The festival opened with audience favourite, Takashi Miike’s, North American premiere of FOR LOVE’S SAKE, which was only the first in a series of exciting special events that took place over the course of the festival. The festival closed with the Canadian premiere of the new 3D stop-motion comedy/thriller from animation studio LAIKA, with Directors Sam Fell and Chris Butler in town to present PARANORMAN, in collaboration with Alliance Vivafilm.

Other memorable events included: a master class on Hong Kong cinema with legendary film scholar, David Bordwell, who also hosted a special screening of LA JETÉE in memory of Chris Marker, and was honoured with a Lifetime Excellence Award; a mini-tribute to Jennifer Lynch with the world premiere of CHAINED and the Quebec premiere of DESPITE THE GODS; the world premiere launch of a special all-star touring poster show, IF THEY CAME FROM WITHIN: AN ALTERNATIVE HISTORY OF CANADIAN HORROR; a retrospective celebrating the centennial of Nikkatsu, Japan’s oldest and most influential studio, presented in collaboration with the Cinémathèque québécoise and the Festival du nouveau cinéma; a special midnight screening of THE DEVIL’S CARNIVAL, featuring sideshow performers; the debut of two new programming sections: AXIS, devoted to international animation cinema, and ACTION!, highlighting action films in our lineup; the official program launch and outdoor projections hosted in collaboration with the Société des arts technologiques (SAT); DJ XL5’S ITALIAN ZAPPIN’ PARTY, a program celebrating the best and the worst (and the best of the worst!) of Italian genre film; and, finally, the world premiere screening of the HD restored Quebec cult genre film, DANS LE VENTRE DU DRAGON, in the presence of director Yves Simoneau, and actors: Michel Côté, Rémy Girard, Pierre Curzi, Andrée Lachapelle and David La Haye.

The 16th anniversary programming was our broadest and most exciting yet. More than 50% of our feature length films were world, international, North American or Canadian premieres (82 out of a total of 160). Among this impressive selection from over 36 countries, were 20 world premieres, including Jordan Galland’s ALTER EGOS, Jennifer Lynch’s CHAINED, Teller’s PLAY DEAD, Valentín Javier Diment’s MEMORY OF THE DEAD, Steve Kerr’s COLOMBARIUM, Charles de Lauzirika’s CRAVE, Paul Hough’s THE HUMAN RACE, Eron Sheean’s ERRORS OF THE HUMAN BODY, Patricio Valladares’ HIDDEN IN THE WOODS and Noboru Iguchi’s DEAD SUSHI. Also memorable were Kern Saxton’s SUSHI GIRL and Kevin & Matthew McManus’ FUNERAL KINGS, which were 2 of the 5 international premieres. Also worth noting were the 12 North American premieres, including Óskar Thór Axelsson’s BLACK’S GAME, Steffen Haars & Flip Van der Kuil’s NEW KIDS NITRO, Koji Wakamatsu’s 11/25 THE DAY MISHIMA CHOSE HIS OWN FATE, John Cairns’ SCHOOLGIRL APOCALYPSE, Wuershan’s PAINTED SKIN:THE RESURRECTION and Daigo Matsui’s AFRO TANAKA. Fantasia fans were also treated to Richard Bates Jr.’s EXCISION, Amiel Courtin-Wilson’s HAIL, Justin Benson & Aaron Scott Moorhead’s RESOLUTION, Shunichiro Miki’s THE WARPED FOREST, Ciarán Foy’s CITADEL, and Alex de la Iglesia’s AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, 6 films out of 45 which had Canadian premieres at the festival. William Friedkin’s KILLER JOE, Casey Walker’s A LITTLE BIT ZOMBIE, Michael Peterson’s LLOYD THE CONQUEROR, and Juan Martínez Moreno’s GAME OF WEREWOLVES were 4 exciting films among 44 to have their Quebec premieres at Fantasia.

