The 2025 edition of the Fantasia Film Festival is upon us! Running from July 16th-August 3rd, it specializes in the best in horror and genre cinema from around the world! We are very excited to cover Fantasia for fifth year in a row as it is one of the most daring and fun film fests. Helping with this preview is contributors Dakota Arsenault, Jeff Bulmer, Pedro Lima and Rach Epstein who will all be reviewing films during the fest, so make sure you check back often!
Directed By: Mickey Reece
Starring: Barbara Crampton, Vera Drew, John Ennis, Josh Fadem, Tipper Newton, James Urbaniak
Synopsis: The film follows Josh Fadem as Joe, an unassuming office worker at an online periodical who becomes entangled in a conspiracy after witnessing a murder. As a colleague begins to investigate, Joe struggles to conceal the truth, as his carefully constructed life falls apart.
Why I’m Excited: The plot sounds similar to Under The Silver Lake, a film I enjoyed but didn’t love. This time it feels like the undertones of a did-he-or-didn’t-he are more top layers, which piques my interest. It also stars the iconic genre Queen Barbara Crampton, and the director of The People’s Joker, Vera Drew. The blurring of genre lines seems right up my alley too. -DA
Directed By: Roy Ambriz, Arturo Ambriz
Starring: Mireya Mendoza, Arturo Mercado, Luis Leonardo Suárez
Synopsis: Recently orphaned and rebellious by nature, Francisca Imelda finds consolation in her solitary pastime, writing tales of fear and fantasy. But the words she scribbles are more than just a balm for her hurting heart: they are the connective tissue linking the real world we recognize around us to a parallel world of fiction, imagination, dreams… and nightmares.
Why I’m Excited: I Am Frankelda marks the directorial debut of brothers Arturo and Roy Ambriz, who previously produced a series of stop-motion shorts around the character of Francisca “Frankelda” Imelda for Cartoon Network Latin America. While the names may not be familiar to you yet, the Ambriz brothers are proteges of Guillermo del Toro, and Frankelda is Mexico’s first-ever fully stop-motion animated feature film. Mixing romance and dark fantasy, Frankelda joins an illustrious history of goth-aesthetic stop-motion films, evoking The Nightmare Before Christmas (also playing Fantasia this year), Corpse Bride, and the non-stop motion The Book of Life. There’s an audience that will absolutely eat Frankelda up on character design alone, but the positive reviews out of Annecy and Guadalajara make it one to watch no matter which audience you belong to. -JB
I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director in Brooklyn
Directed By: Kenichi Ugana
Starring: Ui Mihara, Madeline Barbush, Estevan Muñoz
Synopsis: A jaded Japanese movie star stranded in NYC without money or phone meets a passionate indie filmmaker and his crew, leading to an unexpected creative journey that could reignite her love for cinema.
Why I’m Excited: Movies about filmmaking can be hit or miss, but I find they are most interesting when made by independent filmmakers with a real love for the process and enough cynicism to provide appropriately cutting commentary. Writer/director Kenichi Ugana has a history of making films which explore the way gender plays a role in cultural institutions as we know them, and this would be a fantastic setting for more of that exploration. I’m excited to see what direction this all goes. -RE
Directed By: Félix Dufour-Lapperrière
Starring: Zeneb Blanchet, Mattis Savard-Verhoeven, Karelle Tremblay
Synopsis: Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s magnificent feature tells the story of a group of young activists who take up arms against an affluent family, hoping to plant the seed that sows a rebellion. Their desire to effect change is strong, but the act itself is violent, visceral, and too much for all of them to bear. When things don’t go according to plan, a woman finds herself haunted by the memory of her friend, reliving the events of the day, intertwined with the shadows of her doubt and guilt as she ponders what’s happened, and all that could have been.
Why I’m Excited: La mort n’existe pas, or Death Does Not Exist, premiered at Cannes’ Directors’ Fortnight section this year, which already makes it worth paying attention to. Félix Dufour-Lapperrière, known for his politically-charged films, most recently the animated documentary Archipel, worked on La mort for 10 years, each frame hand-drawn. Reviews out of Cannes emphasize the film’s timeliness, Dufour-Lapperrière exploring the nuances of direct action in a politically hopeless world. From the visuals to the messaging, La mort looks beautiful, and promises an interesting perspective on activism in the current political climate. -JB
Directed By: Akihiro Suzuki
Starring: Hotaru Hazuki, Kôichi Imaizumi, Akira Kuroiwa, Hiroyuki Oki, Akira Suehiro
Synopsis: Opening with tones of cool azure, the blue tint of Looking for an Angel (1999) lends the film an atmosphere of melancholy. An underground cult classic from Japanese producer and director, Akihiro Suzuki, the film centers on Takachi, a young porn star from small-town Japan, who finds himself alone in Tokyo. After his untimely death, the film follows his two best friends and their memories of him.
Why I’m Excited: The debut feature of Japanese director Akihiro Suzuki, Looking for an Angel, narrates the aftermath of the death of a young porno star, Takachi. The devastating and sudden passing inspired his two childhood best friends to return to their hometown in honor of him. Fantasia is showing this restoration in the Fantasia Retro section. -PL
Directed By: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser
Starring: John Adams, Zelda Adams, Toby Poser
Synopsis: Shaken to her core after being diagnosed with cancer, young Mickey turns to necromancy to heal herself after conventional medicine fails to help. Her father, Jake, is not a religious man, but any skepticism he might hold takes a backseat to supporting his daughter’s decision. And so, they embark on a journey, driving deep into the woods to meet with a witch who resides there. Her name is Solveig, and they will be her guests for the transformative days to come.
