Horror Highlights: ONI PRESS and COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND at SDCC, STORM KING COMICS at SDCC, FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards, FANTASIA Short Films

Oni Press Presents 2024’s Annual Comic Book Legal Defense Fund San Diego Comic-Con Welcome Party to Officiate the Return of EC Comics: "In partnership with the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), Oni Press – the multiple Eisner and Harvey Award-winning publisher of groundbreaking comics and graphic novels since 1997– is proud to announce the return of the CBLDF’s annual San Diego Comic-Con Welcome Party at The Westgate Hotel on Thursday, July 25th from 8 PM to midnight PT. This year’s event will mark the release of Oni’s much anticipated Epitaphs from the Abyss #1 – the first official, all-new EC Comics title in nearly 70 years, honoring the work and legacy of legendary EC publisher and free speech pioneer William M. Gaines.

Joining Oni Press – now in their second year as a flagship sponsorship for San Diego’s premier comic industry party and fundraiser in defense of free speech – is an impressive array of co-sponsors from the worlds of comic books, graphic novels, toys, games, collectibles, and more, including the Certified Guaranty Company (CGC), Kickstarter, The Nacelle Company, Mutant, and Maestro Media.

“In 1954, U.S. Senate hearings aimed at censoring comics led to the creation of the Comics Code – and with it, the demise of the pathbreaking EC Comics line,” observed CBLDF Interim Director Jeff Trexler. “Seventy years later, the launch of new EC titles is a powerful reminder that despite the occasional setbacks, creative expression will always prevail. Our deepest thanks to Oni Press, CGC, Kickstarter, The Nacelle Company, MUTANT, Maestro Media, and of course, our invaluable CBLDF members and the entire fandom community for making it possible for us to help defend the medium we all love.”

"Few things cast a longer shadow on the history of our industry than the untimely and unjust demise of the legendary EC Comics at the hands of pro-censorship forces," said Oni Press President & Publisher Hunter Gorinson. "So there is some small measure of justice in celebrating a new chapter for one of the most celebrated and influential publishing houses in American history alongside the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, who were created in part to prevent similar wrongs from ever recurring. As the CBLDF credo reads, [EC Publisher] 'Bill Gaines Was Right,' and we're indebted to our incredible cast of co-sponsors for defending the right to free expression and creative liberty for the American art form Gaines and EC Comics helped to define – doubly so at this pivotal and precarious moment in the cultural landscape that carries so many echoes of the past."

Together, this impressive assortment of sponsors will each be generously donating an array of limited-edition SDCC collectibles and promotional giveaways for CBLDF Welcome Party gift bags – free to the first 100 attendees who make a donation of $20 or more to benefit the CBLDF at the door. Additionally, Oni Press is also offering extremely limited quantities of CGC-graded 9.8 editions of the Biker Mice from Mars #1 1:50 variant cover – featuring the return of The Nacelle Company’s animation icons as depicted by Eisner Award-nominated artist Francis Portela (Green Lantern) – for donations of $125 or more; and CGC-graded 9.8 editions of the Epitaphs from the Abyss #1 1:100 variant cover – featuring the first appearance of EC’s three all-new horror hosts by acclaimed artist Dustin Weaver (Avengers) – for donations of $250 or more.

Featuring live DJ sets through the evening by Mutant co-founders Mo Shafeek and Spencer Hickman, the event is free for CBLDF members and $20 for the general public at the door to support the CBLDF’s ongoing work in supporting the cause of free speech and creative expression. (An SDCC badge is NOT required to attend.) The evening's festivities will also feature the return of the CBLDF's annual San Diego Comic-Con Silent Art Auction, featuring comic art and other collectibles donated by a wide array of supporting contributors from across the worlds of comics and entertainment.

Oni Press's support of the CBLDF's signature San Diego event follows a year of unprecedented legal challenges to graphic novels and other forms of comic art that have now spread through more than a dozen states, including Maia Kobabe's award-winning graphic memoir, Gender Queer, which has been placed at the epicenter of many of these challenges at the state and was successfully defended by the CBLDF and ruled to be unconstitutional in 2022. Oni Press is proud to reciprocate the CBLDF's support at this critical time in the history of free speech for the comics medium. "

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STORM KING COMICS at SDCC: "Take a deep dive into The Killing Hole, discover the secret of The God List, get a taste of Blood of the Taken, and explore the enormous range of horror comics and graphic novels from Storm King Comics when the acclaimed independent publisher appears at San Diego Comic-Con, July 24 to 28.

