The 16th edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival has drawn to a close and our team is delighted by the great success of this year’s edition. The juries have finished deliberating on this year’s competitions and are pleased to announce the following winners:

Feature Film Jury
President: Gabriel Pelletier, with Jay Baruchel, Sylvain Krief and Maggie Lee.

Cheval Noir Award for Best Film: DOOMSDAY BOOK by Kim Jee-woon and Yim Pil-sung
The film impressed the jury by the intelligence and originality it displayed in its efforts to imagine the near future and its impending doom through a collection of short films, all the while displaying mastery in every artistic aspects of the production.

Best Director: Jason Banker, TOAD ROAD
Best Screenplay: Alberto Marini, SLEEP TIGHT
Best Actor: James Davidson, TOAD ROAD
Best Actress: Majiana Jankovic, BEAST

Special Mention: AnnaLynne McCord, EXCISION
With her fearless performance in Excision, AnnaLynne McCord has created something beautiful, horrifying and altogether truthful. Her staggering work is a thesis statement on acting and a gift to the audience.

First Feature Jury
President: Jorge Michel Grau, with Michael Biehn, Travis Crawford, Anne Delseth, Jeff Deutchman and Sonya Kim.

New Flesh Award for Best First Feature: CRAVE by Charles de Lauzirika
This impressive debut captivated the jury with its remarkable production value. Its efficient storytelling and intelligent internal dialogue, generously embracing the author’s personality, provided a riveting portrait of a road to madness.

Special Mention: THE KING OF PIGS by Yeon Sang-ho
The jury wanted to highlight this rewardingly intense, merciless and grueling look at bullying and violence, that provides a powerful message that’s still sadly relevant today, in any culture.

Animation Jury
President: Robert Morgan, with Patrick Doyon and Érik Goulet

Satoshi Kon Award for Achievement in Animation: THE KING OF PIGS by Yeon Sang-ho
For its shocking and haunting narrative, finely tuned screenplay and confident visual style, punctuated with acidic hallucinatory visions. A distinctive and powerful vision of school-as-hell, and its devastating effects on later life.

Best Animated Short Film: IT’S SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY by Don Hertzfeldt
For its perfect marriage of form and content - An amazing trip of a film that creatively uses animation to explore memory, mortality and all of those little fears about our lives that sneak up in the early hours of the morning when we can’t sleep.

Special Award for Technical Accomplishment: BYDLO by Patrick Bouchard

International Short Film Jury
President: Samuel Archibald, with Ant Timpson and Marc Walkow

Best International Short: VIDEOBOY by Stian Kristiansen
A touching yet disturbing coming-of-age story, beautifully shot and superbly cast, that makes homage to horror films of the ‘80s and captures that era with great accuracy.

Special Mention: LEYENDA by Pau Teixidor
A classic fairy-tale-gone-real that goes into great extremes of both realism and onirism, superbly photographed and edited, and boasting impressive performances by the young actresses.

Drafthouse films has send us over information that they've acquired the North American distribution rights for Quentin Dupieux's latest film "Wrong". The film recently screened at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. "Wrong" will be released in limited release in 2013.

In addition, Drafthouse Films is offering a free download of two tracks from the WRONG soundtrack composed by Mr. Oizo (Director Quentin Dupieux's music stage name) and Tahiti Boy.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.wrongthemovie.com

Press Release:

Drafthouse Films, the film distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, announced their acquisition of North American rights to Wrong, the new feature film from electronic musician-turned-director/writer/editor/cinematographer/composer Quentin Dupieux. Wrong is a willfully surreal comedy, which made its world premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival, about a man's frantic search for his kidnapped dog and the strange characters he encounters along the way. A limited theatrical and VOD release is planned for 2013. Fans can download two tracks for free from the album's soundtrack (available August 27 from Because Music) co-composed by Mr. Oizo (Dupieux's musical nom de plume) and Tahiti Boy here: http://t.opsp.in/g05dU .

