Film Festivals

JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN (Jacky au royaume des filles)

The 18th annual Fantasia International Film Festival starting July 17 until August 5, 2014 unveiled the First Wave announcement of several selected highlights for the upcoming festival. Fantasia 2014 will launch with the Canadian premiere of JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN (Jacky au royaume des filles), a sharp political satire from comic book genius Riad Sattouf (LES BEAUX GOSSES) that took the Rotterdam Film Festival by storm.Set in the Democratic Republic of Bubunne where women lead and men are obligated to wear a veil and serve them, this subversive black comedy follows Jacky (Vincent Lacoste), a one-of-a-kind Cinderella, who wishes to marry the powerful and gorgeous Colonel (Charlotte Gainsbourg), daughter of the country’s leader (Anémone). You don’t think when you’re in love, you push on, and sometimes accidentally set off a coup d’état. The provocative and smart JACKY IN THE KINGDOM OF WOMEN couldn’t be more timely, urgent or funny.

CENTERPIECE PRESENTATION: GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Fantasia will hold a special screening of the hotly anticipated new instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, and the voice talents of Vin Diesel and Bradley Cooper, directed by none other than James Gunn (SUPER, SLITHER) and presented in dazzling 3D.

A towering and truly unique figure in Japanese animation, director Mamoru Oshii will be a recipient of Fantasia’s Lifetime Achievement Award. From pioneering OVAs DALLOS and the haunting ANGEL’S EGG, and of course the beloved PATLABOR series, of the 1980s, through the dramatically influential global hit GHOST IN THE SHELL in the mid-’90s, to its award-winning sequel and other powerful, pensive works in the new millennium (SKY CRAWLERS, AVALON), Oshii has consistently strived to bring new ideas and in fact a whole new attitude to anime. With his meticulous and idiosyncratic near-future thrillers and dramas, linked by persistent themes, motifs and concerns, Oshii asserts a complex, deeply thoughtful and decidedly adult sensibility — while maintaining the highest technical standards in the field (and hardly confining his efforts to animation). In seeking a path to call his own, Oshii has blazed a trail for fantastic entertainment worldwide to follow.  Mamoru Oshii will be receiving his award on our opening night, July 17, before a special screening of the new HD master of GHOST IN THE SHELL, being re-issued by Manga Entertainment and Anchor Bay Entertainment in celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the original manga’s publication. This will be the first time the GITS HD print has been made available outside of Japan, lovingly restored, unadulterated and awe-inspiring in its beauty.

ADDITIONAL FIRST WAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS INCLUDE:

AMONG THE LIVING
France   Dir: Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury
Leave it to the makers of INSIDE and LIVID to rework STAND BY ME as the horror film Stephen King always knew it could be. A tribute to ’80s cinema turned completely on its head, then decapitated. A standout at SXSW and the Brussels Fantastic Film Festival. Canadian Premiere

ANGRY VIDEO GAME NERD: THE MOVIE
USA  Dir: Kevin Finn, James D. Rolfe
He is the enemy of the weak and wasteful, of garbage gameplay and lousy graphics, the one and only Angry Video Game Nerd! James D. Rolfe’s longstanding hit web series powers up to its big-screen debut! International Premiere

BOYHOOD
USA  Dir: Richard Linklater
Over a decade ago, Richard Linklater assembled a cast he would film over a dozen years, to tell an utterly authentic tale of American childhood and adolescence.  Many critics already call it one of the year’s best films, and so will you. Winner of the Silver Bear at the 2014 Berlin Film Festival and the Lone Star Award at SXSW 2014, this unique coming of age drama will launch the fifth edition of Fantasia’s Camera Lucida section. Quebec Premiere

BROS BEFORE HOS
Netherlands Dir: Steffen Haars, Flip Van der Kuil
Following the awful breakup of their parents’ marriage, two brothers seal a pact that neither shall ever enter into a serious relationship with a woman. The Netherland’s renegade NEW KIDS team returns, still riotous and right on the edge of good taste. International Premiere

CYBERNATURAL
USA Dir: Leo Gabriadze 
On the anniversary of a teen’s suicide, the six cyberbullies responsible meet online for a group chat. A seventh, anonymous participant joins them. Told entirely way of a character’s computer screen, CYBERNATURAL brilliantly nails the ways in which we communicate and present ourselves online, hitting hard with a new kind of horror for an increasingly connected-yet-disconnected world. Produced by Timur Bekmambetov (WANTED, NIGHTWATCH). World Premiere

CROWS EXPLODE
Japan  Dir: Toshiaki Toyoda
Fists will fly and beatings will abound, but the greatest battles are always in the hearts of the sneering, delinquent punks of the notorious Suzuran All-Boys High School. After Takashi Miike, it’s now BLUE SPRING director Toshiaki Toyoda’s turn to make a knuckle mark on the CROWS ZERO franchise. North American Premiere

DEALER
France  Dir: Jean Luc Herbulot
Directed with volcanic energy, DEALER is a sturdy thriller that drags its audience full-steam ahead through a Parisian underbelly filled with hoods and thugs, marking the powerful arrival of one of the most promising new voices in French genre cinema. A feature-film baptism filled with noise and fury.  World Premiere

GIOVANNI’S ISLAND
Japan  Dir: Mizuho Nishikubo
A gracefully executed anime from Production I.G, examining the struggles of the Japanese in the immediate aftermath of World War II, from the perspective of a child. As beautiful as it is devastating, GIOVANNI’S ISLAND received a Jury Mention at the prestigious Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Canadian Premiere

THE HARVEST
USA Dir: John McNaughton
A surprising story told in twists, tears and blood, maverick HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER / WILD THINGS filmmaker John McNaughton’s long-awaited return stars Samantha Morton, Michael Shannon, Charlie Tahan and Peter Fonda and exists in a disquieting median space between sinister fairy tale and shattering human horror. International Premiere

HAN GONG-JU
South Korea  Dir: Lee Su-jin
A troubled teenage girl flees her past — is she guilty or a victim? A multiple prize winner, notably attaining the Silver Tiger Award at this year’s Rotterdam International Film Festival, HAN GONG-JU is a magnificent yet devastating debut feature of incredible narrative virtuosity. Canadian Premiere

THE HUNTRESSES 
South Korea  Dir: Park Jae-hyun 
A trio of daring and dangerous bounty-hunting beauties find themselves in a high-risk, high-stakes game of subterfuge and swordplay in medieval Korea. A rousing and fast-paced action-adventure with a dash of romance and a barge-load of slapstick laughs! International Premiere

I ORIGINS
USA  Dir: Mike Cahill
From the director and star (Brit Marling) of ANOTHER EARTH comes another science fiction drama about a molecular biologist and his partner whose unique experiments may change the nature of society itself. Canadian Premiere

INTO THE STORM
USA  Dir: Steven Quayle
In the span of a single day, the town of Silverton is ravaged by an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes. The entire town is at the mercy of the erratic and deadly cyclones, even as storm trackers predict the worst is yet to come. Most people seek shelter, while others run towards the vortex, testing how far a storm chaser will go for that once-in-a-lifetime shot. Quebec Premiere

KILLERS
Indonesia/Japan  Dir: The Mo Brothers
Two serial killers. One likes to kill, the other seeks justice. The problem is, the first one is mentoring the latter… Social media will bring a storm of blood over both Tokyo and Jakarta in this shocking yet incredibly smart horror thriller in the vein of THE CHASER and COLD FISH that floored audiences at Sundance. Canadian Premiere