Why I’m Excited: This DIY family is a mainstay at Fantasia with all their recent films having had their world premieres there. The trio (and sometimes older sister Lulu) literally do everything, write, direct, act, score, edit, shoot, make props and on and on. As their profile rises, they maintain their same punk ethos, but hone in on their craft more each time. I was a fan of both Hellbender and Where The Devil Roams (I had the chance to interview Zelda, John and Toby back in 2023). This one I know is a personal story for them and can’t wait to see what they have come up with. -DA
Directed by: Héléne Cantet & Bruno Forzani
Starring: Céline Camara, Koen De Bouw, Maria De Medeiros, Thi-Mai Nguyen, Yannick Renier, Fabio Testi
Synopsis: Retired spy John D is living his senior days in a luxe Côte d’Azur hotel when his neighbour vanishes under circumstances most mysterious. His pulse quickens, his mind races, the muscle memory of paranoid survival skills kick back into life. John has a terrible suspicion that enemies from decades ago may finally be coming for him.
Why I’m Excited: The duo of directors Héléne Cantet and Bruno Forzani are two of the most fascinating names in contemporary genre cinema. Their latest film, the Berlinale competition title Reflection in a Dead Diamond, is a homage to classic spy films and the Italian giallos. Following the missions of a spy in two different eras of his life, the film shows how he defeats his enemies and endures through this violent journey. -PL
Directed By: Yu Ao, Zhou Tienan
Starring: Jia Bing, Huang Bo, Wang Junkai, Zhou Shen, Liu Xiaoyu
Synopsis: Qian Xiao, a cheerful girl from a fishing village, dreams of becoming an actress in the big city. On her way towards the metropolis, a sudden crash gives her the ability to control time. As she excitedly experiments with her newfound power, Qian Xiao becomes the target of a criminal cabal. Seventeen, an assassin from that group, enters her life. What adventure will unfold when a cold-faced, obsessive-compulsive killer and a carefree village girl cross paths?
Why I’m Excited: “We all meet and part within time. Sometimes, we are faced with abrupt goodbyes—no warning, no return.” This quote from the directors makes The Girl Who Stole Time my personal most highly-anticipated film of Fantasia. While it’s unlikely that the film is truly as abrupt as that quote implies, films that explore the specific fear of the passage of time have always appealed to me. In its art and subject matter, The Girl Who Stole Time is reminiscent of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, Mamoru Hosoda’s time-travel drama from 2006 about a girl who gains the ability to travel through time and ends up in a time loop. Like that film, promotional material for The Girl Who Stole Time emphasizes a romance between the time-traveling protagonist and someone she meets along the way. Of course, in this case, the person she meets is a time-traveling assassin. What adventure, indeed, will unfold when a compulsive killer and a carefree village girl cross paths? I can’t help but be intrigued. -JB
The House with Laughing Windows
Directed by: Pupi Avati
Starring: Vanna Busoni, Lino Capolicchio, Gianni Cavina, Francesca Marciano, Giulio Pizzirani
Synopsis: Stefano, arrives in a seemingly sleepy village to restore a church mural, representing a methodical, modern mindset. But beneath the surface of this picturesque setting—and the mysterious mural itself—lies a chaotic pagan history that resists his logical, ordered approach. The more he attempts to bring structure, the more that structure begins to break down into bloody, deeply disturbing chaos.
Why I’m Excited: One of Giallo’s principal names, the classic Italian slasher sub-genre, Pupi Avati, is also in the Fantasia Retro section with his classic 1976 film, The House with Laughing Windows. The film tackles the restoration of a church fresco representing the suffering of San Sebastian. Suddenly, the young restorer discovers the sinister and mysterious meanings behind the art of a long-dead artist. -PL
Directed By: Todd Wiseman Jr.
Starring: Kue Lawrence, Christina Brucato, Oscar Nuñez
Synopsis: In a near-future, dystopian, “Free State of Florida,” gun control is outlawed and school shootings are at an all-time high. When an opportunity for twisted notoriety arises, a tormented 13-year old, Sammy, enlists in a deadly competition.
Why I’m Excited: This has the potential to be a beautifully shot take on the “purge” concept wherein the government has taken steps to curb violence by inciting it in more formalized means. I think this subject is a fertile ground for exploration and examination, with school shootings becoming almost commonplace in America. So many children have been speaking up about the ways they’re forced to reckon with their own mortality at such a young age, and I’m excited to see where they go with this. -RE
Directed By: Laura Casabe
Starring: Isabel Bracamonte, Dady Brieva, Fernanda Echevarría
Synopsis: Combining folklore, coming-of-age and social horror elements, the plot centers on Natalia, a recent high school graduate who finds herself deeply infatuated with Diego, a close childhood friend. However, their bond is tested when Silvia, older and worldlier, enters their lives and captivates Diego. Determined to win Diego back, Natalia enlists the aid of her grandmother Rita and delves into the realm of spells and dark magic to disrupt Diego and Silvia’s burgeoning romance.
Why I’m Excited: I will always be on board for a new exploration of coming-of-age into womanhood through the lens of horror and magic, and this has the capacity to feel fresh and innovative. The backdrop of social unrest makes the story especially well-timed, and I’m excited to see how all of these elements come together in the film. -RE
