like oh, I know, a robbery!”. “I wanted it to be fast, I wanted it to be in and out. We shot it in 12 hours. We had fun.”

Baruchel on Night Shifts:

“It’s really, really smooth and confident and restrained. It doesn’t feel like a first Movie, man.”.

Wolfhard on Crowdfunding for Night Shifts:

“I feel like I’m very happy and very, very, very surprised that I can get on Social Media and people will give it to me. And then I feel terribly guilty. I don’t know it’s incredible. I started giving incentives, like a signed prop or something.”.

Wolfhard on his Cast:

“I’d met Artoun and Billy on the set of Ghostbusters, they are both in that. I’ve known Malcolm since I was a baby.”

Bryk on Ghostbusters and Night Shifts:

“Artoun and I, it was pretty much the first movie we did. It was this insane experience and we really got to know everybody. And then we all got together again for this.”

Favourite mments from set:

Nazareth:

“So many prop chip bags. So many fake chips it was awesome. That was amazing.”.

Sparrow-Crawford:

“It was a fun, fun time…it was a bunch of dudes being guys.”.

Bryk:

“There was one line in the Movie that got cut that Finn and I thought was funny…and one guy in the back laughed.”.

Wolfhard:

“I want to do this for the rest of my life. I think it’s the best feeling in the world.”

Wolfhard on a possible Feature Film:

“Billy and I are writing a Script (for a Feature Film)…it’s a Comedy-Slasher Movie.”

Finn on Director Inspirations:

“Wes Anderson is big for me…Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are huge for me. Also, Spike Jones, PTA (Paul Thomas Anderson).”.

“Putting characters into situations that are serious but add Comedy…If I can blend that with magical realism, then that would be awesome.”.

The entire Cast, along with Wolfhard also talked about having an actual attempted robbery happen at the convenience store they were filming at overnight. When the attempted robber entered the store, they didn’t know what to do, so Nazareth raised his fake gun up. By some miracle this made the actual robber leave the store. They were laughing about the scenario.

See the Chat:

Night Shifts will be available on-demand for Fantasia Fest Aug 20 – Sept 2, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Fantasia Fest)

#FANTASIA: “THE BLOCK ISLAND SOUND”

By Amanda Gilmore

A strange force is thriving just off the coast of Block Island and it’s creating terrifying experiences among residents and wildlife.

Brother duo Kevin and Matthew McManus have written and directed a brilliant piece of Supernatural Horror. They impressively expand on this genre to involve our real-life fears surrounding technology and our environmental crisis. As if that wasn’t enough to terrify an audience, the brothers go further to skillfully layer a theme of inherited illness. Both through genetics and the inexplicable force which infects one family member and moves to another, threatening to break the family unit. 

The entire Cast, led by the magnificent performances of Michaela McManus and Chris Sheffield, is outstanding. They root the supernatural in reality with their wholly believable performances while leaving space for the mystery to grow.  Early, audiences are thrust into the mysterious world and bathe in the mystery throughout. Refreshingly that mystery is never entirely solved, rather labelling the force as a ‘thing’. Therefore, allowing the audience to project their opinion and categorize the force as an alien, mystical sea creature, or others. The Block Island Sound tops all that off with the excellent sound design and mixing that builds tension and creates unease. This is one film not to be missed.

The Block Island Sound screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Fri. Aug. 28 at 7 PM.

#FANTASIA: “LUCKY”

By Amanda Gilmore

Writer and Actor Grant has created a brilliant Film about the fears women have and the lasting effects of PTSD. Grant shows her tremendous talent as a writer by inventing an entirely different feminist character. Grant extends on her written character by successfully portraying the solitary mentality of her refreshingly imperfect heroine. She flawlessly merges into May, encapsulating her fear, determination, doubt (often due to repeatedly being gaslighted) and more. Director Natasha Kermani and Cinematographer Julia Swain cleverly use the camera to bolden the deep themes within the script. Most notably during the climactic scene involving multiple women, their recurring violent stalkers, and a parking garage. Overall, Lucky is an outstanding horror film about being a woman, surviving, and PTSD.

Lucky screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Sun. Aug. 23 at 9:45 PM and Fri. Aug. 28 at 11 PM.

#FANTASIA: “ALONE”

By Amanda Gilmore

Recently widowed Jessica (Jules Willcox) begins a journey back to her hometown when a cold-blooded killer begins hunting her down.

Alone works thanks to Director John Hyams building ample amounts of tension in each scene through staging and sound, along with Wilcox’s captivating performance as a woman fighting to survive. However, for those looking for a twist or something new being brought to a popular genre they won’t find it here. As the story progresses it becomes predictable and at moments the 97-minute runtime drags a little. Yet, it’s Wilcox’s hungry performance at the ever-persistent Jessica that holds the audience throughout.

Alone screens live online at Fantasia Fest on Thu. Aug. 27 at 7 PM.