KITE
USA/Mexico  Dir: Ralph Ziman
The controversial and influential anime finally sees a live-action adaptation, stylishly directed by award-winning South African filmmaker Ralph Ziman (JERUSALEMA) and backed by a cast that features Samuel L. Jackson, Callan McAuliffe, and India Eisley. The film succeeds brilliantly in blending the elements that made the original material a mythical piece of art. International Premiere

LIVE
Japan  Dir: Noboru Iguchi
When his mother is kidnapped and a stranger calls, Naoto is thrust into a public triathlon of death. DEAD SUSHI director Noboru Iguchi’s running go at the survival-race genre is loveably lurid, super-sanguinary fun. North American Premiere

THE MAN IN THE ORANGE JACKET
Latvia   Dir: Aik Karapetian
A laid-off worker kills his ex-boss in cold blood, and assumes his lifestyle. The good times will be short-lived, however as things are about to take an unexpected turn. In a similar vein than Polanski:s THE TENANT, Armenian filmmaker Aik Karapetian’s audacious slasher is this year’s most groundbreaking work of dramatic horror.  World Premiere

THE MIDNIGHT SWIM
USA Dir: Sarah Adina Smith
Spirit Lake is unusually deep. No diver has ever managed to find the bottom. When Dr. Amelia Brooks disappears during a deep-water dive, her three daughters travel home. They find themselves unable to let go and become drawn into the mysteries of the lake. A phantasmagoric atmosphere reminiscent of PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK emanates from this brilliant debut feature debut. World Premiere

MISS GRANNY
South Korea  Dir: Hwang Dong-hyeuk 
74-year-old grandmother Oh Mal-soon has been magically transported into the body of her 20-year-old self. Seizing the opportunity to relive a youth she sacrificed in the name of her child, she sets out to explore a world of new possibilities. And it includes K-Pop… Canadian Premiere

MONSTERZ
Japan  Dir: Hideo Nakata
A sinister sociopath with psychic powers squares off against a cheerful everyman with a secret of his own. The 2010 South Korean superhero/horror hybrid HAUNTERS, remade by Japanese cult director Hideo Nakata (RINGU), with stars Tatsuya Fujiwara (SHIELD OF STRAW) and Takayuki Yamada (CROWS ZERO). Canadian Premiere

ONCE UPON A TIME IN SHANGHAI
Hong Kong  Dir: Wong Ching-Po
Opium and kung fu! The glory days of old Shanghai — or are they? Two generations of true kung fu experts collide in the spectacular martial arts feast, with breathtaking choreography by Yuen Woo-Ping and Yuen Cheung-Yan! Canadian Premiere

PREDESTINATION
Australia Dirs:  Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Time, place and identity get folded, spindled and mutilated in the mind-bending new film from Australia’s Spierig Bros (UNDEAD, DAYBREAKERS),  a noir-tinted sci-fi thriller with a soul, starring Ethan Hawke, Noah Taylor and Sarah Snook. Canadian Premiere

PUZZLE
Japan  Dir: Eisuke Naito
The staff and students at Noriaki Hill High School have been given a game to play, one in which mistakes can be fatal. A giddy, gory brain-twister of a teen survival thriller, in which vengeance is as much a first step as a final solution. North American Premiere

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF WILLIAM ZERO
USA Dir: Dan Bush
A scientist awakens from a coma in the care of his twin brother, but neither may be exactly who they first appear to be. A cinematic jigsaw puzzle that delves into the darker side of science fiction, THE RECONSTRUCTION… marks the return of Dan Bush (2008’s THE SIGNAL) and stars Conal Byrne, Amy Seimetz and A.J. Bowen. World Premiere

THE RUN
Malaysia  Dir: Ahmad Idham
A former soldier sets out to avenge his family in this slam-bang Malaysian effort, bursting with spectacular stunts and fights, showcasing Aaron Aziz. THE RUN is an action-packed gem that wants only one thing: to blow your face off. International Premiere

SUBURBAN GOTHIC
USA Dir: Richard Bates Jr
EXCISION director Richard Bates Jr is back with an eccentric comedy/horror that stars Matthew Gray Gubler, Kat Dennings, Ray Wise, Sally Kirkland, Jeffrey Combs and John Waters and riffs on everything from classic supernatural horror and outsider teen comedies to the Hardy Boys and Scooby-Doo. World Premiere

THE SEARCH FOR WENG WENG
Australia/Philippines  Dir: Andrew Leavold
Andrew Leavold documents his unrelenting six-year quest to discover ever more about the extraordinary 2ft 9in tall actor-stuntman Weng Weng, and the weird and wonderful world of 1970s Filipino cinema. North American Premiere

SWEET POOLSIDE
Japan  Dir: Daigo Matsui 
Two swim-team members, a hairless boy and a hirsute girl, discover the pangs and tangles of first love in SWEET POOLSIDE, one of the most astute examination of adolescence to screen in a long time. North American Premiere

THE WHITE STORM
Hong Kong  Dir: Benny Chan
Hopping from Hong Kong to Thailand to Macau, blending hard-hitting action with powerful drama, Benny Chan’s vividly stylish THE WHITE STORM is a sprawling, absorbing crime flick in the classic Hong Kong tradition. Canadian Premiere

YASMINE
Brunei Darussalam  Dir: Siti Kamaluddin 
YASMINE is a one-two combo of sports drama and coming of age story in the vein of THE KARATE KID. First time director Siti Kamaluddin, newcomer actress Liyana Yus and veteran action choreographer Chan Man Ching form a winning team in this dynamic feel good film. The cinema of Brunei Darussalam makes a regal entry at Fantasia! North American Premiere

Read more

WELCOME TO NEW YORK

The Fantasia International Film Festival announced the second wave of films for the 18th edition which runs July 17 to August 5, 2014, in Montreal, Canada.  Fantasia will close its 2014 edition with the North American Premiere of Abel Ferrara’s WELCOME TO NEW YORK, the controversial latest from the legendary filmmaker behind such landmarks as BAD LIEUTENANT, KING OF NEW YORK, NEW ROSE HOTEL and the recently re-released MS 45.

WELCOME TO NEW YORK is loosely based on the DSK scandal and stars the iconic Gérard Depardieu in one of the bravest performances of his career. Co-starring is the equally sensational Jacqueline Bisset.

Abel Ferrara will be on hand to host this special evening, unveiling his audacious and bold new classic for its first appearance on this continent after explosive bows at Cannes (out of official selection) and Edinburgh.

JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END to launch its Western haunt in Montreal
Fans of classic J-Horror, rejoice! The curse of Kayoko and Toshio is back!  Fantasia will be the site of the International Premiere of JU-ON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END, the anticipated new Japanese production that reboots one of the most successful and terrifying horror franchises of the 21st century in a very wise way: by remaining faithful to the original material.

Director/Co-Writer Masayuki Ochiai (HYPNOSIS) brings us back to the haunted house and reinstates, slowly but surely, its oppressive atmosphere through a refined and efficient use of mise-en-scene. Co-scripted by none other than Taka Ichise.

