Montreal, June 11, 2015 – The 19th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival, presented by Ubisoft and Anchor Bay, will soon be stunning Montreal with three weeks of cinematic ingenuity from July 14 until August 4, 2015.
Fantasia's complete lineup of programming and special events will be revealed on July 7th. To tide you over until then, The Second Wave of titles!
THE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE OF TAKESHI KITANO’S RYUZO AND THE SEVEN HENCHMEN
Coming immediately after his OUTRAGE saga, Takeshi Kitano’s hilarious crime story stars screen legend Tatsuya Fuji (IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES) as a retired yakuza who realizes that the only way to break the monotony of his daily life by reuniting with his old gang. This is a funny and heartfelt meditation on growing old that only the master of Japanese cinema could deliver. International Premiere
A SPECIAL SCREENING OF GILLES PAQUET-BRENNER’S DARK PLACES
Fantasia will be presenting a special screening of Gilles Paquet-Brenner’s stylish adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s mystery thriller DARK PLACES, which reunites Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult following their appearance together in a certain innocuous Australian road movie. The film’s impressive cast also features Christina Hendricks, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Tye Sheridan.
A FRIGHTENING SPRITUAL REBIRTH – THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SONNY MALLHI’S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT, ANGUISH.
The directorial debut of Sonny Mallhi, producer of such singular horror works as THE STRANGERS and AT THE DEVIL’S DOOR. ANGUISH is a frightening and emotionally resonant film that offers supernatural explanations for debilitating adolescent mental illness, featuring a powerhouse lead performance by Ryan Simpkins (A SINGLE MAN). World Premiere
HELL DOWN IN IRELAND – THE WORLD PREMIERE OF DAVID KEATING’S OCCULT NIGHTMARE, “CHERRY TREE”
David Keating burst onto the international genre cinema scene with his chilling 2010 occult horror film WAKEWOOD. Now, he’s returned, re-teaming with screenwriter Brendan McCarthy (who, as a producer, was also behind LET US PREY and this year’s Sundance hit THE HALLOW) to deliver a demonic tale of desperate good intentions gone horribly, horribly bad. World Premiere.
CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION: RINGO LAM’S WILD CITY
It’s been a long wait, but the dark god of hard-edged Hong Kong cinema is back. Alongside John Woo and Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam was key in defining the spirit of HK film in the late ’80s. Now, after a near-decade hiatus from feature filmmaking, he’s ready to show the world once again what happens when high-octane action and a hard-knock social conscience collide. Canadian Premiere.
SCI-FI NOIR - THE WORLD PREMIERE OF JACOB GENTRY’S SYNCHRONICITY
The long awaited solo feature debut from Jacob Gentry, co-director of THE SIGNAL, SYNCHRONICITY is, in a word, brilliant. Chad Mcknight, AJ Bowen, Brianne Davis and Michael Ironside star in this individualistic and astonishing sci-fi Noir about a physicist who folds time, traveling into the past to prevent the theft of his invention. World Premiere.
BRUTAL ECONOMICS – THE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE OF TRADERS
A freshly unemployed worker from an asset management firm creates a website on the dark web, designed to appeal specifically to the financially obliterated. “Better than suicide”, it promises. “Trading.” One of the most blackly subversive social satires to antagonize the screen in years, TRADERS is smart, violent, empathetic and angry. The feature debut of Irish filmmaking team Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy, starring Killian Scott (CALVARY), John Bradley (GAME OF THRONES), Nika McGuigan (PHILOMENA) and Barry Keoghan (’71). International Premiere
EXPERIENCE THE GAZE OF THE SHAMER’S DAUGHTER
A captivating medieval fantasy from Denmark, directed by Kenneth Kainz (PARTERAPI) and scripted by the great Anders Thomas Jensen (ADAM’S APPLES, BROTHERS, AFTER THE WEDDING), THE SHAMER’S DAUGHTER tells the tale of a young girl who has inherited her mother’s supernatural ability to make people ashamed of themselves by staring into their souls. International Premiere
THROUGH THE EYES OF A STRANGER - THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SLUMLORD
Directed by newcomer Victor Zarcoff and produced by the team behind the acclaimed FUNERAL KINGS (Fantasia 2010), this study in terror brings REAR WINDOW to the digital era. A young couple slowly fall apart, unbeknownst that their creepy landlord is scrupulously watching them through hidden surveillance cameras. Wonderfully acted by a cast straight out of a Tobe Hooper film, this domestic nightmare builds suffocating tension by exposing the fragility of our intimacy in today's world.
