The festival’s 28th edition will spotlight exciting talents and emerging voices in the genre.
The 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival will take place from July 18 to August 4 in Montreal, primarily at the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screenings at the Cinémathèque québécoise and Cinéma du Musée. The initial lineup of films has been announced, along with the poster (shown below) by local artist Donald Caron.
Director Chuck Russell, known for imaginative fantasy and horror classics like A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, the 1988 remake of The Blob, The Mask, Eraser, and The Scorpion King, returns to the genre with a bold reimagining of Kevin S. Tenney’s 1986 Canadian cult classic Witchboard (pictured above). The story follows Emily (Madison Iseman, Annabelle Comes Home) and her fiancé Christian (Aaron Dominguez, Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building) as they discover an ancient Wiccan pendulum board while preparing to open a bistro in New Orleans’ French Quarter. Emily becomes fascinated with the board’s powers, leading her to the ancient spirit of the Queen of Witches. In an attempt to save his fiancée, Christian consults occult expert Alexander Babtiste (Jamie Campbell Bower, Netflix’s Stranger Things, the Twilight saga), who harbors dark secrets. The film is shot in Montreal by cinematographer Yaron Levy (Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) and also stars David La Haye (True North), Charlie Tahan (Netflix’s Ozark), Antonia Desplat (AppleTV+’s Shantaram), and Mel Jarnson (Mortal Kombat). World Premiere.
A woman becomes obsessed while desperately searching for her long-lost sister, a popular YouTuber known for investigating paranormal events, after discovering that the imaginary demon from their childhood might have been real. Following a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign, YouTube creator Chris Stuckmann’s highly anticipated debut feature, Shelby Oaks, has finally arrived, promising to terrify audiences worldwide. The film stars Camille Sullivan (Hunter Hunter), Brendan Sexton III (Don’t Breathe 2), Sarah Durn (Renfield), Keith David (The Thing, Nope), and Michael Beach (Aquaman). It is produced by Aaron B. Koontz, Cameron Burns, and Ashleigh Snead, with executive producers including Mike Flanagan and Trevor Macy. World Premiere.
Estonia-based filmmaker Miguel Llansó (Crumbs, Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway) is a unique talent in cinema. Fantasia is thrilled to welcome this visionary creator back to Montreal for the world premiere of what might be his most captivating work yet: Infinite Summer, a surreal, transhumanist sci-fi journey filled with humor, emotion, and wild creativity. During their summer vacation, Mia and her friends use a meditation app linked to the operating system of the Tallinn Zoo, transforming their body chemistry into a state between pollen and cosmic dust. Mia must decide whether to rescue her friends or join them. This remarkable film is produced by legendary U.S. producers Allison Rose Carter and Jon Read (Everything Everywhere All at Once, American Honey), alongside Rain Rannu (Chasing Unicorns, The Invisible Fight), Tõnu Hiielaid (Kratt), and Llansó himself, and stars Hannah Gross (Netflix’s Mindhunter), Johanna Rosin, and Teele Kaljuvee-O’Brock. World Premiere.
Every winter since Sayuri’s tragic disappearance sixteen years ago, Asai and Jiyong hike up the mountain where it occurred to honor her memory. But when a severe blizzard and a catastrophic injury leave Jiyong convinced he won’t survive, he forces Asai to leave him behind, revealing a heartbreaking truth before he does. Asai, however, returns after finding a nearby cabin, and now, stranded for the night, the two must confront Jiyong’s supposed final words in a difficult way. In Confession, award-winning Fantasia veterans director Nobuhiro Yamashita (La La La at Rock Bottom) and actor/writer/director Yang Ik-june (Breathless), along with star Toma Ikuta (The Mole Song trilogy), bring a beloved manga to life in an impressive adaptation. With outstanding performances and expert use of the set to build tension, Confession stands as one of the greatest single-location thrillers, and it demands a theater viewing experience. North American Premiere.
Building on the international acclaim of his brilliant La Llorona (2019), director Jayro Bustamante’s Rita blends mythical fantasy and whimsical visuals with themes of childhood innocence and the intense emotional impact of a story inspired by a tragic real-life event, where 41 young women tragically died in a fire at a Guatemalan orphanage during a protest against inhumane conditions. Central to the film is Guiliana Santa Cruz’s powerful performance, representing all the young women who suffered. The narrative powerfully explores female anger, yet Bustamante never loses focus on the fact that at its core, Rita is a story of girlhood, dreams, and the rediscovery of innocence through female solidarity. World Premiere.
