ITHACA FANTASTIK ANNOUNCES FULL RETROSPECTIVE, FIRST WAVE OF TITLES AND BUMPER CONTEST FOR 2016 EDITION!

Ithaca, NY, Sept. 8, 2016 - The Ithaca Fantastik film festival is only two months away, and the IF team has been hard at work creating an incredible program for the event’s fifth anniversary. The festival will be held Nov. 9–13 in Ithaca, NY.

This year’s retrospective, The Known Unknowns, will dig into viewers’ deepest fears. Sponsored by SHUDDER, the retrospective will include “The Naked Prey” (Bill Wilder, 1960); “Deliverance” (John Boorman, 1972); “The Long Weekend” (Colin Eggleston, 1978); “Altered States” (Ken Russell, 1980); and “Aliens” (James Cameron, 1986).

But that’s only the appetizer. The IF team has assembled a highly diversified film lineup to respond to their expanding audience’s growing desire for all things Fantastik.

This year’s new Cinema Pur competition will celebrate challenging, innovative approaches to storytelling. Carefully-curated contenders include the US premier of experimental comedy “She’s Allergic to Cats” (Michael Reich, US); visually captivating “Alipato: The Very Brief Life of Ember” (Khavn, Indonesia); and the NY premiere of minimalist post-apocalyptic film “The Open” (Marc Lahore, France).

The Festival Favorites mini series will return with a vengeance, screening the highly acclaimed “The Love Witch” (Anna Biller, US); TriBeCa Film Festival Award winner “Here Alone” (Rob Blackhurst, US); and SxSW acclaimed debut feature film “The Master Cleanse” (Bobby Miller, US).

Festival-goers will wander in India with two of the IF team’s favorite films of the year, action-packed “Psycho Raman” and socially-infused mockumentary “Autohead.” And, not to be missed, Mattie Do’s sophomore picture “Dearest Sister” (Laos) and the adrenaline-pumping “My Father Die” (Sean Brosnan, US) round out the first wave of titles.

Bumper Contest: Nature’s Revenge!

This year’s bumper contest will draw from the theme of retrospective film “The Long Weekend,” which proves nothing is scarier than unpredictable nature. Filmmakers are invited to submit their own original nature revenge short film to IF by Oct. 15th 2016 (Submit by using Wetransfer; email: hbarbier@ithacafilmfestival.com and type NATURE’S REVENGE IF in the subject line). The contest has two rules: 1. The film must be no more than 45 seconds; 2. The twist should involve nature taking revenge on humans for their acts against mother nature.

The IF team can’t wait to see what the beautifully twisted minds of seasoned and aspiring filmmakers will come up with. The top three entries will be screened during the festival, and winners will receive an Ithaca Fantastik festival pass.

Explaining the Ending of MULHOLLAND DRIVE

MULHOLLAND DRIVE is a complex and surreal film directed by David Lynch, known for its non-linear narrative and dreamlike sequences. The ending is open to interpretation and has been the subject of much debate among viewers. Here's a breakdown of the ending: Diane's Dream vs. Reality: Throughout the film, there are two main narrative threads: one follows Betty/Diane's dreamlike experiences in Hollywood, and the other delves into Diane's harsh reality. The ending reveals that the majority of the film has been a dream constructed by Diane Selwyn, a failed actress, as a means to escape the guilt and pain of her actions. Betty/Diane's Descent into Madness: Betty, played by Naomi Watts, represents Diane's idealized self—a hopeful and innocent aspiring actress. However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that Betty's story is unraveling, and her identity begins to merge with Diane's. This culminates in the revelation that Betty is merely a construct of Di...

Final Destination Bloodlines Set to Bring Fresh Horrors to the Franchise

The long-running and fan-favorite horror series Final Destination is set to make its return with Final Destination Bloodlines, bringing a new chapter of supernatural terror to the big screen. Scheduled for a theatrical and IMAX release on May 16, 2025, in the U.S. (and internationally beginning May 14), the film promises to continue the franchise’s tradition of chilling premonitions and inescapable fate. The upcoming installment features a fresh ensemble cast, including Kaitlyn Santa Juana (The Friendship Game, The Flash), Teo Briones (Chucky, Will vs. The Future), Richard Harmon (The 100, The Age of Adaline), Owen Patrick Joyner (Julie and the Phantoms, 100 Things to Do Before High School), and Anna Lore (They/Them, Gotham Knights). Also joining the cast are Brec Bassinger (Stargirl, Bella and the Bulldogs) and horror icon Tony Todd, who reprises his role from the original Final Destination films. Todd, best known for his chilling portrayal of the titular character in the Candyman fra...

4K Blu-ray Review: Drop (2025) — A Tense, Tech-Driven Thriller That Mostly Sticks the Landing

In Drop, director Christopher Landon (Freaky, Happy Death Day) crafts a nerve-wracking thriller centered on a devastating dilemma: would you take a life to save the ones you love? The story follows Violet, a widowed single mom attempting to re-enter the dating world after years of grief and recovery. Played with emotional precision by Meghann Fahy, Violet finds herself on a promising first date with the affable and seemingly genuine Henry (Brandon Sklenar) in an elegant, glass-walled Chicago restaurant. But their evening takes a sinister turn when Violet receives a disturbing message via a sleek, anonymous app called DigiDrop: if she doesn’t kill her date before the check arrives, her son and sister will die. What unfolds is a tightly wound 95-minute thriller that feels both classic and timely. The film builds its suspense through confinement, not action. Most of the story unfolds in real-time at their dinner table, creating a pressure-cooker environment that reflects Violet’s psycholo...

FOLLOWING FILMS

Search This Blog