CINEPHILES, GET READY TO CHEW ON THE WORLD PREMIERE OF BITE!
Chad Archibald and the talented team behind such Canadian horror breakouts at THE DROWNSMAN, ANTI-SOCIAL, SEPTIC MAN, and EJECTA are back with a brand new monster, a lot of flair, and a heck of a strong cringe factor. Join us for the World Premiere of this thrilling new film from some of Canada's most striking new genre talent.
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MIGUEL ANGEL VIVAS’ “EXTINCTION” FRONTLINES A HEIGHTENED FOCUS ON SPANISH CINEMA.
Fantasia is proud to be showcasing the world premiere of KIDNAPPED director Miguel Angel Vivas’ English language debut EXTINCTION, an atmospheric and visceral post-apocalyptic monster movie that will blow audiences through the back of the theatre. EXTINCTION is co-scripted by Vivas and Alberto Marini (SLEEP TIGHT) and stars Matthew Fox, Jeffrey Donovan, Quinn McColgan - and some of the most astonishing prosthetic creature make-ups the screen has seen in years.
In addition to EXTINCTION (and the previously announced stop-motion feature POSSESSED), Fantasia will be screening the following Spanish productions:
MARSHLAND
Spain Dir: Alberto Rodriguez
A riveting period Neo-Noir police procedural thriller from the director of UNIT 7, winner of no fewer than 10 Goya Awards this year, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. Quebec Premiere.
MORTADELO & FILEMON: MISSION IMPLAUSIBLE
Spain Dir: Javier Fesser
Spain’s cult superspy parody comic book explodes into life as a big budget blitzkrieg of slapstick 3D animation that won Goya Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Adapted Screenplay. North American Premiere
SHREW’S NEST
Spain Dir: Esteban Roel and Juan Fernando Andrés
Macarena Gómez gives a riveting performance in this horrific and haunting psychodrama produced by Álex de la Iglesia that’s deservedly become a major hit on the international festival circuit. Quebec Premiere.
TORRENTE, MISSION EUROVEGAS
Spain Dir: Santiago Segura
The completely insane fifth entry in Segura’s blockbuster franchise. TORRENTE: MISSION EUROVEGAS co-stars Alex Baldwin and had the largest Spanish theatrical opening in all of 2014 when it was released last October. An excruciatingly funny film, packed with absurd setpieces and a rogues gallery of familiar faces. North American Premiere.
AN INTRODUCTION TO UGANDA’S WAKALIWOOD SCENE AND A NIGERIAN ZOMBIE EPIC ARE AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF FANTASIA UNDERGROUND’s 2015 LINEUP.
Buckle up as Fantasia Underground’s Year Two lineup reaches across the world to bring you eclectic and uncompromising new independent visions from France, Japan, Nigeria, Uganda and the USA.
HARUKO'S PARANORMAL LABORATORY
Japan Dir: Lisa Takeba
One day, as Haruko is zapping, her television unexpectedly transforms into a beautiful, shirtless, TV-headed stud! Welcome to HARUKO'S PARANORMAL LABORATORY, a personal and inventive vision signaling Takeba as Japan’s new Queen of Quirk. Official Selection: Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Yubari. Canadian Premiere.
HOSTILE
France Dir : Nathan Ambrosioni
One of the most talked about horror works at the Cannes Film Market this year, HOSTILE marks the impressive debut of 14 year old director Nathan Ambrosioni. A TV show host answers the call of a mother terrified of her two adopted daughters. What starts with the familiar slowly builds into a poignant horror tale. International Premiere.
OJUJU
Nigeria Dir: C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi
OJUJU is a fascinating and well-staged transposition of the flesh-eating Zombie Film, bringing the living dead to Nigeria’s slums following what initially appears to be rabid river blindness due to a contaminated water supply. Winner for Best Nigerian film at the Africa International Film Festival. Canadian Premiere.