Dupieux's acclaimed 2010 Cannes Film Festival hit Rubber earned international media attention for its bold premise about a homicidal tire with head-exploding telekinetic abilities. Wrong takes place in an equally entrancing and hilariously hallucinatory universe all its own. Dolph Springer (Jack Plotnick of Reno 911) wakes up one morning to find that his beloved dog Paul has vanished. In a desperate attempt to get Paul (and his life) back, Dolph must embark on a spiritual journey guided by enigmatic pony-tailed guru Master Chang (William Fichtner) to metaphysically reconnect with his pet. On his quest, Dolph encounters a series of characters whose lives he drastically alters including a promiscuous pizza delivery girl, a jogging-addicted neighbor, an opportunistic French-Mexican gardener, and an eccentric pet detective (Steve Little, Eastbound And Down).

Dupieux's absurdly comic world is uncompromisingly unusual, breaking almost every known narrative cinematic convention and culminating in what critics champion as "textbook surrealism...definitely worth your attention," (io9.com). It's "Groundhogs Day remade by Luis Buñuel," (Indiewire). More candidly, "Wrong will melt your f###ing brain into ice cream," (JoBlo).

"I love dogs and I am fascinated by the relationship between people and dogs," says Dupieux. "I get along with dogs better than I do with people! Wrong is an homage to this special love between people and dogs."

"Wrong's demented universe is a perfect fit for our brand of artfully unusual films," says Drafthouse Films founder/CEO Tim League, "and Quentin proves once again that he is one of contemporary cinema's true fearless visionaries who refuses to play by the rules."

The deal was negotiated by Drafthouse Films COO James Shapiro and Chris Perez on behalf of Drafthouse Films, Producer Gregory Bernard and Michael Donaldson of Donaldson & Callif on behalf of Rubber Films and Realitism Films.

Speaking of "Hidden in the Woods", Vallastudio Films recently send released stills for the film, which is playing at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival. It was recently announced that Blanc Biehn Productions acquired the english language remake rights for the film.

"Hidden in the Woods" will be having its world premiere on August 6th at 10:15PM at the J.A. De Seve Theatre with an addition screening on August 7th at 3:00 PM at the J.A. De Seve Theatre.

Director Patricio Valladares and producer Evelyn Belmar will be hand for the screening on August 6th and possibly on August 7th as well.

Plot Synopsis:

Ana and Anny don’t get out much, having been forcibly kept away from society for most of their lives by their abusive, drug-dealing scumbag of a father. Sharing this unhappy home is their physically deformed, mentally challenged brother who spends much of his days twitching in the shadows. One day, the siblings desperately snap, turn their father in to the law and flee for their lives deep into the mountains. How will they survive on their own in a world they’ve barely experienced or understand? That’s the least of their problems. Unfortunately for them, their dad was holding a considerable amount of drugs. Drugs that have now gone missing. This is of no small concern to Uncle Costello, the area’s resident homicidal pusher kingpin. Costello believes the girls would know where his dope is, and he and his militia of killers will tear through as many bodies as it takes to track them down. The girls know nothing, nor do they have the slightest interest in anything related to their father’s business. No matter. All they can do is continue to run, while an ever-broadening river of blood forms in their tracks behind them.

Blanc Biehn Productions announced recently that they've acquired the english language remake rights to Patrick Valladares’ “En Las Afueras de la Ciudad” (Hidden in the Woods) which will premiere at The Fantasia International Film Festival on August 6th. The film is set to star Michael Biehn (The Victim)and written by original writers and creators of the Spanish version of the film which was shot in Chile by Patricio Valladares and Andrea Cavaletto. Production on the film is set to start shooting at the end of 2012.