Every day of San Diego Comic-Con, including “Preview Night,” the Storm King Comics booth (#1935) will be home to signings, appearances, plus opportunities to explore the vast range of horror graphic novels and comics from the minds and hearts of horror legends Sandy King and John Carpenter.

Every day during Comic-Con, Storm King will offer a highly limited, free SDCC-exclusive mini-poster that showcases a stunning piece of artwork created by comics artist Trevor Denham for The Killing Hole, the newest graphic novel from Storm King’s Dark & Twisted imprint. Titled “Back to 1979,” it’s a must-have for every Gen X horror fan. Only 125 posters will be available; each day, the first 25 visitors to the Storm King booth will receive a copy of this deeply nostalgic and evocative image.

Plus, twice a day, every day, visitors to the Storm King Comics booth will have the opportunity to take part in horror trivia. Think you know horror … and the work of John Carpenter? Prove your expertise for a chance to win Storm King exclusive merchandise and single issues. (Details and times for trivia will be available at the booth.)

The booth will also be home to in-person appearances by comic and graphic-novel luminaries, including Steve Niles, Cat Staggs and Amanda Deibert, Frank Tieri, Neo Edmund, as well as Storm King’s managing editor Sean Sobczak and president Sandy King, all of whom will be available to sign items purchased at the booth. (Please note that all appearances are subject to change.)

In addition, Sandy will feature in two SDCC panels that will be can’t-miss experiences for every horror fan:

·       The Horror Next Door: Bringing Real-Life Terror to Storm King’s Dark & Twisted features Sandy, comics creators Steve Niles, Cat Staggs, Amanda Deibert, Frank Tieri and Storm King managing editor Sean Sobczak in a conversation that explores the newest imprint from Storm King and its intense tales of real-world terror—including serial killers, stalkers and kidnaping. Saturday, 5 p.m., Room 25ABC

·       The Future is Fright: The Indie Horror Explosion brings Sandy into a conversation with Scott Chitwood, publisher of Red 5 Comics; Jim Ousley, creator of The Atonement Bell; horror journalist and documentarian Justin Beahm; and Mel Smith, creator of Becoming Frankenstein. Friday, 6 p.m., Room 28DE

“As the overall comics industry goes through a cycle of major change, San Diego Comic-Con shines an incredible spotlight on comics, graphic novels, their creators and their fans, and with the incredible growth in horror comics, this is really an exciting year for Storm King Comics and our presence in San Diego,” Sandy King said. 

New and upcoming titles from Storm King Comics that will be featured in Booth #1935 include:

·       The Killing Hole by Niles, with illustrations by Denham, which will be released July 10 to comic book stores and online at www.StormKingComics.com;

·        The God List, a collaboration between Niles and writer-illustrator Scott Hampton, available July 17;

·       Blood of the Taken, written and directed by Sian Mandrake, and available October 1.

Even more of the full range of Storm King Comics’ fast-growing library will be on display during San Diego Comic-Con, making Storm King’s booth a must-see for every horror fan visiting the annual pop-culture extravaganza."

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FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards: "FANGORIA, the renowned authority in horror entertainment, announced today that voting for the highly anticipated 2024 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards is officially open. Fans of the best and bloodiest in entertainment are invited to select their favorites across a diverse range of categories – including the addition of a new category: Best Video Game.

Once again airing on AMC’s Shudder, the 2024 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards arrive at a pivotal moment when the horror genre has seen a remarkable resurgence in both critical acclaim and box office success. This year's contenders, from chilling psychological thrillers to pulse-pounding supernatural tales, have not only captivated audiences but also shaped the future of horror storytelling.

Films like Evil Dead Rise, which took the classic franchise to new heights, and the acclaimed horror prequel The First Omen set new benchmarks in the genre, earning them multiple nominations across various categories, while titles like When Evil Lurks and Talk To Me helped put international horror in the race like never before.

One new wrinkle this year is the annual awards show’s shift to October; as such, the window of this year’s eligible horrors is an expanded one, encompassing all of 2023 and the first half of 2024.

