Fantasia International Film Festival Makes Final Lineup Announcement
READ MORE: Fantasia International Film Festival Announces Second Wave of 2015 Lineup
Montreal, Canada’s own Fantasia International Film Festival has long been known for its eccentric films and extensive programming. The genre film festival has already released chunks of its lineup of screenings for this year — a diverse and wide-reaching set of films, as is the norm for Fantasia — and this announcement is the final one. Featuring a total of 36 countries represented, a whopping 135 feature films and nearly 300 shorts, the mammoth event takes place this year from July 14 through August 4. Fantasia 2015 will also deliver 22 world premieres.
The final announcement from the festival features “Attack on Titan,” the much-anticipated film by Shinji Higuchi, which will close the festival; the Canadian premiere of “Cop Car,” presented by Kevin Bacon; and the first-ever international edition of Larry Fessenden’s radio drama, “Tales from Beyond the Pale.”
The full list of newly-announced screenings is below. Synopses courtesy of Fantasia International Film Festival.
“Attack on Titan”
Japan, Dir: Hajime Isayama
Hajime Isayama’s steampunk splatter-fantasy war opera has become one of Japanese entertainment’s biggest and most outlandish hits of recent years, at home and abroad. Now the hotly anticipated live-action film bursts furiously from the Fantasia screen, directed by top anime and tokusatsu talent Shinji Higuchi, whose history includes “Gamera” and “Godzilla” films, the “Evangelion” features, the 2006 remake disaster-piece “Submersion of Japan,” and much more. Canadian Premiere.
“Cooties”
USA, Dir: Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion
We hope you got your shots, because Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion’s Sundance/Stanley Fest sensation, “Cooties,” is about to infect Canada. This rambunctiously over-the-top comedy/horror film about a pack of schoolteachers fighting for their lives against swarms of savagely murderous virus-infected children stars Elijah Wood, Rainn Wilson, Alison Pill, and Jack McBrayer. It’s going to have audiences shrieking. Canadian Premiere.
“Shinjuku Swan,” “Love & Peace,” “Tag”
Japan, Dir: Sion Sono
Maverick director Sion Sono (“Love Exposure,” “Suicide Club”), one of the most unique voices in modern cinema, makes a thunderous return to Fantasia with an unprecedented three films! First up is the International Premiere of manga adaptation “Shinjuku Swan,” featuring Gou Ayano (“Lupin the Third”), Takayuki Yamada (“Milocrorze”), and Erika Sawajiri (“Helter Skelter)! Then, bear witness to Sono’s sweet side at the North American Premiere of the family friendly “Love & Peace,” an improbable mix of Japanese pop music, tokusatsu cinema, and talking toys – all laced with his unique sense of humour and critical, yet sensible view of modern Japan. Last but not least, the director hasn’t lost his flair for subversion and pitch-black humour, and the North American Premiere of “Tag” wholeheartedly proves it! When action, gore, and uneasy hilarity meet existential reflection and lucid social commentary, you know Sion Sono is in the house – and the legendary director promises to leave his mark on Fantasia 2015!
“Cash Only”
USA, Dir: Malik Bader
Fantasia is white-knuckle thrilled to be presenting the World Premiere of the ferocious crime drama “Cash Only,” an intense new thriller by Malik Bader (director of the Tribeca breakout “Street Thief”), scripted by and starring Nickola Shreli. The story of an ex con landlord who robs and manipulates the inhabitants of a Detroit slum building he manages before crossing the worst kind of mobster, this gritty and engrossing film shines rare cinematic light on the Albanian-American inner-city experience. World Premiere.
“Ninja the Monster”
Japan, Dir: Ken Ochiai
A reserved ninja, an impulsive samurai, a beautiful princess and a monster… A crafty blend of contextualized historical facts, adventure film and fantastic cinema from Ken Ochiai, director of “Uzumasa Limelight,” winner of last year’s Cheval Noir award at Fantasia. World Premiere.
“Ludo”
India, Dir: Q and Nikon
Camera Lucida will have its most daring opening to date with the world premiere of Indian’s enfants terribles Q and Nikon’s new film. The director of the festival hit “Gandu” is back with a nightmarish fairy tale for adults. What starts like a “Spring Breakers” journey into Bombay’s night life suddenly morph into a frightening tale that echoes the
“Art of the Devil” series in terms of corporal horror. A groundbreaking film that destroys any notion of narrative and promises to leave
deep marks.
“Orion”
Dir: Asiel Norton
Set far away after the end of civilization, Asiel Norton’s brilliant “Orion”is truly something you have never seen before. Starring David Arquette, Lily Cole, and Goran Kostic, this post-apocalyptic epic quest features imagery that takes us into a brand new mythology. With fantastic costumes and sets as well as a unique use of the English language, “Orion” is a cult film waiting to be discovered. One of the most challenging pieces of work in this year’s Camera Lucida. This is what legends are made of.
“Cosmodrama”
Dir: Philippe Fernandez
A group of scientists awaken in a spaceship traveling through a lost corner of the universe. Based on accurate scientific theories, visual artist Philippe Fernandez’s space opera is a cerebral homage to the golden age of sci-fi television. Selected at the Rotterdam Film Festival and Cannes’s ACID line-up, “Cosmodrama,” the closing film of the 2015 Camera Lucida section, will take the viewer beyond the final frontier. Existentialism has never been so much fun!