Press Release:

After premiering their new thriller The Victim on July 23rd to rave responses at The Fantasia International Film Festival, Blanc Biehn Productions announced they will be making the English language remake of Patrick Valladares’ “En Las Afueras de la Ciudad” (Hidden in the Woods) which will premiere at The Fantasia International Film Festival on August 6th. Michel Biehn will star in the remake which will be written by original writers and creators of the Spanish version of the film which was shot in Chile by Patricio Valladares and Andrea Cavaletto. Jennifer Blanc Biehn and Michael Biehn will produce. Production begins at the end of 2012 and will shoot on location in Chile.

“I am thrilled to be working with Patricio – I’ve been waiting a very long time for a project like this to cross my path!” says Biehn.

"Patricio is a ferocious new talent, very much like a young Peckinpah in the rough, crossed with Gaspar Noé” says Mitch Davis, Co-Festival Director of the Fantasia International Film Festival. “His style of filmmaking is the very definition of "explosive" and I can't wait to see how his feature debut plays to an audience when we world premiere it at Fantasia next week. That Michael and Jennifer fell in love with Hidden in the Woods at The Fantasia IFF as madly as we have, before the film has ever had a public screening, is, to me, a hugely exciting testament to the power of his work. “

The deal was brokered by Jennifer Blanc Biehn of Blanc Biehn Productions and Jennifer Gray at The Law Offices of Elsa Ramo. Michael Biehn will star and Patricio Valladares will direct. The remake will be a joint production for Valladares Films (Patricio Valladares and Evelyn Belmar) and Blanc Biehn Productions (Jennifer Blanc Biehn and Michael Biehn).

The Biehn’s new provocative and gritty grindhouse thriller The Victim, written, directed and starring 80’s horror/sci-fi icon Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens, Tombstone), opens exclusively in New York City on August 24th at the Quad Cinema and in Los Angeles at the New Beverly Cinema on September 7th. The Victim is A Crimson Films Release, In Association with Pegasus Productions and PMK, Distributed by Anchor Bay Films.

Paul Hough Entertainment recently released stills for "The Human Race", which will be having its world premiere at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival. The film marks the second film from director Paul Hough.

"The Human Race" will be screening on July 29th at the Concordia Hall Theatre in Montreal, Canada. Show time is 9:50PM. Director Paul Hough, Actors Paul McCarthy-Boyington, Eddie McGee and producer Trip Hope will be on hand for the screening.

For more information on the film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.thehumanrace.me/

Plot Synopsis:

Want to see something truly gutsy and surprising? One day in a major US city, a pack of civilians disappear in their tracks, only to rematerialize in a far-away place they are completely unfamiliar with. They are people from every walk of life, young, old, athletic, crippled. They will be non-consensual participants in a surrealistic marathon out of their worst nightmares. Commands are barked. Impossibly, each person hears these orders in their own voice and language. The gist of it is horribly straightforward: “If you are lapped, you die. If you step off the path, you die. One hundred will start but only one will cross the finish line alive.”

The filmmakers behind "Play Dead" recently released a couple of stills for the film. The film "Play Dead" will having its world premiere at this years Fantasia International Film Festival. It's co-directed by Teller, who is well known as the smaller, quieter half of Penn & Teller.

"Play Dead" will be screening on July 27th at the J.A. De Seve Theatre in Montreal, Canada. Showtime is 9:45PM. Teller along with Co-director Shade Rupe and the film's star and writer Todd Roberts will be on hand for the screening.

For more information on the film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.playdeadthemovie.com.

Plot Synopsis:

Thrill seekers, spiritualists, lovers of magick, the occult, the ghoulish and the grotesque, step right up. Have we got a show for you. The show of all shows, in fact, where God’s mistakes and mischief will be celebrated on stage for your bewilderment and delight. Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we give you PLAY DEAD, an enormously entertaining live performance film directed and co-written by the legendary Teller (of Penn & Teller), shot by Dark Stars Rising author Shade Rupe and performed by the supernaturally charismatic and brilliantly funny illusionist/sideshow performer Todd Robbins, who co-authored the show. What is it, you ask? Nothing less than a no holds-barred recreation of the live midnight spook shows of yesteryear, a macabre history lesson, a discourse on evil, a black love letter to the art of storytelling, brought to life with continuous stabs of comedy, touches of tragedy and glowing theatricality. On this night, you will witness a spectacular reenactment of an old world séance hustle, meet serial killer Albert Fish, spend time in the company of a hungry circus geek, be told true ghost stories and so much more. You will love every second of it.