The complete list of nominees in each category is as follows:

 

Best Wide Release Movie

Abigail

Evil Dead Rise

The First Omen

Godzilla Minus One

Infinity Pool

Late Night With the Devil

M3GAN

Satanic Hispanics

Talk To Me

When Evil Lurks

 

Best Limited Release Movie

Cobweb

Enys Men

I Saw the TV Glow

The Outwaters

Suitable Flesh

 

Best Streaming Premiere Movie

No One Will Save You

Sick

Totally Killer

V/H/S/85

Where the Devil Roams

 

Best First Feature

The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster

Birth/Rebirth

It Lives Inside

Skinamarink

Stopmotion

 

Best International Movie

The Coffee Table

Exhuma

Infested

Huesera: The Bone Woman

When Evil Lurks

 

Best Lead Performance

Tobin Bell - Saw X

David Dastmalchian, Late Night with the Devil

Kaitlyn Dever, No One Will Save You

Nell Tiger Free, The First Omen

Kathryn Newton, Lisa Frankenstein

Lupita Nyong'o, A Quiet Place: Day One

Emma Stone, Poor Things

Lily Sullivan, Evil Dead Rise

Sydney Sweeney, Immaculate

Sophie Wilde, Talk to Me

 

Best Supporting Performance

Dave Bautista, Knock at the Cabin

Joe Bird, Talk To Me

Nicolas Cage, Renfield

Mia Goth, Infinity Pool

Kathryn Newton, Abigail

Bridgette Lundy Paine, I Saw the TV Glow

Dewayne Perkins, The Blackening

Dan Stevens, Abigail

Alyssa Sutherland, Evil Dead Rise

Alisha Weir, Abigail

 

Best Director

Brandon Cronenberg, Infinity Pool

Lee Cronin, Evil Dead Rise

Danny and Michael Philippou, Talk To Me

Demián Rugna, When Evil Lurks

Arkasha Stevenson, The First Omen

 

Best Screenplay

Colin and Cameron Cairnes, Late Night With the Devil

Akela Cooper; story by Akela Cooper and James Wan, M3GAN

Brandon Cronenberg, Infinity Pool

Danny Philippou and Bill Hinzman, Talk To Me

Arkasha Stevenson, Tim Smith and Keith Thomas; story by Ben Jacoby, The First Omen

 

Best Cinematography

Pierce Derks, In A Violent Nature

Karim Hussain, Infinity Pool

Aaron Morton, The First Omen

Robbie Ryan, Poor Things

Eric K. Yue, I Saw the TV Glow

 

Best Makeup FX

Marcos Berta, When Evil Lurks

Bec Buratto, Paul Katte and Nick Nicolaou, Talk To Me

Liz Byrne, Paul Byrne & Matthew Smith, Abigail

Steven Kostanski, In A Violent Nature

Tristan Lucas, Evil Dead Rise

 

Best Creature FX

Jim Henson's Creature Shop, Five Nights at Freddy's

Adam Johansen and Damian Martin, Odd Studio, Evil Dead Rise

Göran Lundström, The Last Voyage of the Demeter

Adrien Morot, Morot FX Studios, M3GAN

Thierry Onillon and Léo Ewald, Infested

 

Best Costume Design

Francesca Brunori, Immaculate

Paco Delgado, The First Omen

Steph Hooke, Late Night With the Devil

Meagan McLaughlin, Lisa Frankenstein

Holly Waddington, Poor Things

 

Best Score

Alex G, I Saw the TV Glow

Tim Hecker, Infinity Pool

Mark Korven, The First Omen

Stephen McKeon, Evil Dead Rise

Naoki Satô, Godzilla Minus One

 

Best Documentary Feature

Dario Argento Panico

The Legacy of the Texas Chain Saw Massacre

Satan Wants You

Sharksploitation

We Kill For Love

 

Best Series

Chucky

The Fall of the House of Usher

Interview with a Vampire

The Last of Us

Yellowjackets

 

Best Video Game

Alan Wake 2

Dead Space Remake

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game

Resident Evil 4 Remake

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

 

Best Non-Fiction Series or Miniseries

Amityville: An Origin Story

The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula: Season 5

The Enfield Poltergeist

The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs

Svengoolie

As per previous years, the highly competitive “Best Kill” category is a write-in vote.

“Though the FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards have been around for over 30 years, our current age of horror has delivered a high volume of next-level entertainment the likes of which fans have never seen,” said FANGORIA’s Editor-in-Chief Phil Nobile Jr. “Fans will have their work cut out for them, as choosing the best of the best from this genre has truly never been more difficult – or more fun.”

Participants can cast their votes via the official FANGORIA website at www.fangoria.com/vote/. Voting polls close on July 20, 2024.

For more information and updates regarding the 2024 FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards, please visit www.fangoria.com and follow FANGORIA on social media."

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PRESENTING THE SHORT FILM LINEUP OF FANTASIA’S 28th EDITION: "The Fantasia International Film Festival will celebrate its upcoming 28th edition with an electrifying program of screenings, workshops, and launch events running from July 18 through August 4, 2024, returning to the Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screens and events at Montréal’s Cinémathèque Québécoise, Cinéma du Musée, Théâtre Plaza, and BBAM! Gallery.