“The Interior”
Canada, Dir: Trevor Juras
Hiding in a forest, the one thing a man cannot escape is himself. The individualistic feature debut from acclaimed Canadian short filmmaker Trevor Juras (“The Lamp”), “The Interior,” is a dreamlike experience in which reality descends into nightmare, replete with moments of genuine terror.
“Anima State”
Pakistan, Dir: Hammad Khan
The most important film to come out of Pakistan in decades is also the film that will never get a theatrical release in that country. Director Hammad Khan (“Slackistan”) conducts an uncomfortable, in-your-face examination of his country through the tragicomic metaphorical tale of a man with a bandaged face going on a murder spree that nobody seems to
notice.
“Momentum”
Dir: Stephen S. Campanelli
A captivating action thriller splashed across the magnificent backdrop of Cape Town, South Africa. Canada’s Stephen S. Campanelli, longtime camera operator for Clint Eastwood, combines the right ingredients for an unstoppable action thrill-ride. Olga Kurylenko (“Quantum of Solace”) delivers an electrifying performance filled with spectacular stunts and
bare-fisted fury.
“Assassination”
Dir: Choi Dong-hoon
In 1933 Shanghai, a command to covertly assassinate the commander of the Japanese army is given to a top-notch female sniper – but a traitor informs Japanese authorities, who promptly send out a hitman to get rid of her! Get ready for the International Premiere of “Assassination,”directed by Choi Dong-hoon (“The Thieves”), a tense, explosive period
thriller that lavishly recreates its bygone era and boasts a cast of Korea’s biggest stars.
Other newly announced titles included:
“Black & White: The Dawn of Justice”
Taiwan, Dir: Tsai Yueh-Hsun
“Lupin the Third”
Japan, Dir: Ryuhei Kitamura
“Singham Returns”
India, Dir: Rohit Shetty
“Thor Is Coming to Town!”
Dir: Ryan Wise
“(T)ERROR”
Dir: Lyric R. Cabral, David Felix Sutcliffe
“Raiders! The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made”
Dir: Jeremy Coon, Tim Skousen
“The Real Miyagi”
Canada/USA/Japan, Dir: Kevin Derek
“The Case of Hana & Alice”
Japan, Dir: Shunji Iwai
“Teana: 10000 Years After 3D”
China, Dir: Yi Li
“The Arti: The Adventure Begins”
Taiwan, Dir: Huang Wen Chang
“Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet”
USA, Dir: Roger Allers, Paul Brizzi,
Gaëtan Brizzi, Joan C. Gratz, Mohammed Saeed Harib, Tomm Moore, Nina Paley,
Bill Plympton, Joann Sfar, Michal Socha
“Minuscule: La Vallee des Fourmis”
France, Dir: Hélène Giraud, Thierry Szabo
“Battles Without Honor and Humanity”
Japan, Dir: Kinji Fukasaku
“Buddha’s Palm”
Hong Kong, Dir: Taylor Wong
“The Nutcracker 3D”
Japan, Dir.: Sebastian Masuda
“Manos: Hands of Fate’
USA, Dir: Harold P. Warren
“The Reflecting Skin”
UK/Canada, Dir: Philip Ridley
“Roar”
USA/South Africa, Dir: Noel Marshall
“Scandale”
Quebec, Dir: George Mihalka
“100 Yen Love”
Japan, Dir: Masaharu Take
“Catch Me Daddy”
UK, Dir: Daniel Wolfe, Matthew Wolfe
“A Christmas Horror Story”
Canada, Dir: Grant Harvey, Brett Sullivan, Steven Hoban
“Deadman Inferno”
Japan, Dir: Hiroshi Shinagawa
“The Editor”
Canada, Dir: Adam Brooks, Matthew Kennedy
“Excess Flesh”
USA, Dir: Patrick Kennelly
“Gangnam Blues”
South Korea, Dir: Yoo Ha
“Goodnight Mommy”
Austria, Dir: Veronika Franz, Severin Fiala
“Haemoo”
South Korea, Dir: Shim Sung-bo
“A Hard Day”
South Korea, Dir: Kim Seong-hun
“Lady Psycho Killer”
USA/Canada, Dir: Nathan Oliver
“Nina Forever”
UK, Dir: Chris Blaine, Ben Blaine
“The Ninja War of Torakage”
Japan, Dir: Yoshihiro Nishimura
“Nowhere Girl”
Japan, Dir: Mamoru Oshii
“Office”
South Korea, Dir: Hong Won-chan
“On the Horizon”
Quebec, Dir: Pascal Payant
“Poison Berry in My Brain”
Japan, Dir: Yuichi Sato
“Port of Call”
Hong Kong, Dir: Philip Yung
“Princess Jellyfish”
Japan, Dir: Taisuke Kawamura
“Robbery”
Hong Kong, Dir: Fire Lee
“The Royal Tailor”
South Korea, Dir: Lee Won-suk
“Scratch”
Quebec, Dir: Sébastien
Godron
“Snow Girl and the Dark Crystal”
China, Dir: Peter Pau, Zhao Tinyau
“Strayer’s Chronicle”
Japan, Dir: Takahisa Zeze
“Tangerine”
USA, Dir: Sean Baker
“Tazza: The Hidden Card”
South Korea, Dir: Kang Hyoung-chul
“Un Homme Ideal”
France, Dir: Yann Gozlan