This is one of the film I'm looking forward to, when it hits stateside. I'm talking about "Wrong", the latest film from "Rubber" director Quentin Dupieux.

Realitism Films recently released stills for the film. The film starring Jack Plotnick, Steve Little, Eric Judor, William Fichtner, Alexis Dziena will be making its Canadian premiere tonight at the Concordia Hall Theatre. Showtime is 9:55PM.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.wrongthemovie.com

Plot Synopsis:

Waking up at the literally impossible hour of 7:60AM, Dolph (Jack Plotnick) discovers that his beloved dog Paul has gone missing. Unable to function, he grasps at straws to continue his “normal” daily routines — we’ll spoil none of them here! Dolph eventually has no choice but to face the obvious. Paul has been kidnapped! Desperate to be reunited with his doggie, he enlists the aid of private detective Ronnie (the inimitable Steve Little, turning in an even more eccentric performance here than in either THE CATHECHISM CATACLYSM or "Eastbound and Down"!), blowing open the doors to revelations and happenings too insane for words. Let’s leave it at that!

IFC Films recently released the official trailer and stills for "The Pact", which is apart of this year's Fantasia International Film Festival. It will be making its international premiere at this year's festival. The film stars Caity Lotz, Casper Van Dien, Agnes Bruckner.

The screening for "The Pact" will take place on July 25th at the J.A. De Seve Theatre in Montreal, Canada with a 10:00PM showtime. The screening will be hosted by writer/ director Nicholas McCarthy, actor Casper Van Dien and producer Ross M. Dinerstein.

If you can't make it for the screening, "The Pact" is available through various VOD providers and is in theaters in limited release.

Plot Synopsis:

It’s not always easy coming home. Sisters Nicole and Annie learn just that as they reluctantly return to their childhood house in the wake of their mother’s death. Their memories there were not entirely pleasant ones, and neither is keen to revisit any semblance of them. Instead, they get something much worse, and infinitely more terrifying. Before Annie has even gotten back to town, Nicole vanishes under highly mysterious circumstances, leaving her sister to do some serious digging. Digging that will unearth terrible, repressed truths about exactly who their mother was and what she and those around her may have done to their community. The bad vibe that her home has always had stems from a rot so deep it decays through to the other sides of graves, and at least one supernatural presence will not rest. The unexplainable is about to explode into the unforgettable.

"The Pact": Official Trailer

Fast Forward Films recently released stills and the offical quad poster for the creature feature "Grabbers". The film will making its canadian premiere at this year's festival. "Grabbers" recently played at this year's Sundance Film Festival.

The film will be screening at the Concordia Hall Theatre on August 4 at 7:00 PM.

Can't make it you Fantasia, IFC Films recently picked up the film. US distribution. Release date is TBA.

Plot Synopsis:

In a small Irish village where life mostly revolves around fishing and rounds of Guinness, the arrival of Lisa, a policewoman who is, let’s be honest, rather uptight, perturbs the daily tranquility. This is a disaster for Ciaran, her partner for whom working drunk constitutes the norm, who vows to do whatever he can to make his stuck-up yet beautiful colleague sweat. However, a recent meteor crash has activated his demons that, while owing nothing to alcoholic delirium, will aggravate both Ciaran and his community’s headache. At first, fishermen start to vanish, followed by lacerated whales washing up on shore. When a villager brings back a monster found in a lobster trap (which he had to kill due to its aggressiveness), the incompatible duo has to collaborate on a surreal case that will lead them to discover the impossible: an invasion of enormous, blood-thirsty amphibious aliens. With the help of the village scientist, Ciaran and Lisa discover that the ingestion of the alcohol-affected blood causes irreversible damage to these undesirable creatures. A ‘genius’ plan presents itself: assemble all fellow citizens at the pub for a massive drink-fest and staggering fight for survival.