The festival website is now live with the complete lineup of over 125 features and 200+ shorts available to be explored. Ticket pre-sales open at 10:00AM on July 5.

As a supplement to the feature films and special events announced this morning, the festival is proud to reveal an overview of this year’s short film programming, beginning with the showcases and concluding on a breakdown of shorts that will be screening before features.

ANIME NO BENTO 2024

A showcase of wildly varied and innovative short works by Japanese animators—some well-established, others taking their first steps forward—demonstrating the incredible possibilities anime can offer.

First Line (Japan, dir. Tina, International Premiere)

Kamigoroshi: Prologue (Japan, dir. Niho Tomoyuki, World Premiere)

Maidens of the Ripples (Japan, dir. Michiko Soma, North American Premiere)

Mecha-Ude Episode 1 (Japan, dir. Sae Okamoto, World Premiere)

Okuninushi and Sukunabikona (Japan, dir. Akitoshi Yokoyama, International Premiere)

String Dance (Japan, dir. Shuhei Morita, International Premiere)

The True Shape of a Daisy (Japan, dir. Naoki Arata, World Premiere)

ARE YOU AFRAID OF FANTASIA? 2024

Like the popular Canadian television series Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1992-1996), this program is an international collection of horrific short films, many with comedic bite, and some dead serious.

Amygdala (Sweden, dir. Oskar Johansson, Canadian Premiere)

Coléoptère (France, dir. Martin Gouzou, Canadian Premiere)

Dark Signals (USA, dir. Izzy Lee, Canadian Premiere)

Hold Up (USA, dir. Ori Guendelman, World Premiere)
Howl at the Dead (USA, dir. Gregg Bishop, Canadian Premiere)

Monster Party (Canada, dir. Amara Burnett, World Premiere)

Ouch! (USA, dir. Zach Kornfeld, International Premiere)

Roger is a Serial Killer (USA, dir. Don Swaynos, International Premiere)

Save Me (China, dir. Liu Di, International Premiere)

Tinkerhell (USA, Noah Sterling, World Premiere)

BORN OF WOMAN 2024

Fantasia’s top-shelf showcase of personal auteur genre visions returns with eight works from five countries that will leave you shaken and amazed.

Berta (Spain, dir. Lucía Forner Segarra, World Premiere)

The Bleacher (USA, dir. Nicole Daddona, Adam Wilder, Canadian Premiere)

Dead Tooth (France, dir. Romane Eilahtan, World Premiere)

I’m Not a Robot (Netherlands, dir. Victoria Warmerdam, Canadian Premiere)

Izzy (Netherlands, dir. Yfke Van Berckelaer, North American Premiere)

Mosquito Lady (USA, dir. Kristine Gerolaga, Canadian Premiere)

Olga’s Eyes (Belgium, dir. Sarah Carlot Jaber, Canadian Premiere)

Wildflower (USA, dir. Wan Xin Tang, World Premiere)

THE CABARET OF CURIOSITIES 2024 – INTERNATIONAL EDITION

The return of our theatrical cabaret-styled night, combining screenings of local and international shorts with comedy, cabaret acts and live performances.

 

Banana Split (Canada, dir. François Mercier, Montreal Premiere)               

Mousse crust (Canada, dir. Badminton Plus)                                      

Documentage épisode 10 (Canada, dir. FRed Lavigne, World Premiere)             

Godzilla vs. Dungeons & Dragons (USA, dir. Cressa Maeve Áine, International Premiere)     

I Need It Yesterday (USA, dir. Jack De Sena and Chris Smith, International Premiere

The Lure, (U.K., dir. Tony Hipwell, Canadian Premiere)                                             

Pain Perdu (Canada, dir. Béatrice Philie, World Premiere)                                        

Partage ton steak(Canada, dir. FRed Lavigne, World Premiere)                 

Party Time (USA, dir. Mike Marrero and Jon Rhoads, Canadian Premiere)

Pumpkin Girl (Never Blow Out a Jack-O-Lantern on Halloween) (USA, dir. Trent Shy, World Premiere)

Road trip to Mayoland (Canada, dir. FRed Lavigne, Montreal Premiere)

Satisfaction Garantie (Canada, dir. Marilou Bureau, Anna Pelletier, and Emile Rouillard, World Premiere)

Tape Head (USA, dir. Trent Shy, World Premiere)      

Terreur Cosmique (Canada, dir. Alexandre Paradis, World Premiere)

Trip N Space (Canada, dir. Cédric Legault, World Premiere)            

Trou d’beigne (Canada, dir. Robin Anctil, FRed Lavigne, and Charles Parisé, World Premiere)