An unexplainable wave of tragic deaths draws two investigators into the eye of a disastrous storm, where logic and facts lose their significance as a bizarre urban legend appears to come to life. A mother, tormented by horrifying dreams, watches as her friends and colleagues vanish one by one, while her family witnesses the unfolding terror. Director and screenwriter Tomojiro Amano (Trapped in Makyo) expertly blends the elements of Eastern and Western classics in This Man, drawing inspiration from films like Ringu, It Follows, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, to craft an intimate, suffocating experience that keeps audiences on edge as it gradually reveals the pandemic-like carnage outside. As part of the impressive lineup of international horror films in 2024, This Man is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers. Given its potential, a Hollywood remake wouldn’t be unexpected. International Premiere.
Following his success with the Wolfcop films, Canadian filmmaker Lowell Dean takes a different approach and brings horror to the wrestling ring! When a group of small-time wrestlers is offered a lucrative opportunity for a private event, they eagerly seize the chance for fame and fortune. However, the event, organized by a mysterious figure known as “The Prophet,” requires a significant amount of bloodshed on the mats and involves a dark, demonic pact! Set against the backdrop of the wrestling boom in the ’80s, Dark Match is an action-packed spectacle filmed by renowned cinematographer Karim Hussain (Infinity Pool, Possessor). The film features wrestling legend Chris Jericho as the charismatic leader of a bloodthirsty cult, along with Ayisha Issa (Transplant) and Steven Ogg (AMC’s The Walking Dead). Prepare for a thrilling mix of intrigue, action, and gore inside this ring! Septentrion Shadows section. World Premiere.
In A Samurai in Time, an Edo-period swordsman is unexpectedly transported to modern Kyoto, where he encounters both utter confusion and a budding acting career. This twist on the time-travel subgenre has been explored in various forms worldwide, but award-winning writer/director Junichi Yasuda (Gohan) delivers a version that is not only clever, humorous, and uniquely Japanese but also deeply poignant. Filmed on location at Toei Studios Kyoto, A Samurai in Time is anchored by the subtle and compelling performance of lead actor Makiya Yamaguchi. More than just an entertaining fish-out-of-water tale, it serves as a tribute to samurai cinema, reflecting its decline much like the fall of the shogunate. International Premiere.
A young woman, caught in a cycle of shallow connections through dating apps, falls for a charming man who harbors a dark secret, transforming her relationship into a perilous obsession. Intelligent, tragic, and unsettling, The Dead Thing, the first solo-directed feature by Pure Cinema host Elric Kane, is a character-driven supernatural nightmare that delves into the demons of modern dating in both horrific and disturbingly relatable ways. Don’t miss this profound piece of genre cinema that is poised to become a horror classic. Starring Blu Hunt (Netflix’s Another Life), Ben Smith-Petersen (Mad Max: Fury Road), Katherine Hughes (Echo 3), and John Karna (Scream). Co-written by Webb Wilcoxen (The Frontier). Produced by Monte Yazzie, Matt Mercer (Bliss), and Rebekah McKendry (Glorious). World Premiere.
After someone dies from drinking the illicit liquor made by Se-jong and his two younger brothers, they set out to retrieve their lethal brew before another tragedy strikes. During their mission, they encounter two murderous cultists who are terrorizing the villagers. In Mash Ville, director Hwang Wook (Live Hard, Dog Eat Dog) showcases his love for the Western, action, and comedy genres with stylish cinematography, eccentric characters, and an incredibly entertaining script. Most notably, the film is filled with dark humor. Hwang and his team fully embrace the absurdity, creating an absolute blast that blends genres and is sure to become a Korean cult classic over time. World Premiere.
A woman awakens from a coma six weeks after being struck by lightning and discovers an intense compulsion for electric currents as her body undergoes transformation. She soon becomes part of an underground support group for lightning strike survivors, led by a dangerously charming doctor, which leads her to unexpected new explorations. Electrophilia is a gripping and sensory experience with a profound emotional core, crafted by Cannes-award-winning Argentinian filmmaker and novelist Lucía Puenzo (The Fish Child, XXY). Evoking the style of Cronenberg’s Crash, this subversive and striking genre film offers a unique take on self-discovery and presents a fresh type of dramatic thriller. Starring Mariana Di Girolamo (Pablo Larrain’s EMA), German Palacios (El Rapto), and Guillermo Pfening (The German Doctor). North American Premiere.