A Lifetime Achievement Award For Fear Pioneer Tobe Hooper
In 1974, Austin-based former professor and documentary cameraman Tobe Hooper assembled a team comprised mostly of fellow faculty members and recent students and essentially gave birth to the modern horror film. Viscerally frightening, bursting with dark social commentary and an even darker sense of humour that would become one of Hooper’s staples, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE remains a seminal work in American cinema. The influence it had on the genre landscape was transformative.

In the years that followed, Tobe Hooper reshaped what televised horror could be with his terrifying mini-series adaptation of Stephen King’s SALEM’S LOT, and was an architect of the trend of blockbuster supernatural horrors with which to traumatize entire families with POLTERGEIST. His ensuing list of individualistic genre film accomplishments is considerable and today, at the age of 71, he continues to explore the fantastic with vigour.

From his bold themes and Grand Guignol sensibilities to his brilliant use of close-ups, cutting and sound, Tobe Hooper’s approach to storytelling is daring, singular and ferociously cinematic. It’s impossible to imagine what the genre might be like today had this imaginative professor simply stayed on campus.

The festival will present Tobe Hooper with a Lifetime Achievement Award on the 40th anniversary of THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, in front of the Canadian premiere of the film’s stunning new 4K restoration.

Fantasia announced the creation of a new section in  programming: Fantasia Underground, dedicated to showcasing outrageous indie outsider visions created in the counter-cultural spirit that we associate with classic underground film works. For its inaugural edition, Fantasia Underground will sport four features, from Canada, Japan, and the USA, three of them World Premieres.

BAG BOY LOVER BOY
USA Dir: Andres Torres
A return to the kind of classic New York Underground filmmaking that the city no longer produces, oozing with unusual characters, seedy situations and subversive sleaze as we follow a borderline autistic hot dog vendor’s journey into photography and criminality. A blackly funny social grenade evocative of early Paul Morrissey, Andy Milligan and Richard Kern. World Premiere.

BLOODY KNUCKLES
Canada Dir: Matt O’Mahoney
An underground comic artist mocks the wrong mobster and loses his drawing hand in retribution. The artist may be silenced, but the severed appendage returns, to continue drawing comics on its own – and commit some seriously bloody acts of vengeance! A splatter horror comedy about freedom of expression that’s as touching as it is profane. World Premiere.

HANA-DAMA: THE ORIGINS
Japan Dir: Hisayasu Sato
A seemingly mundane high-school bullying drama builds into a cathartic and absurd farce of excessive, bloody, colourful revenge and retribution, care of underground cinema legend Hisayasu Sato (NAKED BLOOD, LOVE & LOATHING LULU & AYANO), co-scripted by Shinji Imaoka (of the demented pinku musical UNDERWATER LOVE). A poignant and strange social critique of girl-on-girl violence and institutional abuse at large. North American Premiere.

I AM A KNIFE WITH LEGS
USA Dir: Bennet Jones
An international Europop star is holed up with his manager at a secret Los Angeles location after a fatwa has been taken out on his head. Hysterically funny lines are deadpanned into instant immortality, rough animation, lo-fi psychedelia, catchy electropop and the odd burst of eccentric action collide to make this a microbudget work truly unlike anything else on the planet. World Premiere.

Additional 2nd Wave Highlights

AT THE DEVIL’S DOOR (formerly titled HOME)
USA  Dir: Nicholas McCarthy
The maker of THE PACT returns with a nightmarish work that jumps decades and narrative paths, brilliantly juggling mood-drenched atmospheric dread and visceral bursts of horror, telling the tale of a young real estate agent (Catalina Sandino Moreno) asked to sell a house with uniquely diabolical history. Official Selection: SXSW, New Zealand International Film Festival. Canadian Premiere.

OPEN WINDOWS
Spain-USA  Dir: Nacho Vigalondo
Offered a chance to spy on his it-girl fixation (Sasha Grey), fan-site webmaster Nick (Elijah Wood) is drawn into in a sinister, voyeuristic plot. An ever-surprising, Hitchcock-inspired mind-bender from genius trickster-director Nacho Vigalondo that breaks all kinds of storytelling ground in exciting ways. Canadian Premiere.

CHEATIN’
USA  Dir: Bill Plympton
Tipping his fedora a touch to film noir and romantic revenge thrillers, Bill Plympton, the Oscar-nominated one-man army of American indie animation, delivers a screwball sex-farce cartoon for more-or-less-grown-ups. Adored at Slamdance, awarded jury prizes at Annecy and Gijún, CHEATIN’ is yet another gem in Plympton’s brilliant filmography. Canadian Premiere.

CLOSER TO GOD
USA  Dir: Billy Senese
The first successful cloning of a human pulls a brilliant genetic scientist into the center of volatile battle between science and religion in this unique reinterpretation of the Frankenstein story that’s equal parts philosophical science-fiction/horror and paranoid thriller. Hypnotically cinematic and evocative of early Cronenberg, this is a fiercely intelligent knockout of a feature debut from award-winning short filmmaker Billy Senese (THE SUICIDE TAPES). International Premiere.

CREEP
USA  Dir: Patrick Brice
This collaboration between director Patrick Brice, producer Jason Blum (INSIDIOUS, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY) and the ubiquitous co-writer/co-producer, co-star Mark Duplass (BAGHEAD, SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED) is unlike any horror work you’ll see this year, a major film event on the tiniest of budgets and a shockingly effective genre hybrid, riding on two excellent performances. Official Selection: SXSW, Tribeca.Canadian Premiere.

THE CREEPING GARDEN
UK  Dir: Tim Grabham, Jasper Sharp
A fascinating, hallucinatory documentary on plasmodial slime mold – a unique and bizarre organism, worthy of the weirdest science fiction, inviting profound reflections on intelligence, engineering, social dynamics, and the intersection of art and science. Enriching the otherworldly atmosphere is an appropriately subtle yet unsettling score by post-rock icon Jim O’Rourke (Tortoise, Sonic Youth, UNITED RED ARMY). One of the most astonishing films you’ll see anywhere this year, co-directed by polyvalent artist Tim Grabham and Midnight Eye co-creator Jasper Sharp. World Premiere.

DANCING KARATE KID
Japan  Dir: Tsukasa Kishimoto
Jaw-dropping dance numbers, a flood of jokes amongst the funniest you’ll see all year and eye-popping action scenes are all part of DANCING KARATE KID, an off-the-chain action-comedy blending martial arts and musical moves. Official Selection: Hawaii International Film Festival. Canadian Premiere.

THE DEVIL’S MILE
Canada  Dir: Joseph O’Brien
“The road will never let you go…” A trio of criminals transporting two captives through the desert takes a wrong turn onto a stretch of blacktop traversing into supernatural territory. A fully committed combination of road/crime saga and supernatural terror that marks the feature debut of longtime Rue Morgue Magazine contributor O’Brien. World Premiere.

THE DROWNSMAN
Canada  Dir: Chad Archibald
A washing machine, the bathroom sink, even a puddle on the floor – only a few drops and the hideous Drownsman can pull you down into his watery hell! A new twist on the classic horror-movie stalker scenario, from the Canadian genre genies that brought you ANTISOCIAL and NEVERLOST. World Premiere.

FIGHT CHURCH
USA  Dir: Daniel Junge, Bryan Storkle
A multitude of “fight ministries” combine Christianity and mixed martial arts. By turns shocking, touching, and even inspirational, FIGHT CHURCH is unlike any sports-oriented documentary you’ve ever seen. Directors Daniel Junge (Academy Award-winner SAVING FACE) and Bryan Storkle (HOLY ROLLERS: THE TRUE STORY OF CARD COUNTING CHRISTIANS), keep the film even-handed and compelling. WINNER: Grand Jury Prize, Boston Independent Film Festival. International Premiere.