The organizers of the Fantasia International Film Festival has send us information that Darren Lynn Brousman's "The Devil's Carnival" will be pulling into Fantasia. Victoriandustrial rocker Emilie Autumn, Dayton Callie (Sons Of Anarchy, Deadwood), M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan (of the Grammy award winning, cult metal giants Slipknot), Briana Evigan (Step Up 2), Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints), Ivan Moody (of the chart-topping heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch), Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects), Ogre (of the legendary industrial band Skinny Puppy), Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas), Alexa Vega (Spy Kids), and Terrance Zdunich (Repo: The Genetic Opera) all star in the film.

Your ringleaders for the evening will be Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich, live in the creeping flesh, and they will be bringing friends, including Bill Moseley. It's all going down Sunday July 22 at 12:10 AM (24:10) at the Concordia Hall Theatre.

Please Note: For this special event, tickets will not be available at the Fantasia box office or through our usual networks, they will only be available through THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL's Eventbrite interface: http://tdc_montreal-eorg.eventbrite.com.

For more infomation on this film, you can visit the films official website at: www.TheDevilsCarnival.com.

Plot Synopsis:

After their triumphant collaboration on 2008’s REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA (which had its World Premiere at Fantasia that year), a film hailed by The Hollywood Reporter as “the next Rocky Horror Picture Show”, director Darren Lynn Bousman (SAW II-IV, MOTHER'S DAY) and writer / actor Terrance Zdunich had no where to go but down — ALL THE WAY DOWN… TO HELL. These showbiz black sheep invite you dive into the ashes with them on their groundbreaking, new musical film fusion event, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL.

In THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL, sinners are invited to a theme park where they endure the repetition of their transgressions. What chances do a conniving kleptomaniac, a gullible teenager, and an obsessed father stand when facing their own moral failings? Lucifer and his colorful cast of singing carnies invite you to grab a ticket to THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL to find out!

Featuring twelve original songs written by Zdunich and Saar Hendelman, THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL is directed by Bousman, produced by Sean E Demott and Joseph Bishara (Insidious), and stars Victoriandustrial rocker Emilie Autumn, Dayton Callie (Sons Of Anarchy, Deadwood), M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan (of the Grammy award winning, cult metal giants Slipknot), Briana Evigan (Step Up 2), Sean Patrick Flanery (The Boondock Saints), Maggie “Captain Maggots” Lally and The Blessed Contessa (of The Bloody Crumpets), J LaRose (Insidious), Jessica Lowndes (90210), Mighty Mike Murga (of Mini Kiss), internet star Hannah Minx, Ivan Moody (of the chart-topping heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch), Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects), Ogre (of the legendary industrial band Skinny Puppy), Marc Senter (The Lost), Paul Sorvino (Goodfellas), Alexa Vega (Spy Kids), and Zdunich.

And now, roaring on a cinema-smashing North American tour, THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL is pulling into Montreal for a special Sunday night midnight event at Fantasia. There will be sideshow performers, a costume contest (dress up, dress down, dress crazy!) and all kinds of additional live and projected surprises. Your ringleaders for the evening will be Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrance Zdunich, live in the creeping flesh, and they will be bringing friends, including Bill Moseley. It's all going down Sunday July 22 at 12:10 AM (24:10) at the Concordia Hall Theatre.

NOTE: For this special event, tickets will not be available at the Fantasia box office or through our usual networks, they will only be available through THE DEVIL'S CARNIVAL's Eventbrite interface: http://tdc_montreal-eorg.eventbrite.com/

For more info, visit TheDevilsCarnival.com.

Universal Pictures UK recently released a couple of stills and the quad poster for "A Fantastic Fear of Everything". The film will be making its north american premiere at this years Fantasia International Film Festival. "Shaun of the Dead" star Simon Pegg headlines the film along with Sheridan Smith, Clare Higgins, Amara Karan, Paul Freeman.