MEATHEAD GOES HOG WILD
USA Dir: Kevin Cline, Zach Harris, and Sean Pierce
Don’t let the quirky title fool you, this is a visceral, heartfelt and violently confrontational slice of urban hell and personal apocalypse, detailing a young man’s breakdown over the course of a single terrible night in one of America’s most segregated cities. Think a socially conscious FALLING DOWN by way of COMBAT SHOCK. World Premiere.
SPECIAL EVENT: INTRO TO WAKALIWOOD – DIY COMMANDO CINEMA FROM UGANDA
“Expect the Unexpectable!” Get ready for WAKALIWOOD – DIY COMMANDO CINEMA FROM UGANDA, as Fantasia proudly presents the film sensation WHO KILLED CAPTAIN ALEX? UGANDA’S FIRST ACTION MOVIE plus a fully loaded arsenal of Wakaliwood trailers, clips from never-before-seen new films, and a live Skype to Uganda with prolific DIY director/writer/editor/
A viral explosion – “Wakaliwood” is the nickname for Wakaliga, the slum on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, where Nabwana IGG and his self-taught DIY team make wild action-packed movies with home-made equipment and the commando spirit. Totally off the grid, Wakaliwood is the last true cinematic Wild West and has taken the internet by storm. Fantasia proudly presents the first ever Wakaliwood festival screening – come experience “the best of the best movies” live!
Curated and hosted by journalist and Blue Sunshine Co-Founder David Bertrand – who recently returned from Uganda, having flown there to go on a location shoot with the Wakaliwood crew and perform in a film with them, the first outsider - let alone the first Canadian - to do so.
Note that Fantasia’s exploration of emerging African Fantastica doesn’t end with our screenings of WHO KILLED CAPTAIN ALEX and OJUJU. Also worthy of major attention is our previously announced selection of Ethiopia’s surrealist Sci-Fi oddity CRUMBS, which will be shown in our Camera Lucida section.
Fantasia's complete lineup of programming and special events will be revealed on July 7th. To tide you over until then, The Second Wave of titles!
THE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE OF TAKESHI KITANO’S RYUZO AND THE SEVEN HENCHMEN
Coming immediately after his OUTRAGE saga, Takeshi Kitano’s hilarious crime story stars screen legend Tatsuya Fuji (IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES) as a retired yakuza who realizes that the only way to break the monotony of his daily life by reuniting with his old gang. This is a funny and heartfelt meditation on growing old that only the master of Japanese cinema could deliver. International Premiere
A SPECIAL SCREENING OF GILLES PAQUET-BRENNER’S DARK PLACES
Fantasia will be presenting a special screening of Gilles Paquet-Brenner’s stylish adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s mystery thriller DARK PLACES, which reunites Charlize Theron and Nicholas Hoult following their appearance together in a certain innocuous Australian road movie. The film’s impressive cast also features Christina Hendricks, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Tye Sheridan.
A FRIGHTENING SPRITUAL REBIRTH – THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SONNY MALLHI’S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT, ANGUISH.
The directorial debut of Sonny Mallhi, producer of such singular horror works as THE STRANGERS and AT THE DEVIL’S DOOR. ANGUISH is a frightening and emotionally resonant film that offers supernatural explanations for debilitating adolescent mental illness, featuring a powerhouse lead performance by Ryan Simpkins (A SINGLE MAN). World Premiere
HELL DOWN IN IRELAND – THE WORLD PREMIERE OF DAVID KEATING’S OCCULT NIGHTMARE, “CHERRY TREE”
David Keating burst onto the international genre cinema scene with his chilling 2010 occult horror film WAKEWOOD. Now, he’s returned, re-teaming with screenwriter Brendan McCarthy (who, as a producer, was also behind LET US PREY and this year’s Sundance hit THE HALLOW) to deliver a demonic tale of desperate good intentions gone horribly, horribly bad. World Premiere.
CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION: RINGO LAM’S WILD CITY
It’s been a long wait, but the dark god of hard-edged Hong Kong cinema is back. Alongside John Woo and Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam was key in defining the spirit of HK film in the late ’80s. Now, after a near-decade hiatus from feature filmmaking, he’s ready to show the world once again what happens when high-octane action and a hard-knock social conscience collide. Canadian Premiere.
SCI-FI NOIR - THE WORLD PREMIERE OF JACOB GENTRY’S SYNCHRONICITY
The long awaited solo feature debut from Jacob Gentry, co-director of THE SIGNAL, SYNCHRONICITY is, in a word, brilliant. Chad Mcknight, AJ Bowen, Brianne Davis and Michael Ironside star in this individualistic and astonishing sci-fi Noir about a physicist who folds time, traveling into the past to prevent the theft of his invention. World Premiere.
BRUTAL ECONOMICS – THE INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE OF TRADERS
A freshly unemployed worker from an asset management firm creates a website on the dark web, designed to appeal specifically to the financially obliterated. “Better than suicide”, it promises. “Trading.” One of the most blackly subversive social satires to antagonize the screen in years, TRADERS is smart, violent, empathetic and angry. The feature debut of Irish filmmaking team Rachael Moriarty and Peter Murphy, starring Killian Scott (CALVARY), John Bradley (GAME OF THRONES), Nika McGuigan (PHILOMENA) and Barry Keoghan (’71). International Premiere
EXPERIENCE THE GAZE OF THE SHAMER’S DAUGHTER
A captivating medieval fantasy from Denmark, directed by Kenneth Kainz (PARTERAPI) and scripted by the great Anders Thomas Jensen (ADAM’S APPLES, BROTHERS, AFTER THE WEDDING), THE SHAMER’S DAUGHTER tells the tale of a young girl who has inherited her mother’s supernatural ability to make people ashamed of themselves by staring into their souls. International Premiere
THROUGH THE EYES OF A STRANGER - THE WORLD PREMIERE OF SLUMLORD
Directed by newcomer Victor Zarcoff and produced by the team behind the acclaimed FUNERAL KINGS (Fantasia 2010), this study in terror brings REAR WINDOW to the digital era. A young couple slowly fall apart, unbeknownst that their creepy landlord is scrupulously watching them through hidden surveillance cameras. Wonderfully acted by a cast straight out of a Tobe Hooper film, this domestic nightmare builds suffocating tension by exposing the fragility of our intimacy in today's world.
CINEPHILES, GET READY TO CHEW ON THE WORLD PREMIERE OF BITE!
Chad Archibald and the talented team behind such Canadian horror breakouts at THE DROWNSMAN, ANTI-SOCIAL, SEPTIC MAN, and EJECTA are back with a brand new monster, a lot of flair, and a heck of a strong cringe factor. Join us for the World Premiere of this thrilling new film from some of Canada's most striking new genre talent.
THE WORLD PREMIERE OF MIGUEL ANGEL VIVAS’ “EXTINCTION” FRONTLINES A HEIGHTENED FOCUS ON SPANISH CINEMA.
Fantasia is proud to be showcasing the world premiere of KIDNAPPED director Miguel Angel Vivas’ English language debut EXTINCTION, an atmospheric and visceral post-apocalyptic monster movie that will blow audiences through the back of the theatre. EXTINCTION is co-scripted by Vivas and Alberto Marini (SLEEP TIGHT) and stars Matthew Fox, Jeffrey Donovan, Quinn McColgan - and some of the most astonishing prosthetic creature make-ups the screen has seen in years.
In addition to EXTINCTION (and the previously announced stop-motion feature POSSESSED), Fantasia will be screening the following Spanish productions:
MARSHLAND
Spain Dir: Alberto Rodriguez
A riveting period Neo-Noir police procedural thriller from the director of UNIT 7, winner of no fewer than 10 Goya Awards this year, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. Quebec Premiere.
MORTADELO & FILEMON: MISSION IMPLAUSIBLE
Spain Dir: Javier Fesser
Spain’s cult superspy parody comic book explodes into life as a big budget blitzkrieg of slapstick 3D animation that won Goya Awards for Best Animated Feature and Best Adapted Screenplay. North American Premiere
SHREW’S NEST
Spain Dir: Esteban Roel and Juan Fernando Andrés
Macarena Gómez gives a riveting performance in this horrific and haunting psychodrama produced by Álex de la Iglesia that’s deservedly become a major hit on the international festival circuit. Quebec Premiere.