FRANK
UK  Dir: Lenny Abrahamson
An aspiring musician falls in with a band of art-rock weirdos whose enigmatic frontman (Michael Fassbender) never removes his giant plaster head. Co-starring Domhnall Gleeson and Maggie Gyllenhaal, FRANK hits all the right notes as it examines the fine arts of fame and failure. A major hit at this year’s Sundance, SXSW and Calgary Underground Film Festivals. Quebec Premiere.

FROM VEGAS TO MACAU
Hong Kong  Dir: Wong Jin
The King of Cool, Chow Yun-Fat, is back in a signature role he made famous in the classic GOD OF GAMBLERS (seen way back at Fantasia Year One!). A royal flush of comical action madness in Wong Jing’s trademark Hong Kong style, co-starring Nicholas Tse and Chapman To. Canadian Premiere.

FUKU-CHAN OF FUKUFUKU FLATS
Japan  Dir: Yosuke Fujita
One part quirky slapstick absurdity and two parts poignant character study, FUKU-CHAN is the feelgood, laugh-out-loud indie comedy hit of this year’s fest, mixing humour and pathos in the way only fan-favourite Yosuke Fujita (FINE, TOTALLY FINE) can. Official Selection: Frankfurt Nippon Connection Festival, New York Asian Film Festival. Canadian Premiere

HOUSEBOUND
New Zealand  Dir: Gerard Johnstone
Fresh, fun and frightening, this wonderfully inventive comedy/horror from New Zealand launched at SXSW and emerged on many critics’ lists as one of the top discoveries of the festival. It deconstructs conventional formulas of haunted house narratives and surprises with left-field twists that will leave you joyously slack-jawed, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Stars Morgana O’Reilly and Rima Te Wiata. Canadian Premiere.

THE HUNDRED YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND DISAPEARED. 
Sweden  Dir: Felix Herngren
A pitch-perfect picaresque adventure laced with loads of decidedly Scandinavian black humour, Jonas Jonasson’s 2009 novel quickly became a Swedish bestseller, and has since sold over three million copies worldwide. Felix Herngren has struck gold with his brisk, witty, wisely assembled big-screen adaptation starring comedian/actor Robert Gustafsson, who captures Karlsson’s character through so many stages of his tumultuous existence. Official Selection: Seattle International Film Festival. Canadian Premiere.

INGTOOGI: THE BATTLE OF INTERNET TROLLS
SOUTH KOREA  Dir: Um Tae-hwa
“Koolkidneyz” and “Manboobs” take their online feud into the real world. INGTOOGI is a deep dive into the national geek consciousness of South Korea, an upbeat outsider comedy that evolves into a truly heartfelt story of alienation and loss. Writer/Director Um Tae-hwa shed a dark light on the social media generation in a very promising first feature. International Premiere

IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE
Norway-Sweden-Denmark  Dir: Hans Petter Moland
“A father must avenge his son.” These words, spoken often on film, have yet to be answered with more darkly comic consequences than in this violent pitch-black comedy from director Hans Petter Moland (A SOMEWHAT GENTLE MAN), reteaming the filmmaker with the great Stellan Skarsgard. A key standout at the Berlin and Tribeca film festivals, this is the must-see European action thriller of the year. Canadian Premiere.

JELLYFISH EYES
Japan  Dir: Takashi Murakami
A lively celebration of the Japanese pop-culture tropes that feed the Superflat sensibility of pop-art superstar Takashi Murakami, his JELLYFISH EYES is also a heartfelt critique of Japan’s institutions in the era of Fukushima. This is a gorgeous and enchanting family friendly film with an edge that makes it a must see for film lovers of all ages. Official Selection: Sitges Film Festival. Canadian Premiere

KUMIKO THE TREASURE HUNTER
USA  Dir: David Zellner
A lonely Tokyo office worker seeks the Minnesotan loot cache from FARGO in one of this year’s most beautifully unusual films. Quirky and melancholic, funny and haunting with enchanting traces of the surreal, anchored by a mesmerizing lead performance from the extraordinary Rinko Kikuchi, KUMIKO is the latest miracle from award-winning US indie heroes David and Nathan Zellner. Official Selection: Sundance, Berlin. Canadian Premiere.

KUNDO: AGE OF THE RAMPANT
South Korea  Dir: Yoon Jong-bin
In a time of turmoil and tyranny, a band of outlaws rises against the nobility. From the director of NAMELESS GANGSTER, a rough and ruthless adventure epic with a universal theme – righteous fury in the face of deep injustice with a stellar cast featuring Ha Jung-woo (THE CHASER) and Gang Dong-won (HAUNTERS). Quebec Premiere

LET US PREY
Ireland-UK Dir: Brian O’Malley
An isolated, understaffed police station becomes a fortress of horror in this atmospheric and ultra-violent Irish chiller, which unfolds like an especially sinister TWILIGHT ZONE episode crash-landed into hell. Stars Polyanna McIntosh, Liam Cunningham and Douglas Russell. Winner of the Melies D’argent at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival. North American Premiere.

LIFE AFTER BETH
USA Dir: Jeff Baena
The assured directorial debut of I HEART HUCKABEES co-screenwriter Jeff Baena is a brilliantly cast, howlingly funny heartbreaker of love and undeath that poignantly utilizes the zombie mythos to explore the difficulties of letting go when relationships change. A standout selection at this year’s Sundance and New Zealand International Film Festival, starring Aubrey Plaza, Dane DeHaan, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Cheryl Hines, Paul Reiser and Matthew Gray Gubler. Canadian Premiere.

3D NAKED AMBITION 
Hong Kong  Dir: Lee Kung Lok
Fresh from the international festival rounds in Hong Kong, New York and Udine, this hairy beast finally comes to country of the beaver with a hardcore vengeance. This stand-alone satire sequel written by Hong Kong’s funniest writers, Chan Hing- Kar (BREAKING NEWS) and Ho Miu-Kei, mercilessly pokes fun at the adult industry, celebrity and Asian culture on all fours while retaining a socially relevant subtext. Canadian Premiere.

NO TEARS FOR THE DEAD
South Korea  Dir: Lee Jeong-beom
In the tradition Luc Besson’s THE PROFESSIONAL and and John Woo’s THE KILLER, a guilt-wracked assassin sides with his target in the hotly anticipated new film from Lee Jeong-beom (THE MAN FROM NOWHERE), a whirlwind of furious action scenes. Quebec Premiere

STARRY EYES
USA Dir: Dennis Widmyer, Kevin Kolsch
Alexandra Essoe, Amanda Fuller, Noah Segan and Pat Healy star in this horrific tale of an aspiring actress unhinging herself by plunging headlong into the demeaning depths of Tinseltown. A chilling examination of the grisly fallout when a soul-corrupting industry seizes upon a soul that has already begun to fester from the inside. A hit at the Stanley Film Festival, winner of the Director’s Choice Award at the Boston Underground Film Festival. Canadian Premiere.