"A Fantastic Feat of Everything" makes it north american premiere at the Concordia Hall Theatre in Montreal, CA on July 31st at 5:15PM.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.fantasticfearofeverythingmovie.co.uk/.

"Excision" is a film that we've previously showcased during our Sundance 2012 coverage. Since then, the film was picked up for distribution by Anchor Bay Films and a couple of new stills and the film's poster was released. AnnaLynne McCord, Traci Lords, John Waters, Marlee Matlin, Malcolm McDowell, Roger Bart and Ray Wise.

"Excision" will be screening at the Concordia Hall Theatre on August 4th at 9:35. If you can make it to the screening, "Excision" is slated to hit theaters in limited release sometime this year. Director Richard Bates Jr. and AnnaLynne McCord will be hand to host the screening.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://www.excisionmovie.com/

Anchor Bay Films and Blancbiehn Productions recently released a couple of stills for "The Victim", which is playing at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival. The film marks the directorial debut for actor Michael Biehn,who was last seen in Xavier Gens' "The Divide". He also stars in the film with wife Jennifer Blanc-Biehn and Danielle Harris.

The screening for "The Victim" will take place on July 23rd at the J.A. De Seve Theatre in Montreal, Canada with a 10:00PM showtime. The screening will be hosted by actress/producerJennifer Blanc-Biehn and actor/writer/director Michael Biehn.

If you can't make it for the screening, "The Victim" will hit DVD and Blu-Ray on September 18th in the states.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://grindhousethevictim.com

Plot Synopsis:

With an unexpected crack, an afternoon in the woods flies off the handle and goes shockingly awry, leaving Annie (Jennifer Blanc-Biehn) scrambling through untamed wilderness, seeking refuge with anyone daft enough to lend her help. Luckily, a quiet hermit named Kyle (Michael Biehn) hears her screams and, after ample pleading, decides to conceal the terrified woman in his secluded mountain home. But as he quickly discovers, Annie’s being hunted by a duo of badge-wielding baddies (Ryan Honey and Denny Kirkwood) who want nothing more than to give her a permanent right to remain silent. From then on, it’s a twisted game of cat-and-mouse as Annie and her reclusive guardian come up with an unrelenting series of ploys aimed at taking out their determined pursuers. But as the blood starts flowing and the tension steadily mounts, the lines between victim, protector, and attacker blur — and the film’s ambiguous title starts to apply to just about everyone who pops up onscreen.

Walker Pictures recently released stills and the official poster for "Dead Sushi", which is playing at this year's Fantasia International Film Festival. The film is the latest from director Noboru Iguchi, who has directed the out of control films "Mutant Squad Girls" and "The Machine Girl"

The screening will take place on July 22nd at the Concordia Hall Theatre in Montreal, Canada with a 7:10PM showtime. The screening will be hosted by director Noboru Iguchi, Actress Rina Takeda, Executive Producer Katsumi Otani, Producer Mana Fukui and Composer Vasuhiko Fukuda.

For more information on this film, you can visit the film's official website at: http://deadsushi.com

Plot Synopsis:

Keiko, daughter of a famous sushi chef, leaves home to escape his overbearing training in both sushi-making and martial arts. Finding work at a rural inn, she is bullied by the staff and ridiculed by the guests, including the president of Komatsu Pharmaceuticals, who has come to the inn for a vacation with his associates. Little do they know, however, that disgruntled Komatsu researcher Yamada has followed them there with designs on revenge, using a serum he developed that can awaken the murderous instincts of fish on rice, creating…killer sushi! Bloodthirsty tuna and squid soon descend upon the humans, killing many and turning the remainder into zombie-like creatures. Keiko, joined by the inn’s former sushi chef Sawada, uses her fighting skills against the creatures in an attempt to escape with a handful of uninfected survivors. But Yamada has another deadly surprise for them…can Keiko and Sawada defeat both him and his flying killers?