Type A (USA, dir. Jake Barcus, International Premiere)                     

The Vintage Invasion from Outer Space (Canada, dir. Richertd Vézina, World Premiere)

Les VOMINUS films (Canada, dir. FRed Lavigne, World Premiere)            

We Joined a Cult (USA, dir. Chris McInroy, Quebec Premiere)

Weirded Out (Canada, dir. Patrick Meimari, World Premiere)                                   

When life gives you lemons (Canada, dir. Gaëlle Dumont and Vanessa Goulet Soungie, World Premiere)

CAPSULES 2024

Martial arts, mystical fantasy, mordant comedy, and mind-bending sci-fi—choice cuts from Bilibili’s CAPSULES series demonstrate the growing quality and diversity of Chinese animation.

Amy and Frog (China, dir. Paul Williams, International Premiere)

Bottled Thunder (China, dir. Leong Jo, International Premiere)

Game Show (China, dir. Zhao Yu, Chen Fei, International Premiere)

Ruthless Blade (China, dir. Zhang Bo, Canadian Premiere)

A Tale of the Stolen Peach (China, dir. Wang Jiaguo, International Premiere)

Time Machine (China, dir. Gao Zihan, Canadian Premiere)

CELLULOID EXPERIMENTS 2024

Have a rendezvous with shapes, colors, and poetry on an experimental journey that will take you from sweet daydreams to feverish nightmares.

The Best of Dérapage 24 Festival (International, Various Filmmakers)

Bye Bear (Germany, dir. Jan Bitzer, Canadian Premiere)

The Day the Earth Got Free Richard Pryor Photos (USA, dir. Ivan Peycheff, World Premiere)                                                                      

Desk Bugs (Japan / South Korea, dir. Kim Hakhyun, International Premiere)

Factory Drop (Germany, dir. Petja Pulkrabek, World Premiere)

Glutor and friends (Canada, dir. FRed Lavigne, World Premiere)

HIGH  (Canada, dir. Scott Cowan, World Premiere)

House of Weird, The (USA, dir. Mark Reyes, World Premiere)

Irrational (Canada, dir. Katya Tavitian, World Premiere)

A New York Covid Story (USA, dir. Tal S. Shamir, World Premiere)

The Popstar Water Deer and I (South Korea, dir. Sasha Lee, North American Premiere)

Rabbit (USA, dir. Nathan Catucci, North American Premiere)           

Redevolve (Canada, dir. Sandro Quattrini, World Premiere)                         

A Visual Poem (USA, dir. Benjamin Walant, International Premiere)

CINEMAPSOSA 2024

From science-fiction drama to psychological thriller, the possibilities are endless. A quartet of mid-length South Korean genre films by incredibly talented emerging directors who aren’t afraid to take risks.

Hamjinabi (South Korea, dir. Lee Sangmin, North American Premiere)

Memory (South Korea, dir. Jang Hawon, International Premiere)

The Rooms (South Korea, dir. You Heeryun, Canadian Premiere)

Wanna Die Wanna Kill (South Korea, dir. Jeong Jaehee, World Premiere)

CIRCO ANIMATO 2024

Fantasia’s annual showcase of amazing animated short films from around the world returns with over a dozen dazzling offerings, marvelously multifarious in tone, technique, and perspective.

African American Express (Canada, dir. Sydnie Baynes, World Premiere)

Anthropocene (Taiwan, dir. Raito Low, Huang Yun-Sian, Canadian Premiere)

Les Bêtes (USA, dir. Michael Granberry, Canadian Premiere)

Extremely Short (Japan, dir. Koji Yamamura, Canadian Premiere)

Haru-tsuge Fish and Fu-rai Boy (Japan, dir. Takeshi Yashiro, International Premiere)

Itch (Canada, dir. Maggie Zeng, World Premiere)

Mothership (USA, dir. Joseph Burrascano, Canadian Premiere)

A New Account of Tales of the World (China, dir. Che Meiyi, World Premiere)

Number 32. Giant Fish (South Korea, dir. Si Seunghyun, World Premiere)

Pantheon Bird (Japan, dir. Choi Eunyoung, International Premiere)

The Parade (Singapore, dir. Ryan Benjamin Lee, Canadian Premiere)

Shapes (Hong Kong, dir. Ho Tsz-Wing, Canadian Premiere)

Trumpet Voice (Chile, dir. David Monarte Serna, Pilar Smoje Gueico, Canadian Premiere)

Variations (China, dir. Xu Yao, International Premiere)

The Wedding Veil of the Proud Princess (UK, dir. Anna-Ester Volozh, North American Premiere)

Weiqi Fantasy (China, dir. Liu Yuanru, Canadian Premiere)

The Yearbook (Canada, dir. Charlie Galea McClure, World Premiere)

COLLECTIVE DELUSIONS 2024

A showcase of underground DIY, outsider, and bizarre cinema from around the world. This year collective delusions dives deep into fetishistic desire, unsettling nightmares, and the most important thing: love.