STEREO
Germany  Dir: Maximilian Erlenwein 
Eric (Jürgen Vogel) is a gentle giant leading a calm, quiet life, until a dark past he doesn’t remember catches up with him. An intimate dramatic crime thriller that gradually distorts into an absolute monster that plays with assaulting ferocity, this stunningly directed powerhouse co-stars Moritz Bleibtreu. Official Selection: Berlin Film Festival, Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival. North American Premiere.

SUMMER OF BLOOD
USA Dir: Onur Tukel
Its cup bleeding over with inspired writing, exhilaratingly sharp comedic performances, hyper-unconventional sex scenes and an oddball sense of grunge poetry, this film is an absolute revelation. Writer/director/editor/star Onur Turkel has created one of the most individualistic vampire works we’ve seen in a very long time, and also one of the most blazingly entertaining. An adored breakout at Tribeca, SUMMER OF BLOOD will be theClosing Film of our Camera Lucida section. Canadian Premiere.

UGLY
India  Dir: Anurag Kashyap
An actor’s young daughter is kidnapped in this unforgettable, gut-churning thriller from India, the polar opposite of the usual colourful Bollywood fare. A crushing urban noir — the title of which is to be take very literally. An official selection in last year’s Quinzaine des Réalisateurs at Cannes, UGLY is finally going to be shown in Canada. Canadian Premiere.

WHITE BIRD IN A BLIZZARD
USA Dir: Gregg Araki
Indie cinema icon Gregg Araki surprises again with his elegant adaptation of Laura Kasischke’s novel, capturing the trials of passage to adulthood with this dark, emotionally authentic suburban mystery, starring Shailene Woodley as a teen whose mother (Eva Green) has vanished. Official Selection: Sundance. Canadian Premiere. 

Read more

The official poster is unveiled for the 18th annual Fantasia International Film Festival scheduled to be held in Montreal over three weeks, starting July 17 until August 5, 2014.   Fantasia’s 2014 poster art was created by award-winning Quebec illustrator Donald Caron. 

On May 7 of last year, Ray Harryhausen, filmmaker and stop-motion special effects pioneer, passed away at the age of 92. Mr. Harryhausen created some of the most beloved and innovative fantastic film imagery of all time in such classics as THE 7th VOYAGE OF SINBAD and JASON AND THE ARGONAUTS. He was the last surviving member of a trio of equally famous friends who met in the late 1930s at a science-fiction association, and went on to become the founding fathers of modern-day genre invention and appreciation. The other two figures were renowned author Ray Bradbury (FARENHEIT 451, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES) and journalist Forrest J. Ackerman, editor and principal writer of the groundbreaking American genre film magazine FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND and possibly the world’s most avid collector of fantasy books and cinema memorabilia. Their friendship evolved over seven decades, in which their affection for each other never diminished as they kept in touch and appeared in their later years at conventions, joyously sharing amazing stories with adoring fans young and old.

Through their work and energy, Harryhausen, Bradbury, and Ackerman have inspired many of the leading figures of genre cinema in recent decades, from George Lucas and Steven Spielberg to James Cameron, John Landis, Peter Jackson, Joe Dante, and Tim Burton. In 2005, Ray Harryhausen was the first recipient of Fantasia’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

The poster art is also inspired by an old legend from Québecois folklore — La Chasse Galerie (otherwise known as “the Bewitched Canoe”) — in which lumberjacks, far away from their loved ones on New Year’s Eve, struck a deal with the devil to provide them with a means of quick transport over a great distance to their families. The devil obliged in providing them with a flying canoe, which he himself piloted. In the background, you can also see the festival’s black horse, itself inspired by another local folktale, the legend of the Cheval Noir. Fantasia has adopted the black horse as its emblematic symbol for the prize awarded by the main jury to the best film. We love the idea of fusing Québec folklore with the roots of modern genre creation and appreciation.

Read more

WHEN ANIMALS DREAM

Fantasia International Film Festival celebrates 18th birthday and will screen over 160 features and something in the neighborhood of 300 shorts.  In addition to being stacked with a multitude of breathtaking debut filmmaker discoveries, the 2014 lineup includes new works from such extraordinary talents as Abel Ferrara, Terry Gilliam, Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Jim Mickle, Jang Joon-hwan, Gregg Araki, Yoshihiro Nakamura, John McNaughton, Richard Linklater, Hideo Nakata, Eli Roth, Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury, Benny Chan, Ricardo Trogi, Nacho Vigalondo, Bill Plympton, Noboru Iguchi, Hans Petter Moland, Richard Bates Jr, Riad Sattouf, Toshiaki Toyoda, Adrián García Bogliano, Takashi Miike, Mike Cahill, Won Shin-yeon, James Gunn, Nicholas McCarthy, Dante Lam, Steffen Haars, Flip Van der Kuil, Hisayasu Sato, the Mo Brothers, the Spierig Brothers, the Zellner Brothers, and the list goes on.

Fantasia’s 2014 Camera Lucida section features:

THE DESERT
Argentina  Dir: Christoph Behl
This Argentine addition to the post-apocalyptic genre is a stunning, suggestive huis-clos of unprecedented emotional charge. A beautiful look at human impulses that are wholly inescapable, even at the end of the world. Official Selection: Sitges 2013, Stockholm International Film Festival 2014. Canadian Premiere.

RED FAMILY
South Korea Dir: Lee Ju-hyoung
North Korean spies undercover as a “family” must contend with their unruly neighbours in this hard yet empathic drama packed with moral dilemmas and moments of ironic black humour, written and produced by Kim Ki-duk.. North American Premiere.

SEVENTH CODE 
Japan Dir: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
A young Japanese woman finds herself lost and alone in Russia, leading her into a sinister universe of international espionage. In SEVENTH CODE is Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s unexpected detour into the thriller genre.  Canadian Premiere.

THOU WAST MILD AND LOVELY
USA Dir: Josephine Decker
Described by its gifted maker as “an intimate magical realist erotic thriller… a horror film, a farm drama, a comedy, a sexual romp, and a deep character study,” THOU WAST is indeed all these things rolled into one hallucinatory and unique journey. Stars Joe Swanberg and Sophie Traub. Official Selection: Berlin Film Festival 2014, Sarasota Film Festival 2014. On the same bill, we will be presenting Decker’s other feature film, BUTTER ON THE LATCH. Both will be Canadian Premieres.

WHEN ANIMALS DREAM
Denmark  Dir: Jonas Alexander Amby
Marie, a young girl in an isolated fishing village, harbours a family secret — strange hairs, sharp teeth, remarkable strength when enraged. More than a simple chiller, the magnificent WHEN ANIMALS DREAM is a work of rare power and a stunning drama about adolescence. Official Selection: Semaine de la critique, Cannes 2014. North American Premiere.

Previously announced titles from our 2014 Camera Lucida lineup: BOYHOOD (Quebec Premiere), JELLYFISH EYES (Canadian Premiere), THE MAN IN THE ORANGE JACKET (World Premiere), THE MIDNIGHT SWIM (World Premiere), PUZZLE (North American Premiere), SUMMER OF BLOOD (Canadian Premiere)

The Return of AXIS: Fantasia’s Animation Showcase
Axis, Fantasia’s international; animation showcase, returns with features hailing from Belgium, France, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the USA.

