My only screening on Day 14 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was a late selection for me, the Canadian Premiere of the US fantasy/horror thriller film Daniel Isn’t Real. The film had its World Premiere at SXSW back in March, where the poster you see above (designed by an artist named Jock) won the Excellence in Poster Design in the SXSW Film Design Awards section. The film has also played in many other festivals since then.
My second film on Day 13 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was the Canadian Premiere of the supernatural comedy Extra Ordinary, a co-production between Ireland and Belgium. The film had its World Premiere at SXSW back in February. It then played at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in April where it won the Silver Raven in the International Competition section. It also played at the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in early July and was awarded the H.R. Giger “Narcisse” Award for Best Film in the International Competition section and also received the Audience Award. It played in several other festivals before landing in Montreal.
My second film on Day 11 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was the Canadian Premiere of the Danish crime thriller Journal 64 aka The Purity of Vengeance. The film opened in Danish theaters in October 2018 and apparently became the highest-grossing Danish film ever during its run. It also played in many film festivals before landing in Montreal.
My third film on Day 11 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was the International Premiere of the US horror comedy Satanic Panic. The film had its World Premiere at The Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans, LA back in May and then went on to play in more US festivals in Dallas, Portland, and Chicago. In August, it has upcoming screenings at the Popcorn Frights Film Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL, the Nevada City Film Festival in Nevada City, CA, the FrightFest in London, UK and then in October at the Festival Internacional de Cinema Fantàstic de Catalunya in Sitges, Spain and last at the Grimmfest in Manchester, UK.
My first film on Day 11 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was the Canadian Premiere of the South Korean fantasy/comedy film Naeanui Geunom aka The Dude In Me. It opened in South Korean theaters back in early January.
My second film on Day 10 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was the midnight screening of the 1980 Indonesian supernatural/horror film Pengabdi Setan aka Satan’s Slaves. It was the International Premiere of the new 2K restoration presented by US distributor Severin Films. The screening was part of the festival’s Fantasia Retro series.
My first film on Day 10 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was the World Premiere of the South African drama/folkloric horror film 8. The film is part of the Cheval Noir Competition, “Fantasia’s flagship juried competition, a global selection of varied genre works from new and established, groundbreaking and unconventional auteurs.”
My only film on Day 9 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was the World Premiere of the US horror film The Wretched. The film is part of the Cheval Noir Competition, “Fantasia’s flagship juried competition, a global selection of varied genre works from new and established, groundbreaking and unconventional auteurs.”
On Day 8 of the Fantasia International Film Festival , I ended the evening with a screening of the World Premiere of the US drama/thriller 1BR.
1BR was written and directed by David Marmor, his first feature film. The film stars Nicole Brydon Bloom, Giles Matthey, Taylor Nichols, Naomi Grossman, Clayton Hoff and Celeste Sully.
Alright, so I was convinced by a friend who had an extra free ticket to check my fourth film of the day on Day 3 of the Fantasia International Film Festival . This was totally unplanned, my butt is going to be numb after all this sitting but what the hell, Fantasia is Christmas in July!
Cinephellas 