Baby Food (Canada / Québec, dir. Charlie Galea McClure, World Premiere)

Cease to Exist (Canada, dir. Taylor Nodrick, World Premiere)

Dream Factory (UK, dir. Alex Matraxia, Canadian Premiere)

Fuck the Crops (Norway, dir. Tobias Frøystad, International Premiere)

A Haunting at Alma Drive (USA, dir. Dalton Allen, World Premiere)

The Hollywood Signs (USA, dir. Michael Reich, Canadian Premiere)

In The Name Of Love I Will Punish You (Indonesia, dir. Kevin Rahardjo, World Premiere)

Just Wood Creaking and Rats. (Germany, dir. Adelfo Micieli, Canadian Premiere)

Like Me (USA, dir. Ashley Thomas, Canadian Premiere)

Make Me a Pizza (USA, dir. Talia Shea Levin, Quebec Premiere)

Meat(lov)er (South Korea, dir. Park Kyung Seo, World Premiere)

The Streetlight (USA, dir. Sophia Parella, World Premiere)

Tongue-Tonguin (USA, dir. Phil Montgomery, International Premiere)

EVOL EPISODES 1 2 3

A trio of teen suicide survivors have acquired superpowers (however uncool) but they don’t want to save the world—they want to tear it all down. The first half of the manga-adaptation streaming miniseries from Japan’s DMM TV.

EVOL Episode 1 (Japan, dir. Santa Yamagishi, International Premiere)

EVOL Episode 2 (Japan, dir. Santa Yamagishi, International Premiere)

EVOL Episode 3 (Japan, dir. Santa Yamagishi, International Premiere)

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE-FICTION SHORT FILM SHOWCASE 2024

Seven films. Five countries. Worlds of vision. Fantasia’s annual showcase of soulful and innovative sci-fi shorts returns.

Escape Attempt (USA / Poland, dir. Daniel Shapiro, Alex Topaller, Canadian Premiere)

Headache (Sweden, dir. Björn Schagerström, International Premiere)

Katele (Australia, dir. John Harvey, Quebec Premiere)

A Little Longer (Canada, dir. Connor Kujawinski, Quebec Premiere)

The Move (USA, dir. Eric Kissack, International Premiere)

Sincopat (Spain, dir. Pol Diggler, Montreal Premiere)

ZZZ (USA, dir. Felipe Vargas, North American Premiere)

LANTERN BLADE EPISODES 1 2 3

From the thriving landscape of stop-motion wuxia within the Chinese animation industry, a miniseries that seamlessly merges martial-arts adventure and Lovecraftian horror.

Lantern Blade Episode 1 (China, dir. Zhu Ziqi, International Premiere)

Lantern Blade Episode 2 (China, dir. Zhu Ziqi, International Premiere)

Lantern Blade Episode 3 (China, dir. Zhu Ziqi, International Premiere)

MON PREMIER FANTASIA 

Fantasia’s French language block of shorts programmed for children returns. Discover works from Germany, Australia, Belgium, South Korea, France, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Japan, Portugal and of course Quebec. Laughter, thrills, and great adventures await you. The films in this program are either in French language or contain no spoken dialogue.

Bativoler (Canada, dir. Delphine Briancon Pinard, World Premiere)

The Girl With The Occupied Eyes (Portugal, dir. André Carrilho, Canadian Premiere)

Hello! (South Korea, dir. Lee Dakyoung, Canadian Premiere)

Jardin le lutin (Canada, dir. Zahya Tétreault Bélanger, World Premiere)

Liv & Bell: Planet of the Marimo (Japan, dir. Natsuki Kida, Canadian Premiere)

MOON Episode 1: Sandwich (Japan, dir. Eri Kinoshita, International Premiere)

MOON Episode 2: Camping (Japan, dir. Eri Kinoshita, International Premiere)

Le Plongeur (Canada, dir. Jade Déry, World Premiere)

Prinzessin Aubergine (Germany, dir. Florian Grolig and Dina Velikovskaya, Canadian Premiere)

Shapes (Hong Kong, dir. Ho Tsz-Wing, Canadian Premiere)

STAE (Canada, Jdir ustin Tran, World Premiere)

Tête en l'air (France / Switzerland, dir. Rémi Durin, Montreal Premiere)

Le Tout Petit Voyage (France / Switzerland, Emily Worms, Montreal Premiere)

Two One Two (Canada, dir. Shira Avni, Quebec Premiere)

Wat zit er in die kist? (Belgique, dir. Bram Algoed, Montreal Premiere)

 

MY FIRST FANTASIA

Fantasia’s English language block of shorts programmed for children. With these films from Canada, China, South Korea, United States, Nicaragua and Taiwan, laughter, magic, poetry, music, and adventure await you. The works in this program are either English language or contain no spoken dialogue.