Aside from the previous announced Axis titles (see below), our 2014 lineup features:

APPLESEED ALPHA
Japan  Dir: Shinji Aramaki
Super-soldier Deunan and her hulking cyborg companion Briareos stalk the shattered husk of New York City. A tour-de-force of digital design, APPLESSED ALPHA is essential kick-ass cyberpunk animation. North American Premiere

BAYONETTA: BLOODY FATE
Japan  Dir: Fuminori Kizaki
Bayonetta, a lithe, powerful witch and mistress of the Bullet Arts, dispatches a host of bloodthirsty angels in a church. But what she cannot dispel are the mysteries of her own origin and purpose… Canadian Premiere.

THE FAKE
South Korea Dir: Yeon Sang-ho
The latest from Yeon Sang-ho, winner of Fantasia’s first Satoshi Kon Award with KING OF PIGS, targets corruption, Korean displacement policies that favour progress over the individual’s welfare, and the dark side of religion. Official Selection: AFI Fest 2013 Quebec Premiere.

HAL
Japan Dir: Ryotaro Makihara
An android assigned to console a grieving girl learns what being human means in this short, self-contained gem of emotionally resonant science fiction anime. North American Premiere.

HEAVENLY SWORD
USA  Dir: Gun Ho Jang
Fierce redhead Nariko is the divinely ordained wielder of a legendary weapon in an exquisitely realized fantasy realm. The most anticipated game-to-film adaptation of the year has arrived, and you’ll find it at Fantasia first! Scripted by Todd Farmer and featuring the voices of Anna Torv, Alfred Molina and Thomas Jane. World Premiere.

HUNTER X HUNTER : PHANTOM ROUGE 
Japan Dir: Yuzo Sato
The stage is set for secrets and conspiracies, fantastic wonders and furious action, as Yoshihiro Togashi’s hugely popular manga series HUNTER X HUNTER makes its big-screen anime debut. Canadian Premiere.

JACK ET LA MÉCANIQUE DU COEUR (Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart)
France-Belgium  Dirs: Stéphane Berla, Mathias Malzieu
A graciously Gallic surrealist fairy-tale musical with a dash of Gothic macabre and a streak of steampunk tech, the Luc Besson-produced JACK ET LA MÉCANIQUE DU COEUR is a CG-animated cabinet of curiosities that kids and grown-ups alike can rummage through with delight. Official selection, Berlin Film Festival 2014, Gérardmer International Fantasic Film Festival 2014

KOO! KIN DZA-DZA
Russia  Dir: Georgiy Daneliya, Tatiana Ilyina
Veteran Russian filmmaker Georgiy Daneliya reboots his own late-Soviet-era cult classic as a super-cool cartoon with contemporary upgrades. Rustbucket steampunk gizmos and Kafkaesque conundrums abound!

THE SATTELITE GIRL AND MILK COW
South Korea Dir: Chang Hyung-yun
A familiar trope of Asian animation — fantastical romance between misfits — is turned upside down and inside out in this charmingly surrealist robo-rom-com from South Korea. North American Premiere.

Previously announced Axis titles: CHEATIN’ (Canadian Premiere), GIOVANNI’S ISLAND (Canadian Premiere),HUNTER X HUNTER: THE LAST MISSION (Canadian Premiere), and a special screening of the new HD master for Mamoru Oshii’s 1995 classic GHOST IN THE SHELL, before which the filmmaker will be presented a lifetime achievement award. 

DOCUMENTARIES FROM THE EDGE
Fantasia’s esteemed doc section returns with a six-feature lineup. Aside from the previous announced section titles (see below), our 2014 Documentaries from the Edge lineup features:

BOLD & BRASH: FILMMAKING BOISVERT STYLE
Canada  Dir: Simon Boisvert
A cult subject of interest in Quebecois psychotronic fan circles, the controversial auteur of VÉNUS DE MILO turns the camera on himself to reflect on his own history in film. World Premiere.

KUNG FU ELLIOT
Canada  Dir: Matthew Bauckman, Jaret Belliveau
Making micro-budget martial arts films in small-town Nova Scotia, Elliot “White Lightning” Scott is determined to become Canada’s first big-screen action hero. Winner: Best Documentary Feature, Slamdance 2014. Quebec Premiere

TO BE TAKEI
USA Dir: Jennifer M. Kroot, Bill Weber
A triumphant documentary chronicling his humble beginnings through the unmistakable cultural icon George Takei has become today, TO BE TAKEI charmingly chronicles the life, love, and mission of a true American hero who makes us all say, “Oh my…”. Official Selection: Sundance 2014. Hot Docs 2014. Quebec Premiere.

Previously announced Documentaries from the Edge titles: THE CREEPING GARDEN (World Premiere), FIGHT CHURCH (International Premiere), SEARCH FOR WENG WENG (North American Premiere). 

AND NOW, FOR THE REST OF THE PACK!

1987
Canada  Dir: Ricardo Trogi
From first job and first love to final exam and end of school, Ricardo Trogi’s autobiographical 1987, following his earlier 1981, vividly revisits the ups and downs of everyone’s teenage years. Montreal Premiere,

ANIMOSITY
USA  Dir: Brendan Steere
Brandan Steere’s ghastly yet character-driven nightmare is one of those rare works of which it’s best to say as little as possible. It’s up to the viewer to discover what lurks in this profoundly cruel tale in which masks are lifted to expose an unspeakable horror. A brilliant debut. Produced by Roy Frumkes (STREET TRASH, DOCUMENT OF THE DEAD). WINNER: Best Actress and Best Horror Film, Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film Festival. International Premiere.

BLACK BUTLER
Japan Dir: Kentaro Otani, Keiichi Sato
Shiori sold her soul to avenge her parents’ murder. She and her diabolical butler Sebastian are on a mission… The hit manga’s action-packed big-screen adaptation will thrill diehard fans and newbies alike. Quebec Premiere.

BLACK MOUNTAIN SIDE
Canada Dir: Nick Szostakiwskyj
Scientists in Canada’s remote wilderness uncover an ancient stone structure and unleash an inexplicable evil. A calculating and claustrophobic snowbound shocker that casts a spell of quiet madness, this powerful feature debut from Calgary-born Nick Szostakiwskyj is evocative of Larry Fessenden. World Premiere.

COLD EYES
South Korea Dir: Cho Ui-seok, Kim Byung-seo
One of South Korea’s absolute blockbuster hits of 2013, a fast-paced, relentless roller-coaster ride into the high-stakes world of criminal surveillance that will leave you absolutely breathless. Quebec Premiere.

THE CREEP BEHIND THE CAMERA
USA  Dir: Pete Schuermann
A tumultuous portrait of a talentless artist with disproportionate ambition, THE CREEP BEHIND THE CAMERA pays vibrant tribute to an inglorious chapter in the history of genre cinema detailing the life of decadent hoodlum filmmaker Vic Savage and the disastrous making of THE CREEPING TERROR. Official Selection: Imagine Film Festival, Amsterdam, 2014. North American Premiere.

DAYS OF WRATH
South Korea  Dir: Shin Dong-yeop
Fifteen years after the torments of his teenage days, Joon-seok seeks vengeance on his erstwhile tormentor, Chang-sik. A Korean revenge film that stands out starkly from its predecessors, bringing in a new perspective for which the genre thirsted. International Premiere.