TORRENTE, MISSION EUROVEGAS
Spain Dir: Santiago Segura
The completely insane fifth entry in Segura’s blockbuster franchise. TORRENTE: MISSION EUROVEGAS co-stars Alex Baldwin and had the largest Spanish theatrical opening in all of 2014 when it was released last October. An excruciatingly funny film, packed with absurd setpieces and a rogues gallery of familiar faces. North American Premiere.
AN INTRODUCTION TO UGANDA’S WAKALIWOOD SCENE AND A NIGERIAN ZOMBIE EPIC ARE AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS OF FANTASIA UNDERGROUND’s 2015 LINEUP.
Buckle up as Fantasia Underground’s Year Two lineup reaches across the world to bring you eclectic and uncompromising new independent visions from France, Japan, Nigeria, Uganda and the USA.
HARUKO'S PARANORMAL LABORATORY
Japan Dir: Lisa Takeba
One day, as Haruko is zapping, her television unexpectedly transforms into a beautiful, shirtless, TV-headed stud! Welcome to HARUKO'S PARANORMAL LABORATORY, a personal and inventive vision signaling Takeba as Japan’s new Queen of Quirk. Official Selection: Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Yubari. Canadian Premiere.
HOSTILE
France Dir : Nathan Ambrosioni
One of the most talked about horror works at the Cannes Film Market this year, HOSTILE marks the impressive debut of 14 year old director Nathan Ambrosioni. A TV show host answers the call of a mother terrified of her two adopted daughters. What starts with the familiar slowly builds into a poignant horror tale. International Premiere.
OJUJU
Nigeria Dir: C.J. 'Fiery' Obasi
OJUJU is a fascinating and well-staged transposition of the flesh-eating Zombie Film, bringing the living dead to Nigeria’s slums following what initially appears to be rabid river blindness due to a contaminated water supply. Winner for Best Nigerian film at the Africa International Film Festival. Canadian Premiere.
MEATHEAD GOES HOG WILD
USA Dir: Kevin Cline, Zach Harris, and Sean Pierce
Don’t let the quirky title fool you, this is a visceral, heartfelt and violently confrontational slice of urban hell and personal apocalypse, detailing a young man’s breakdown over the course of a single terrible night in one of America’s most segregated cities. Think a socially conscious FALLING DOWN by way of COMBAT SHOCK. World Premiere.
SPECIAL EVENT: INTRO TO WAKALIWOOD – DIY COMMANDO CINEMA FROM UGANDA
“Expect the Unexpectable!” Get ready for WAKALIWOOD – DIY COMMANDO CINEMA FROM UGANDA, as Fantasia proudly presents the film sensation WHO KILLED CAPTAIN ALEX? UGANDA’S FIRST ACTION MOVIE plus a fully loaded arsenal of Wakaliwood trailers, clips from never-before-seen new films, and a live Skype to Uganda with prolific DIY director/writer/editor/
A viral explosion – “Wakaliwood” is the nickname for Wakaliga, the slum on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, where Nabwana IGG and his self-taught DIY team make wild action-packed movies with home-made equipment and the commando spirit. Totally off the grid, Wakaliwood is the last true cinematic Wild West and has taken the internet by storm. Fantasia proudly presents the first ever Wakaliwood festival screening – come experience “the best of the best movies” live!
Curated and hosted by journalist and Blue Sunshine Co-Founder David Bertrand – who recently returned from Uganda, having flown there to go on a location shoot with the Wakaliwood crew and perform in a film with them, the first outsider - let alone the first Canadian - to do so.
Note that Fantasia’s exploration of emerging African Fantastica doesn’t end with our screenings of WHO KILLED CAPTAIN ALEX and OJUJU. Also worthy of major attention is our previously announced selection of Ethiopia’s surrealist Sci-Fi oddity CRUMBS, which will be shown in our Camera Lucida section.