After the senseless and inexplicable murder of his girlfriend in Penalty Loop, Jun takes justice into his own hands, meticulously plotting the perfect murder of the man who pushed him to become what he seeks to destroy. Once his revenge is fulfilled, he awakens with a strong sense of déjà vu, only to find his target alive and well, repeating the same routine as the previous day. Offering a thrilling, dark, and inventive twist on the time-loop concept, writer/director Shinji Araki (The Town of Headcounts) establishes himself as a rising talent in contemporary Japanese genre cinema with this unpredictable and shocking narrative that consistently twists and turns towards an ending that is both satisfying and heartbreaking. Featuring a compelling duo of actors in perfect harmony, Penalty Loop showcases Araki’s talent and solidifies his place at the forefront of future projects. North American Premiere.
A road trip through the Canadian oil fields sparked the Adams family’s imagination, leading them to create Hell Hole, an indie rock ‘n’ roll monster film set at a remote fracking site. Renowned for their DIY spirit, John and Lulu Adams, along with Toby Poser, have collaborated with Shudder and the team behind The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs and FX legend Todd Masters to film their latest project in Serbia with a local cast and crew. Absurd, rebellious, and darkly comedic, Hell Hole embraces old-school sci-fi horror while the family infuses the genre with elements of biological and environmental horror, addressing themes of gender and bodily autonomy. This marks the fourth time Fantasia has premiered a film from this talented filmmaking family, following the debuts of The Deeper You Dig, Hellbender, and Where the Devil Roams. World Premiere.
Junior police officers Balraam and Zubeida may be an adorable couple, but they aren’t the most dedicated detectives. When they are summoned to a luxurious apartment building to investigate a reported murder, what initially seems like a simple case quickly spirals into a perplexing puzzle that would stump even Sherlock Holmes. Matters take an even stranger turn when the victim reappears from the afterlife, leading to the intriguing question not of who killed her, but who didn’t! With the deadpan absurdity reminiscent of his debut film Dead Dead Full Dead, Mumbai-based editor and director Pratul Gaikwad presents a bizarre, otherworldly twist on the beloved mystery-comedy genre. Blending paranormal abilities, various eccentricities, cosmic marvels, and covert class struggles, along with celestial bureaucracy, dysfunctional relationships, and even a magically transformed goat, Gaikwad’s surreal whodunit offers a bit of everything—except, perhaps, any adherence to proper law enforcement procedures. World Premiere.
Since their explosive emergence from Jonquière in the early ’80s, Voivod has been celebrated as one of the most original and influential metal bands globally. Years in the making and crafted with complete access to the band’s archives, Felipe Belalcazar’s enlightening documentary VOIVOD: WE ARE CONNECTED chronicles the story of their groundbreaking 40+ year career with energy, insight, and a genuine sense of passion. This highly anticipated film will premiere in the very province where the band was born, and Fantasia is immensely proud to host it. The documentary features appearances by notable figures such as Tobias Forge (Ghost), Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth), Jason Newsted (Metallica—and a brief member of Voivod), Zach Blair (Rise Against, GWAR), Tom G Warrior (Celtic Frost, Triptykon), and Ivan Doroschuk (Men Without Hats), among many others. Docs from the Edge section. World Premiere.
After captivating audiences at Fantasia 2019, where FLY ME TO THE SAITAMA won the Audience Award for Best Asian Feature, director Hideki Takeuchi returns to a whimsical interpretation of Japan—“not a depiction of any real place”—with a wholly original narrative separate from the ’80s manga that inspired its title. Japanese music icon Gackt and co-star Fumi Nikaido reprise their roles as Rei and Momomi in FLY ME TO THE SAITAMA: FROM BIWA LAKE WITH LOVE, now joined by an equally charming ensemble of new characters as they elevate the genre-bending, stylized antics that made the first film so memorable. Featuring a boys-love triangle, hilarious parodic elements including a quirky Willy Wonka homage, and a continuation of its unique story-within-a-story framework, this sequel offers even more excitement and fun! North American Premiere.
After receiving acclaim at its SXSW premiere, Annick Blanc’s highly anticipated debut feature finally returns home. HUNTING DAZE takes viewers on a wild journey with Nina (Nahéma Ricci, ANTIGONE), who seeks refuge with a boisterous group of men after becoming stranded in a northern forest. The film unfolds like a drunken fever dream, revealing a microcosm of masculinity where the desire to fit in threatens to disrupt the group dynamic. With stunning visuals and captivating performances from a talented Quebec cast (Marc Beaupré, Alexandre Landry, Bruno Marcil), this is a bachelor weekend like no other. Canadian Premiere.