3 weeks of films starts Thursday at 27th Fantasia International Film Festival
Posted July 19, 2023 11:15 am.
Last Updated July 20, 2023 11:15 pm.
Concordia University kicked off the 27th Fantasia International Film Festival on Thursday.
Over 120 films and 200 shorts will be shown during the three week event, with the French-Canadian psychological tech thriller Red Rooms as the opening film.
“To be opening the festival this year is an amazing honour,” said Red Rooms film director Pascal Plante. “Especially since the Fantasia crowd is the best, really reactive and really wanting to have some original films. Films that are daring, bold, or just different. I couldn’t have dreamt a better crowd.”
Life coming full circle for Plante, who was once part of that crowd. Plante recalled coming every year to the festival since he was a film production student at Concordia University. The Concordia Theatre, a place he often frequented for class, is now screening one of his own films.
“When I did have classes in the Hall Building here, I didn’t think back then that I would have a film playing there,” Plante said.
He hopes the movie will leave a haunting impression to those who watch it.
Moviegoers viewing posters of French-Canadian psychological thriller Red Rooms, the opening film for Fantasia International Film Festival 2023. (Photo Credit: Diona Macalinga/CityNews)
The film festival aims to encourage moviegoers to experiment different genres.
“If you have specific interests whether they are geographical or a specific genre, you can really pick and choose,” said Ariel Esteban Cayer, co-director of Fantasia’s Asian programming. “The thing to remember about Fantasia is that it’s not just horror movies or fantasy; it’s science fiction, it’s comedies, it’s quirky, weird dramas – anything outside of the box.
Fantasia International Film Festival kicking off its 27th edition on Thursday at Concordia University’s Hall Building. (Photo Credit: Diona Macalinga/CityNews)
“Since its foundation, we’ve kept a very strong focus on Asian cinema. So, Fantasia started as a showcase for Hong Kong action films, Hong Kong fantasy films and Japanese monster movies – Godzilla and all of that. That was the first edition.”
The festival now has several sections for every genre, such as the Septentrion Shadows program which highlights some of the best Canadian production. There is also the Axis program, showcasing classic anime films and the latest movie of one of Quebec’s favourite animation series Toupie et Binou.A wide variety of Quebec films will also be featured during the festival, including Richelieu by Pier-Philippe Chevigny, Irlande Cahier Bleu by Olivier Godin and We Are Zombies by the RKSS trio.
Other films being shown during the opening weekend include, Stephan Castang’s Vincent Must Die on Friday; Sympathy for the Devil presented in World Premiere on Saturday with director Yuval Adler in attendance; and Danny and Michael Philippou’s Talk to Me on Sunday.
The festival will come to a close on Aug. 9.
Tickets for the festival as well as a complete list of films can be found on the Fantasia Festival website.