DEAD SNOW: RED VS DEAD
Norway  Dir: Tommy Wirkola
The bigger, bloodier sequel to the 2009 Nazi zombie cult hit from Norway,  DEAD SNOW: RED VS DEAD sees the lone survivor of the first massacre teaming up with the Zombie Squad to confront the legions of living-dead SS soldiers… with their Soviet counterparts! Official Selection: Sundance 2014, Seattle International Film Festival 2014. Canadian Premiere

THE DEMON WITHIN
Hong Kong  Dir: Dante Lam
Beware of the Festival of Hungry Ghosts! The Demon King Gang is creating havoc once again! Lock and load for some high-octane action and horror in a film-noir setting, from Dante Lam (BEAST STALKER, STOOL PIGEON). Quebec Premiere

DOCTOR PROCTOR’S FART POWDER
Norway  Dir: Arild Fröhlich
Nilly and Lisa encounter the eccentric Dr. Proctor, whose new anti-baldness powder won’t put hairs on your head, but will put the wind in your sails! Pure and potent giggle-inducing goofiness, an over-the-top tale with a visual aesthetic to match, from the director of 2008’s beloved FATSO! International Premiere.

DYS-
Canada  Dir: Maude Michaud
With their marriage in decline, a couple hole up in their condo as a virus sweeps through society outside. Can they survive the epidemic… and each other? A familiar theme, approached from an effective new angle. World Premiere.

EJECTA
Canada  Dirs: Chad Archibald, Matt Wiele
Written by acclaimed author/screenwriter Tony Burgess (PONTYPOOL), this original concept for an alien-themed horror film stars the great Julian Richings and is half nail-biting found-footage terror and half suspense-laden conspiracy thriller. From the team behind this year’s THE DROWNSMAN. World Premiere.

THE FATAL ENCOUNTER
South Korea Dir: Lee Jae-kyoo
This powerful, tragic political thriller retells an oft-told tale of true history, of an attack on the so-called “King of Misfortune” in 1777 Korea. A superior slice of silks-and-swordplay, sultry, sumptuous, sophisticated — and savage. Quebec Premiere.

FAULTS
USA  Dir: Riley Stearns
A washed-up, cash-strapped former “deprogrammer” of cult victims (Leland Orser) is asked to do an intervention on a young woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who’s deeply ensnared in a cult that calls itself “Faults”.  A slow-burning, thoroughly engaging huis clos, a smart and assured essay on the creation and breakdown of faith, a gripping meditation on the manipulation of certainty and doubt. Official Selection: SXSW 2014. International Premiere.

THE FIVES
South Korea Dir: Jeong Yeon-shik
Wheelchair-bound Eun-a seeks vengeance on the serial killer who slew her family, and assembles a group of desperate misfits to execute her plan. A gripping, fast-moving team spin on the familiar Korean revenge-thriller formula. Canadian Premiere.

FOUR CORNERS
South Africa  Dir: Ian Gabriel
Recalling CITY OF GOD, this South African gang-related crime drama — shot in locations where the media or even the authorities aren’t allowed to tread — is a magnificently staged motion picture filled with breathtaking realism. Official Selection: Sydney Film Festival 2014. Quebec Premiere.

GOAL OF THE DEAD
France  Dir: Benjamin Rocher, Thierry Poiraud
Experimental steroids turn a surly football fan into a mutant zombie hooligan, whose vomit spreads the infection on the eve of a major stadium game. Divided in two segments, the first directed by Benjamin Rocher (LA HORDE) and the second by Thierry Poiraud (ATOMIK CIRCUS), you better have your umbrella handy when the spraying starts. North American Premiere.

THE GREEN INFERNO
USA  Dir: Eli Roth
HOSTEL creator Eli Roth’s return to the director’s chair is a cannibal nightmare in the Amazonian jungle, in the classic Italian style, true to the form both in terms of graphic content and the themes of civility vs. civilization. Official Selection: Toronto International Film Festival 2013, Edinburgh International Film Festival 2014. Quebec Premiere.

GUARDIAN 
Indonesia  Dir: Helfi Kardit
After THE RAID: REDEMPTION (2011) and THE RAID 2 (2014), Indonesia serves up GUARDIAN, an old-school action flick is which a mother pressures her daughter to master the martial arts following the murder of her father. International Premiere.

GUN WOMAN
Japan  Dir: Kurando Mitsutake
Japanese actress Asami is a  junkie hooker transformed into a ruthless assassin in this ultraviolent action flick.  If you’re into gunfights, hand-to-hand combat and floods of blood, set your sights on GUN WOMAN. Canadian Premiere.

HASEE TOH PHASEE
India  Dir: Vinil Mathew
As his wedding approaches, Nikhil must take care of his fiancé’s younger sister in this romantic comedy from India — a solid piece of entertainment filled with funny moments, rich dialogue, fantastic performances and delicious tunes!

HONEYMOON
USA  Dir: Leigh Janiak
For all of the strange places HONEYMOON is willing to go, its success lies in its scariest moments being entirely human. Bubbling just underneath the distressing question of, “How well do I know who I married?” is another dreadful prospect: “Am I enough for this stranger?”.  Official Selection: Tribeca 2014. Canadian Premiere.

THE HOOLIGAN FACTORY
UK  Dir: Nick Nevern
A dynamic, parodist plunge into that particularly male, regional and unique tradition of disturbing the peace, the football hooligan. A hell of a good time for sports fans and aficionados of British comedy alike. North American Premiere.

THE HOUSE AT THE END OF TIME
Venezuela  Dir: Alejandro Hidalgo
Creepy, touching and truly extraordinary, Venezuela’s first full-on genre film production plays like Latin American Richard Matheson story told through the prism of del Toro and Amenábar. Winner: Audience Award, Best Film, Mérida Venezuela Film Festival 2013, Official Selection: Fantasporto 2014. North American Premiere.

HWAYI: A MONSTER BOY 
South Korea  Dir: Jang Joon-hwan
Kidnapped by five criminals in his infancy, Hwayi has spent the last decade shacked up in the woods, learning how to be a cold-blooded killing machine. An exploration of evil from the creator of the cult classic SAVE THE GREEN PLANET! North American Premiere.

KABISERA 
Philippines  Dir : Alfonso Torre III
Following a haunting dream, a felon-turned-fisherman finds a shipment of methamphetamine — and soon finds himself trapped in a nightmare. One of the most powerful, lasting genre films to come out of the Phillipines in recent year. Quebec Premiere.

KRRISH 3
India  Dir: Rakesh Roshan
Hrithik Roshan once again jumps into his superhero costume to deliver the long-awaited KRRISH 3. Rakesh Roshan hasn’t changed a thing in the delicious recipe that has turned India’s Krrish into a planetary hero.

LATE PHASES
USA  Dir: Adrián García Bogliano
The tight-knit retirement community of Crescent Bay is harbouring something truly sinister in its midst… From the director of HERE COMES THE DEVIL comes a true love letter to ’80s monster-movie buffs and all those hankering for a good old-fashioned werewolf picture. Official Selection: SXSW 2014, Stanley Film Festival 2014

LEROY THE SPACE COWBOY
USA  Dir: LeRoy McCoy
An unclassifiable, oddball DIY outsider epic, shot over a period of 15 years in the filmmaker’s backyard, starring its mad creator LeRoy McCoy-  as virtually every character in the film! World Premiere.

METALHEAD
Iceland  Dir: Ragnar Bragason
Director Ragnar Bragason, one of Iceland’s most acclaimed directors (CHILDREN, PARENTS, TV’s NIGHTSHIFT), and award-winning lead actress Thorbjörg Helga Dyrfjörd (THE DEEP) join forces to produce a fascinating, nuanced portrait of familial grief, rural life, and religion that ultimately subverts the concept of the stereotypical macho metalhead and celebrates the subculture of alienation that defines the genre. Quebec Premiere.

