Fresh from its Cannes Competition world premiere, Ari Aster’s Eddington will open the 29th Fantasia International Film Festival, which begins a day earlier than previously announced and runs in Montreal from July 16 to August 3.
Pedro Pascal and Joaquin Phoenix star in the tale of a stand-off between a small town sheriff and the mayor that ignites wider tensions in a New Mexico community. A24 will release in the US on July 18.
The second wave of titles announced on Thursday includes three new works from Japanese genre master Takashi Miike led by the world premiere of episodes from J-horror anime series Nyaight Of The Living Cat, as well as the Canadian premieres of the features Blazing Fists and Sham.
First-time feature director Izabel Pakzad brings her girls trip survival thriller Find Your Friends starring Helena Howard from I Saw The TV Glow and Bella Thorne from Divinity. World premieres include Ava Maria Safai’s feature directorial debut and high school horror Foreigner; and Adilkhan Yerzhanov’s folk horror Kazakh Scary Tales.
George Mihalka will receive a 2025 Canadian Trailblazer award in recognition of a 40-year career that has spawned My Bloody Valentine and Hostile Takeover. Mihalka will deliver a masterclass at the festival.
Fantasia will feature screenings, workshops, and launch events, with screenings scheduled to take place at Montreal’s Concordia Hall and J.A. de Sève cinemas, with additional screenings and events at Cinéma du Musée.
The first wave announced last month includes new work from Hwang Wook, the Adams Family, Steve Pink, Julie Pacino, and Brock Bodell.
Organisers will announce the full line-up in July.