Afternoon Tea Chez Mrs. Pillbug (Canada, dir. Plinko, World Premiere)

Bunny of the Magic Forest from the film Synapusyu the Movie: Pusyu, Brand Nyu World (Japan, dir. Yuichiro Natori, International Premiere)

Eyes (South Korea, Choi Yoojae and Nam Hyokyoung, Canadian Premiere)

Fish out of Town (USA, Sofia Garza-Barba, International Premiere)

Gaomei Fantasy (Taiwan, Juo Wen-Chin, Canadian Premiere)

Ice Cream Fairies (South Korea, Im Eun, World Premiere) 

On The Dock (Canada, Francis Garceau, World Premiere)

Planet Sky Lion from the film Synapusyu the Movie: Pusyu, Brand Nyu World (Japan, dir. Takaharu Shimizu, International Premiere)

Scoumoune (Canada, Coralie Joubert, World Premiere)

Vertiente de Agua Tibia (Canada / Nicaragua, Camilo Mangas Calderón, Canadian Premiere)

Weird Relationship, The (South Korea, Nam Yejin, World Premiere)

PERILOUS PORTS: TOURS OF NORTHERN TERRORS 2024

PERILOUS PORTS is back for a second run of ground-breaking Canadian short films! There’s nothing quite like them, and this year, we’re featuring sleep-paralysis demons, vampires, ghosts, and questionable bath bombs – there’s something here for everyone!

Art Baby (Canada, dir. Pony Nicole Herauf, World Premiere)

Bath Bomb (Canada, dir. Colin G. Cooper, Canadian Premiere)

Can’t Sleep (Canada, dir. Liam O’Connor-Savaria, World Premiere)

Dealer(Canada, dir. Alfio Foti, World Premiere)

Dirty Bad Wrong (Canada, dir. Erica Orofino, World Premiere)

How To Stay Awake (Canada, dir. Vanessa Magic, World Premiere)

My Son Went Quiet (Canada, dir. Ian Bawa, Canadian Premiere)

Shiva (Canada, dir. Josh Saltzman, World Premiere)

The Shitty Ride (Canada, dir. Cole Doran, World Premiere)

Thank You (Canada, dir. Carlo Quicho, Summer Lynn Gillespie, Quebec Premiere)

Wildmen of the Greater Toronto Area (Canada, dir. Solmund MacPherson, Quebec Premiere)

You Have Reached Your Destination (Canada, dir. Ryan Couldrey, Quebec Premiere)

SMALL GAUGE TRAUMA 2024

Fantasia’s celebrated international showcase of cutting-edge genre works is back with ten films from six countries that positively astonish. 25^th edition!

The Accomplices (Spain, dir. Alberto Evangelio, Canadian Premiere)

Birdcage (Belgium, dir. Karel Konings, Canadian Premiere)

Blockbuster (Brazil, dir. Rafael Toledo, Canadian Premiere)

Don’t Talk to Strangers (Spain, dir. Imanol Ortiz López, North American Premiere)

Dysmorphic (USA, dir. Grant Swanson, International Premiere)

Empty Jars (Chile, dir. Guillermo Ribbeck, World Premiere)

Faces (USA, dir. Blake Simon, World Premiere)

The Fish Tank (Mexico, dir. Victoria Garza, International Premiere)

The Mantis (USA, dir. Wylie Rush, International Premiere)

On God (USA, dir. Andrew Theodore Balasia, World Premiere)

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE EAST 2024

Fantasia’s showcase of bite-sized Asian tales of the macabre again offers a celebration of the otherworldly from the other side of the world, split between animation and live-action.