THE MOLE SONG – UNDERCOVER AGENT REIJI 
Japan  Dir: Takashi Miike
Disgraced cop Reiji Kikukawa is sent undercover to infiltrate the most powerful yakuza clan in Japan. With its marvellously absurd humour and contagious energy, THE MOLE SONG marks Miike’s magnificent return to comedy! Quebec Premiere.

MR. GO
South Korea/China  Dir: Kim Yong-hwa
Teenage Weiwei brings her gorilla with a powerhouse swing to the Asian baseball scene, to save her family’s debt-ridden circus. Korea’s first 3D blockbuster, an ambitious pan-Asian production, hits a home run! Canadian Premiere.

NUIGULUMAR Z (Gothic Lolita Battle Bear)
Japan  Dir: Noboru Iguchi
Get ready for sugar and spice and everything nice — set on maximum slice and dice! Cosplay and kawaii collide with Japanese sci-fi superheroics and zombie gore in GOTHIC LOLITA BATTLE BEAR! Canadian Premiere.

THE ONE I LOVE
USA  Dir: Charlie McDowell
Mark Duplass and Elizabeth Moss are an unhappy married couple at a therapeutic retreat who make a startling discovery that catapults them into the realm of the bizarre. A delightful rom-com huis-clos of the most unexpected kind. Official Selection: Sundance 2014

PATCH TOWN
Canada  Dir: Craig Goodwill
A couple flee a sinister living-doll factory in this riotous Canadian musical overflowing with wry humour and striking dystopian visuals in the vein of Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Quebec Premiere

PREMATURE
USA  Dir: Dan Beers
GROUNDHOG DAY’s déja-vu meets AMERICAN PIE’s dirty jokes in Dan Beers’s debut teen-comedy feature. The variations on the premise are ingenious and the narrative arc absolutely delirious! Official Selection: SXSW 2014. Canadian Premiere.

PRESERVATION
USA  Dir: Christopher Denham
Three people drive out to the woods for an isolated camping trip. The game changes and, stripped of their wireless lifelines, they must pull together against an unseen, ruthless and heavily armed threat. A visceral white-knuckle thriller from Christopher Denham, whose phenomenal 2008 debut HOME MOVIE World Premiered here. Official Selection: Tribeca Film Festival 2014. International Premiere.

PROM NIGHT
Canada Dir: Paul Lynch
Special unveiling of Synapse Films’ stunning 2K restoration of the 1980 disco slasher cult classic starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Leslie Nielson.

REAL 
Japan Dir: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
The Escher-like subconscious mindscape of a loved one becomes a spirit-laden underworld to explore in this bizarre, surreal, supremely beautiful sci-fi melodrama from Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Quebec Premiere.

RUROUNI KENSHIN – KYOTO INFERNO
Japan  Dir: Keishi Otomo
Long awaited sequel of the live action movie RUROUNI KENSHIN (2012) has finally arrived! Based on the best-selling manga series of the same title, this two-part film revolves around Kenshin’s desperate struggle to protect the nation and the people he loves from the conspiracy of Shishio, a former government assassin and Kenshin’s notorious successor, to overthrow the government. International Premiere.

THE SNOW WHITE MURDER CASE 
Japan Dir: Yoshihiro Nakamura
Playing out like an endlessly fragmented retelling of RASHOMON for the digital age, the latest from Yoshihiro Nakamura (FISH STORY, GOLDEN SLUMBER) is a strikingly modern whodunit. Quebec Premiere.

SPACE STATION ‘76
USA Dir: Jack Plotnick
Can the crew of Omega 76 handle their emotional baggage and dysfunctional relationships as a deadly asteroid hurtles towards them? Retro-kitsch comedy and straightfaced soap opera collide in this stellar pastiche the 1970s space-base genre, starring Patrick Wilson and Liv Tyler. Official Selection: SXSW 2014 International Premiere.

THE SPY: UNDERCOVER OPERATION
South Korea Dir: Lee Seung-jun
Elite operative Agent Kim must keep a second Korean War from breaking out — and his marriage from breaking apart! Equal parts zany rom-com and intense thriller, THE SPY is a mirthful mash-up of gritty gunplay and goofball gags. Canadian Premiere.

THE SUSPECT
South Korea Dir: Won Shin-yeon
A North Korean super-soldier turned defector is drawn into a morally murky maelstrom of secrets, lies and sudden, furious yet precise violence. A tough, tight political action thriller with a soul. Canadian Premiere.

THERMAE ROMAE II
Japan  Dir: Hideaki Takeuchi
Time-travelling Roman bathhouse architect Lucius returns! Funnier, more grandiose and irreverent, this second journey from Ancient Rome to modern Japan, care of director Hideaki Takeuchi, is frankly spectacular. International Premiere.

TIME LAPSE
USA Dir: Bradley King
A janitor stumbles across a machine that takes photos of the future, 24 hours ahead. A captivating sci-fi thriller evoking the golden days of Hitchcock and THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Winner: Best International Feature, London Independent Film Festival 2014, Official Selection: Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2014. Canadian Premiere.

UZUMASA LIMELIGHT 
Japan Dir: Ken Ochiai
Old Kamiyama the swordfight-death specialist is a legend around Kyoto’s Uzumasa Studios, but his star, however small it ever was, has dimmed. A journey into the inner workings of Japanese pop entertainment, in its golden era and today. Canadian Premiere.

WETLANDS
Germany  Dir: David Wnendt
Bursting with kinetic energy, WETLANDS has become a festival underdog across the world. It’s a bold, great time, an in-your-face eccentric romp that smartly challenges social taboos with punk rock zeal and a whole lot of heart. Official Selection: Locarno 2013, Sundance 2014.

WOLFCOP
Canada  Dir: Lowell Dean
No one is above the claw when WolfCop’s on duty! A high-flying, hard-drinking, blood-spraying burst of Canuxploitation awesome, capturing the off-the-rails energy of the classic VHS era that spawned it. Quebec Premiere.

THE ZERO THEOREM
UK-Romania  Dir: Terry Gilliam
Qohen Leth is determined to crack the Zero Theorem and discover the reason for all existence, provided he can work without distraction. But those distractions keep coming. Terry Gilliam’s latest will finally be lighting up a Canadian screen! Official Selection: Venice Film Festival 2013, Fantastic Fest 2013, Glasgow Film Festival 2014. Canadian Premiere.

ZOMBEAVERS
USA  Dir: Jordan Rubin
A siege on a secluded cabin pits sexy coeds and frat-boy bros — and a few eccentric older characters — against the ugly, furry, glowing-red-eyed hordes that emerge from their dam to feast on human flesh. Official Selection: Tribeca Film Festival 2014. International Premiere.

ZOMBIE TV
Japan  Dir: Maelie Makuno, Naoya Tashiro, Yoshihiro Nishimura
Ever dreamed of zombie-only cable TV, broadcasting all things putrefied, decomposing and brain-hungry, 24 hours a day, all year round? A severed-tongue-firmly-planted- in-rotten-cheek, all-you-can-eat zombie-party anthology from Yoshihiro Nishimura and co. Canadian Premiere.

Read more