This year’s edition of Fantasia was their 20th, having missed only three or four, I was eager to attend this anniversary year. As usual since moving from Montreal to Southern California, I was only able to attend for a short period, so I made sure to enjoy it as much as possible, making it a point to see films with a crowd and going to the official festival pub while attending the same week as the market and a few friends. I also made a point to see as many movies as possible, seeing a grand total of 28 films for which the reviews can be found at the below this piece (before the list of winners).
Out of all these films, the one film to come out on top as the one I urge people to see if they can is The Lure. This film is possibly the best one I’ve seen in a long while, so see it! Other than The Lure, and depending on the person, I strongly suggest Bed of the Dead, L’Elan, I, Olga Hepranova, Dark Side of the Moon, and Realive. As there are each year, a few movies made me wonder how they got chosen for the fest or if I had all my mental capacities while watching them. Some true oddities were seen, ready to be added to my “What the Fantasia?” list (We Are the Flesh, L’Elan, She’s Allergic to Cats, and Kaiju Mono). Of course, there are tons of films I wanted to see but did not have time for, so they ended up staying on my “to see” list.
A few examples of that are Before I Wake, Terraformars, Feuilles Mortes, The Greasy Strangler, I Am Not a Serial Killer, Antibirth, Kickboxer: Vengeance, The Master Cleanse, etc. Thankfully, a few of these have been sent for review so those are coming soon and most of the others should be released in semi-wide distribution.
This year’s selection has a darker tone in a lot of cases with themes of redemption, desperation, and tragic love. Of course, I only saw a sampling of the offerings but the dramas, horror films, and a few comedies seen were all worth it and I will keep my eyes open for the other titles.
Of course, the Fantasia experience is not just about the movies but also about the people. Going back to the hotel suite I shared with a dvd feature producer, a web editor, and a blogger/festival director at sunrise because we went for very late night food or hung out at the pub so late is considered normal. At said pub, at least half the fun is meeting new people (other reviewers, photographers, filmmakers, fans, et al.) and making connections with like-minded people. As a friend described it, it’s like movie summer camp or film nerd camp. I came back physically exhausted (I actually slept on the plane back) but mentally and creatively refueled.
Coverage by Emilie Black:
Agonie: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/10/agonie-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival/
The Alchemist Cookbook: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/30/the-alchemist-cookbook-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Atmo HorrorX: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/16/atmo-horrorx-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival/
Bed of the Dead: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/13/bed-of-the-dead-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
The Dark Side of the Moon: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/03/dark-side-of-the-moon-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
L’Elan: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/05/lelan-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Embers: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/05/embers-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Harmony: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/09/harmony-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
I, Olga Hepranova: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/29/i-olga-hepranova-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
The Inerasable: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/07/the-inerasable-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Kaiju Mono: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/05/kaijyu-mono-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Let Me Make You a Martyr: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/16/let-me-make-you-a-martyr-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Little Sister: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/04/little-sister-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
The Love Witch: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/08/the-love-witch-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Lowlife Love: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/03/lowlife-love-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
The Lure: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/29/the-lure-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Man Underground: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/10/man-underground-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
La Rage du Demon: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/04/la-rage-du-demon-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Realive: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/12/realive-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Red Christmas: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/06/red-christmas-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Shelley: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/04/shelley-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
She’s Allergic to Cats: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/20/shes-allergic-to-cats-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Slash: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/03/slash-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Tank 432: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/09/tank-432-2015-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Therapy: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/08/therapy-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
The Unseen: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/28/the-unseen-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Pre-Festival fun:
Most Anticipated Films at Fantasia International Film Festival 2016
What The Fantasia!?
20 Past Films from Fantasia International Film Festival Worth Looking For
Coverage by Felix Vasquez:
Battledream Chronicle: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/30/battledream-chronicle-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Creature Designers: The Frankenstein Complex: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/15/creature-designers-the-frankenstein-complex-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Hunt for the Wilderpeople: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/17/hunt-for-the-wilderpeople-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Never Tear Us Apart: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/20/never-tear-us-apart-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Novaseed: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/25/novaseed-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Psychonauts, the Forgotten Children: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/25/psychonauts-the-forgotten-children-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
Seoul Station: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/08/01/seoul-station-2016-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
The Toxic Avenger: http://cinema-crazed.com/blog/2016/07/17/the-toxic-avenger-1984-fantasia-international-film-festival-2016/
And the winners are (from the official release from the festival):
AWARDS OF THE 20TH EDITION
The Fantasia International Film Festival is proud to announce the names of the various award winners of its 20th edition. The festival’s winners were selected by juries as well as festival’s audience.
CHEVAL NOIR
The jury, overseen by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado (directors) and composed of Cyril Despontin (Paris International Fantastic Film Festival), George Schmalz (Film Outreach Lead at Kickstarter), Justine Smith (critic), and Marcus Stiglegger (critic and researcher), selected the following winners:
Cheval Noir Award for Best Feature: TRAIN TO BUSAN by Yeon Sang-ho
Cheval Noir Award for Best Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa for CREEPY
Cheval Noir Award for Best Screenplay: E J-Yong for THE BACCHUS LADY
Cheval Noir Award for Best Actor: Franko Dijak, GORAN
Cheval Noir Award for Best Actress: Youn Yuh-jung, THE BACCHUS LADY
Special Jury Prize: THE LURE (Poland, dir.: Agnieszka Smoczynska) “for being a timeless cinematic fairytale — an instant cult classic!”
NEW FLESH AWARD FOR BEST FIRST FEATURE
The jury, overseen by Michael Gingold (critic) and composed of Grady Hendrix (author, co-founder of New York Asian Film Festival), Kate McEdwards (Oscilloscope Laboratories), and Nicolas Stanzick (critic and musician), selected the following winners:
New Flesh Award for Best First Feature (awarded unanimously): MAN UNDERGROUND by Michael Borowiec and Sam Marine.
Special Jury Mention: Lily Mae Harrington, “for her remarkable, nuanced and boldly honest performance in her feature-film debut, SOME FREAKS.”
INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION
Le jury, overseen by Chris Oosterom (Artistic Director, Festival Imagine, Amsterdam) and composed of Heather Buckley (critic, designer, Blu-ray supplement producer), and Peter Kuplowsky (producer and programmer, Fantastic Fest and Toronto After Dark), selected the following winners:
Best International Short: A NEARLY PERFECT BLUE SKY (France) “The Jury is excited to award Best International Short to Quarxx, whose visionary and ambitious short cements him as a provocative auteur that we look forward to seeing more from.”
Special Jury Mention for Best Emerging Short Filmmaker: Tanya Lemke for STATIC (Canada) “The Jury would like to recognize this emotionally charged parable on grief and loss for its thoughtful and confident filmmaking, announcing the arrival of a promising new talent.”
Special Jury Mention for Aesthetic Innovation: ESTATE (France / Belgium) “The Jury would also like to recognize Ronny Trocker’s deft synthesis of compelling visual experimentation with a profound meditation on a pressing contemporary socio-cultural reality.”
SATOSHI KON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ANIMATION
The jury, overseen Julie Roy (Executive Producer, French Animation Studio, National Film Board of Canada) and composed of Benoît Melançon (Assistant Professor and specialist in previsualization, UQAC/NAD), Alex Parkinson (Visual Effects Supervisor, Feature Animation Division, Cinesite), and Tamu Townsend (Curator of the Emru Townsend Foundation), selected the following winners:
Satoshi Kon Award for Best Animated Feature: PSYCHONAUTS, THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN (Spain, dir: Alberto Vazquez, Pedro Rivero). “For its originality and vision in terms of aesthetic, narrative and characterization, PSYCHONAUTS defies comparison. Combined with its post-apocalyptic atmosphere and audacious themes, it achieves a daring balance that is at once destabilizing and engaging.”
Satoshi Kon Award for Best Animated Short: STEMS (U.K., dir: Ainslie Henderson). “The jury universally loved this short and sweet animation about the joy and tragedy of animation itself. In particular, they enjoyed the unique rough style with lent the piece a tangibility and charm, and complimented the message. STEMS packs a lot of big ideas into a short run time.”
Special Jury Mention for Synergy of Narration and Art: CLOUDS (Canada dir: Diego Maclean) “The jury conveys a special mention to the film CLOUDS to underscore the judicious balance between its artistic direction and narrative. The story is well crafted and highly effective. It is upheld by a harmonious and delicate design that skillfully contrasts with the cruelty of the story.”
BARRY CONVEX AWARD FOR BEST CANADIAN FEATURE
The jury, composed of Kier-la Janisse (author, editor-in-chief of Spectacular Optical), Paul Corupe (author and screenwriter), and Mario DeGiglio-Bellamare (filmmaker, writer and programmer), awarded Spectacular Optical’s Barry Convex Award to FEUILLES MORTES by Thierry Bouffard, Carnior et Edouard Tremblay. The award is accompanied by a $1000 prize, thanks to the Paul A. Ray Memorial Fund.
The jury also presents a Special Mention to ÉCARTÉE by Lawrence Côté-Collins, saluting an accomplished exercise in voyeuristic suspense.
PRIX AQCC (Association québécoise des critiques de cinéma) 2016
The jury, overseen by Martin Gignac and composed of Céline Gobert and Olivier Thibodeau, awarded the Prix AQCC to THE WAILING by Na Hong-jin.
PRIX SÉQUENCES
The jury, overseen by Pascal Grenier and composed of Jean-Marie Lanlo and Guillaume Potvin, awarded the Prix Séquences to WE ARE THE FLESH by Emiliano Rocha Minter.
PRIX L’ÉCRAN FANTASTIQUE
Le prix L’Écran fantastique, selected by Yves Rivard, was awarded to BEFORE I WAKE by Mike Flanagan.
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Audience Award for Best European / North-South American Feature
Gold – Tie between HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (Dir: Taika Waititi) and UN PETIT BOULOT (Dir: Pascal Chaumeil)
Silver – THEY CALL ME JEEG (Dir: Gabriele Mainetti)
Bronze – Tie between KIKI: LOVE TO LOVE (Dir: Paco León) and THE LURE (Dir: Agnieszka Smoczynska)
Audience Award for Best Asian Feature
Gold – TRAIN TO BUSAN (Dir: Yeon Sang-ho)
Silver – TOO YOUNG TO DIE (Dir: Kankuro Kudo)
Bronze – THE WAILING (Dir: Na Hong-jin)
Audience Award for Best Canadian Feature
Gold – KING DAVE (Dir: Daniel Grou)
Silver – FEUILLES MORTES (Dirs: Thierry Bouffard, Carnior, Edouard A. Tremblay)
Bronze – tie between ÉCARTÉE (Dir: Lawrence Côté-Collins) and OPERATION AVALANCHE (Dir: Matt Johnson)
Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature
FOR THE LOVE OF SPOCK (Dir: Adam Nimoy)
Audience Award for Best Animated Feature
SEOUL STATION (Dir: Yeon Sang-ho)
Audience Award for Best International Short
Gold – SNAKEBITE (Dir: Tim Hyten)
Silver – NO TOUCHING (Dirs: Adam Davis, Will Corona Pilgrim)
Bronze – L’OURS NOIR (Dirs: Méryl Fortunat Rossi, Xavier Seron)
Audience Award for Best Quebecois Short
Gold – CARNASSE (Dir: Francis Bordeleau)
Silver – CAUCHEMAR CAPITONNÉ (Dir: Jean-Claude Leblanc)
Bronze – BULLSHIT (Dir: Marc Wiltshire)
The festival’s audiences were invited to vote for Best Virtual Reality Film. This year’s selection of virtual-reality genre films was programmed in collaboration with the CFC Media Lab. The section consisted of 11 titles, five of which were Canadian and six international productions. The Samsung Virtual Reality Award went to the short film KILLER DEAL from US director Anthony C. Ferrante.
Lastly, as part of the program of family films MON PREMIER FANTASIA AU MUSÉE McCORD, a youth jury consisting four members aged between 8 and 10 years old awarded this year’s Prix Jeunesse Mon Premier Fantasia to (SIMON’S CAT) A VISIT AT THE VET by U.K. animator Simon Tofield.
Fantasia International Film Festival ran from July 14th until August 3rd, 2016 and will be back in the summer of 2017.