LakshmiAs summer rolls in, the Fantasia International Film Festival returns for its 29th chapter, a cinematic juggernaut celebrated by legends like Quentin Tarantino, who calls it Canada’s “most important and prestigious genre festival,” and Guillermo del Toro, who reveres it as “a shrine.” Fantasia is the ultimate playground for those eager to explore the raw, uncharted depths of genre filmmaking, while also serving up a varied feast that spans from gritty, boundary-pushing tales to heartfelt dramas and comedies.
Over the span of 19 action-packed days, the festival will unfold across multiple venues, including workshops and premiere events at Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, along with special screenings at Cinéma du Musée and BBAM! Gallery. It’s a celebration of genre in all its thrilling, diverse forms.
Kicking things off is Eddington, the latest visionary creation from Ari Aster, whose films have become synonymous with intense, thought-provoking experiences that are as unsettling as they are captivating. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This year, audiences can expect an exciting array of fresh works from a diverse roster of talented filmmakers, including the likes of Takashi Miike, The Adams Family, Alice Maio Mackay, Hélène Cattet, Bruno Forzani, and many others. Al Pacino’s daughter, Julie Pacino, is also destined to make her film debut with I Live Here Now, a Lynchian psychodrama.
The 2025 edition definitely promises to be an exhilarating journey through the cutting edge of film.
Check out a few ones we are looking forward to watching:
1. Eddington: Ari Aster’s Eddington, which premiered originally at Cannes, unfolds in May 2020, where a tense standoff between a small-town sheriff and the mayor ignites a volatile conflict, turning neighbor against neighbor in the simmering streets of Eddington, New Mexico.
2. Together: Starring real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie, this eerie tale tracks a young pair who, after relocating to the countryside, experience a supernatural event that begins to twist not only their love and lives, but their very bodies. Creepy, isn’t it?
3. Blazing Fists: Takashi Miike has two films premiering at FIFF– Sham and Blazing Fists. This one takes on the MMA genre in this gritty coming-of-age drama, and it’s everything you’d expect. Blazing Fists tones down the wild chaos for a more grounded yet powerful story of two teens using their fists to break free from the system and enter the world of professional fighting. Miike brings his trademark energy to the ring, but this time, it’s all about personal struggles, second chances, and the brutal path to redemption.
4. Rewrite: Based on the time-bending romance novel “Rewrite” by Haruka Hojo, Miyuki falls in love with Yasuhiko, a transfer student from the future. After a mysterious time leap, Miyuki from the future shows Yasuhiko a book he will one day write. Ten years later, Miyuki, now a novelist, returns home with her story of their love, but she discovers a haunting mystery—Miyuki from the past never arrives. As the mystery unravels, the hidden emotions of their summer and the fate they once thought sealed come into question, revealing how time and choices shape destiny.
5. The Verdict: A fierce takedown on corruption, cloaked in the guise of a courtroom thriller, this Indonesian crime thriller follows Raka, whose pregnant wife is murdered. As the investigation implicates an innocent man and corrupt officials, Raka embarks on a quest for justice, exploring themes of corruption, revenge, and moral conflict. Actor Reza Rahadian plays the lead role of Raka in the movie.
Additionally, Yuji Shimomura’s eagerly awaited Crazy Musashi, written by cult icon Sion Sono, steals the spotlight. Also making waves is Gabriel Carrer’s world premiere of The Beast Within, while Bertrand Mandico’s surreal She Is Conan the Barbarian—fresh off Cannes success—takes its North American bow. Other notables include Kiah Roache-Turner’s monster-driven Beast of War and Macoto Tezuka’s live-action manga adaptation Barbara II.
A standout feature of Fantasia 2025 is its celebration of Quebec cinema, with the Fantastiques Week-ends du cinéma québécois spotlighting 77 films from both emerging and established local voices. Highlights include David B. Ricard’s genre-bending mockumentary Alien Tribute and Alexandre Prieur-Grenier’s chilling Enfer en eau trouble.
The festival will wrap up with the Canadian premiere of Genndy Tartakovsky’s Fixed. In addition, career achievement awards will be presented to both Tartakovsky and iconic composer Danny Elfman.
With over 130 feature films and a dynamic mix of special events, Fantasia 2025 solidifies its reputation as a global hub for boundary-pushing genre cinema from Asia, North America, and beyond.
Lakshmi