Wild Animal (China, dir. Lyu Tianyun, World Premiere)

Hooves (Sri Lanka, dir. Akash Sunethkumara, Canadian Premiere)

Bulusan and Agingay: The Cry of Mampak (Philippines, dir. Gary George Clotario, Canadian Premiere)

How to Kill a Vampire (South Korea, dir. Kim Soyeon, World Premiere)

The Exorcist, Kim Rina (South Korea, dir. Kim Yeonhoo, Lim Sumin, and Shin Sugyeong, World Premiere)

Edith (Singapore, dir. Clare Chong, World Premiere)

Where The Mountain Women Sing (Hong Kong / Taiwan / USA, dir. Zhang Juefang, World Premiere)

 

SHORTS SCREENING BEFORE FEATURES

98% (South Korea, dir. Byun Chang-woo, World Premiere, screening before 4PM)

AstroNots (Australia, dir. Andrew Seaton, screening with Meanwhile on Earth)

Be Right back (Spain, dir. Gabe Ibañez, Lucas Paulino, North American Premiere, screening before The Beast Within)

Bladder Shy (Canada, dir. Joel Goundry, World Premiere, screening before Scared Shitless)

Crave (France, dir. Mark Middlewick, North American Premiere, screening before Haze)

Dark Mommy (USA, dir. Courtney Eck, Canadian Premiere, screening before Witchboard)

Deep Tish (USA, dir. Dave Paige, International Premiere, screening before The Dead Thing)

The Door (Canada, dir. Alexander Seltzer, Canadian Premiere, screening before The Silent Planet)

Dream Creep (USA, dir. Carlos A.F. Lopez, International Premiere, screening before Cuckoo)

Echo (Spain, dir. Meritxell A. Valls, Canadian Premiere, screening before Electrophilia)

Elves on a Ledge (USA, dir. Abby Lloyd, International Premiere, screening before Carnage for Christmas)

Erection and Destruction (USA, dir. Eddie Mullins, World Premiere, screening before Vulcanizadora)

For Rent (Canada, dir. Michèle Kaye, World Premiere, screening before Self Driver)

The Future Is Now (South Korea, dir. Jung Jong-min, World Premiere, screening before Brave Citizen)

God’s Anus (Switzerland, dir. Jan-David Bolt, Montreal Premiere, screening before Rats!)

Hell is a Teenage Girl (Canada, dir. Stephen Sawchuk, Canadian Premiere, screening before Dark Match)

Hi! You Are Currently Being Recorded (US / UK / Canada, dir. Kyle Greenberg, Anna Maguire, Canadian Premiere, screening before The Code)

H*le (USA, dir. Nick Beardslee, International Premiere, screening before Me and my Victim)

Hunter Loading (USA / Serbia, dir. Sasa Numic, International Premiere, screening before From My Cold, Dead Hands)

Leap of Passion (South Korea, dir. Kim Jae-hyung, World Premiere, screening before The Tenants)

Macguffin (South Korea, dir. Yang Jihye, World Premiere, screening before The Killers)

Martillo (USA, dir. Alejandra Parody, Ben Sottak, World Premiere, screening before Azrael)

Meat Puppet (UK, dir. Eros V, Canadian Premiere, screening before The Paragon)

Night Fishing (South Korea, dir. Moon Byoung-gon, International Premiere, screening before The Roundup: Punishment)

Piggy 1/2 (Taiwan, dir. Fish Wang, North American Premiere, screening before Animalia Paradoxa)

Pretty Sad (USA, dir. Jim Cummings, World Premiere, screening before In Our Blood)

The Rainbow Bridge (USA, dir. Dimitri Simakis, Quebec Premiere, screening before Infinite Summer).

Réel (France, dir. Rodrigue Huart, World Premiere, screening before The Soul Eater)

Ring Neck (Canada, dir. Vasili Manikas, World Premiere, screening before Kryptic)

Shitter (USA, dir. Chris Schwab, World Premiere, Screening before Chainsaws Were Singing)

Space Dumbs (Kazakhstan, dir. Alan Talkenov, North American Premiere, screening before The Old Man and the Demon Sword)

The Sun, the Moon and the Mountain (Philippines, dir. Clarisa Espiritu, World Premiere, screening before The Missing)

Tight (USA, dir. Jessica Barr, International Premiere, screening before The A-Frame)

What the Hell (Canada, dir. Valerie Barnhart, World Premiere, screening before Frankie Freako)

You Don’t Read Enough (Canada, dir. Noa Kozulin, Quebec Premiere, screening before Darkest Miriam)

The 28th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival is presented by Videotron and is made possible with the financial contributions of Telefilm Canada, la Société́ de développement des entreprises culturelles (SODEC), le gouvernement du Québec, the city of Montréal, le Conseil des arts de Montréal, Tourisme Montréal, and the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC).

The festival would like to thank all its private partners, friends of the event, as well as official suppliers, venues, and all participating filmmakers, sales agents, and distributors for their invaluable support.

For the very latest in up-to-date information on this year’s screenings and events, please follow the Fantasia International Film Festival on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram."