Fantasia kicks off its lineup on Thursday night with its opening film, The Red Rooms by Pascal Plante, a dark web psychological thriller that just premiered at Karlovy Vary. We can also discover Richelieu (August 4) by Pier-Philippe Chevigny, a social drama about a translator who defends Guatemalan workers from exploitation, and Emptiness (July 22), a portrait of a woman who turns to horror by Onur Karaman. The opportunity is ideal to see or see again Cadillac Clown (August 1), a medium-length film by Robin Aubert rarely shown, and two creations (Alien Thunder on July 31 and Hot Dog Cops on August 7) by the late Claude Fournier. Without forgetting the first of Ireland blue notebook, of Olivier Godin (July 28).
Even if Nicolas Cage had to cancel his presence because of the actors’ strike in Hollywood, we don’t want to miss Sympathy for the Devil (July 22), a film noir where he plays the disturbing passenger of a taxi. Having made the event everywhere in its path, Talk to Me by Danny and Michael Philippou (July 23) reveals possession sessions that are off the beaten track. Actor and director Joe Lynch pays homage to Lovecraft and Stuart Gordon in Suitable Flesh (August 5), while Chinese animation Deep Sea (August 6) will amaze with its rich visuals which will be offered in 3D.
Awarded at Sundance, Mami Wata (July 20 and 21) by Nigerian C. J. “Fiery” Obasi mixes African folklore and Greek mythology in a powerful feminine narrative that intoxicates with its splendid black and white images. More playful is Mad Fate (August 3), the incredible new production from Johnnie To, where a mad seer tries to bring a psychopath back to the right path. Pleasure assured. This is also the case of Vincent must die (July 21) by Stéphan Castang, which caused a stir in Cannes. This subversive satire analyzes the workings of the violence that plagues society, while a man without history becomes the target of everyone.
South Korea is in the spotlight with an impressive selection of recent and past productions. Among the most important to better capture the effervescence of this cinematography is Io Island (July 30), one of the key works of the venerable Kim Ki-young (The Housemaid), which plunges a stranger into hostile territory, and the classic Peppermint Candy (August 6) by virtuoso Lee Chang-dong (Burning), which links the fate of a fallen man to that of his nation. On a contemporary level, The Childe (August 2) by Park Hoon-jung offers some of the best action scenes of the year and we will discover why Killing Romance (August 4) by Lee Won-suk has become cult.
Roadkill Superstars are rocking Fantasia this year. In addition to closing the festivities on August 9 with We Are Zombies, the Quebec trio behind Turbo Kid will offer a masterclass (July 28). A commented screening of the delicious Jour de merde is organized on July 25 and its director Kevin T. Landry will join, on July 23, filmmakers Lawence Côté-Collins, Pascal Plante and Edouard Tremblay for a panel on their transition from short to feature film . Legendary underground filmmaker Larry Kent will receive the Canadian Pioneer Award. Five of his opuses will be programmed and a meeting is organized on July 25.