The festival also kept up its tradition of inviting more guests each year, with a record-breaking 150 directors, actors, screenwriters and producers coming to the festival to present their films at this edition. Iconoclastic director Jennifer Lynch (SURVEILLANCE), was on hand for the world premiere of her film CHAINED, as well as the documentary DESPITE THE GODS. Michael Biehn (ALIENS, THE TERMINATOR) attended the festival for a second year in a row to introduce the world premiere of his directorial debut THE VICTIM, as well as present SUSHI GIRL with fellow cast and crew members: Mark Hamill (STAR WARS), Tony Todd (CANDYMAN), James Duval (DONNIE DARKO), Noah Hathaway (THE NEVERENDING STORY), Andy Mackenzie (SHOOT ’EM UP), Co-Writer / Producer / Actor Destin Pfaff, producers Neal Fisher and Suren M. Seron, and Director / Co-Writer Kern Saxton. Noboru Iguchi (KARATE ROBO-ZABORGAR) returned once again to Fantasia to present two films: ZOMBIE ASS and the World Premiere of DEAD SUSHI, accompanied by actress and martial artist Rina Takeda (HIGH-KICK GIRL). Arnab Chaudhuri also came a long distance to present his film ARJUN: THE WARRIOR PRINCE, as did DOOMSDAY BOOK Co-Director / Co-Writer Yim Pil-sung, THE KING OF PIGS Director / Writer / Editor Yeon Sang-ho, and THE WARPED FOREST Director / Co-Writer / Producer Shunichiro Miki, while Director, regular John Woo collaborator, and 40-year veteran editor of Hong Kong action films, David Wu (HARD BOILED, RED CLIFF) hosted the Canadian premiere of COLD STEEL and received a special Legendary Action Editor Award. Buddy Giovinazzo (COMBAT SHOCK) was in town to present A NIGHT OF NIGHTMARES, while Duane Graves and Justin Meeks (THE WILD MAN OF THE NAVIDAD) presented their film BONEBOYS, and the great American illusionist, Teller (PENN AND TELLER) performed live, logic-defying, feats, along with star Todd Robbins, at the screening of their film PLAY DEAD. Award-winning Special Edition DVD producer, and frequent Ridley Scott collaborator, Charles de Lauzirika (BLADE RUNNER SPECIAL EDITION DVD), made his first Fantasia appearance to host the screening of his directorial debut CRAVE. In a rare, tantalizing appearance, director HPG (ON NE DEVRAIT PAS EXISTER, LES MOUVEMENTS DU BASSIN) presented his new film IL N’Y A PAS DE RAPPORT SEXUEL. Experienced Canadian actor Stephen McHattie (PONTYPOOL) was in no less than three films at Fantasia this year: A LITTLE BIT ZOMBIE, EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL and THE TALL MAN. Actor Michael Eklund (THE DIVIDE) was back at the festival with the world premiere of ERRORS OF THE HUMAN BODY. Danny Masterson (MEN AT WORK, THAT ‘70S SHOW), Kris Lemche (FINAL DESTINATION 3), Joey Kern (CABIN FEVER) and Brooke Nevin (BREAKOUT KINGS, CALL ME FITZ) were all in town, along with director Jordan Galland, to present ALTER EGOS; Wunderkind director Richard Bates Jr. and leading actress AnnaLynne McCord (90210) were on hand for EXCISION; Mike Smith (TRAILER PARK BOYS) mingled with local LARP’ers at the LLOYD THE CONQUEROR screening; and Casper Van Dien (WATCH OVER ME, STARSHIP TROOPERS) was in town presenting THE PACT and STARSHIP TROOPERS: INVASION.

The festive atmosphere of Fantasia’s 16th edition will live on for several directors whose acquisition deals were announced during the festival: Boris Rodriguez, the Montreal director of EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL, is celebrating his new contract for a theatrical release in the United States with Music Box Films. As well, Kern Saxton’s SUSHI GIRL was recently picked up by Phase 4 and Magnolia, while Quentin Dupieux’s WRONG will be distributed by Drafthouse Films.

The last juries have finished deliberating on this year’s competitions and are pleased to announce the following winners:

AQCC Jury – Asian Section
President: Daniel Racine, with Élodie François and Serge Abiaad

AQCC Prize: 11/25 THE DAY MISHIMA CHOSE HIS OWN FATE by Koji Wakamatsu
For its re-evaluation of biopic conventions, choosing to rely on a sober staging and a stripped-down screenplay. A film carried by the grace and assurance of its main actor Arata Iura, who contributes to the intensity and exaltation of this unique portrait of quiet strength.

Special Mentions:

HENGE by Hajime Ohata
For restoring kaijū eiga to its former glory, and doing so in such modest circumstances.

MONDOMANILA by Khavn De La Cruz
For the accuracy with which the director looks at his country’s most disadvantaged, uncompromising but full of humanity.

Séquences Jury – International Section
President: Donato Totaro, with Pascal Grenier and Ismaël Houdassine

Séquences Prize: HAIL by Amiel Courtin-Wilson
For its original blend of intimate poetry and its bold formal experimentation. For its austere approach and visceral performances by non-professional actors. And for its touching portrayal of a former prisoner struggling with his demons.

L’Écran Fantastique Jury
Yves Rivard

L’Écran Fantastique Prize: BLOOD-C: THE LAST DARK by Naoyoshi Shiotani
The amazing editing and horrifying Lovecraftian bestiary, as well as attention to textures and lighting make this production a great animation film which caters as much to fans of fantasy horror as Japanese animation.

Audience Awards:

Best Asian Feature: ACE ATTORNEY by Takashi Miike (Gold), VULGARIA by Pang Ho-Cheung (Silver), DRAGON (WU XIA) by Peter Chan (Bronze), ROBO-G by Shinobu Yaguchi (Bronze) (TIE)

Best European / North-South American Feature: GAME OF WEREWOLVES by Juan Martinez Moreno (Gold), JUAN OF THE DEAD by Alejandro Brugués (Silver), TURN ME ON, GODDAMMIT! by Jannicke Systad Jacobsen (Bronze)

Best Short Film: ATTACK OF THE BRAINSUCKER by Sid Zanforlin (Gold), MATHILDA by Matthew Zuang (Silver), THE CAPTURED BIRD by Jovanka Vuckovic (Bronze), PETITE MORT by Louise Archambault (Bronze), STAY AT HOME DAD by Andrew Kasch and John Skipp (Bronze) (TIE)

Best Canadian or Quebecois Feature: COLD BLOODED by Jason Lapeyre

Best Animated Feature: ASURA by Keiichi Sato, A LETTER TO MOMO by Hiroyuki Okiura (TIE)

Best Documentary: WE ARE LEGION: THE STORY OF THE HACKTIVISTS by Brian Knappenberger

Most Innovative Feature: WRONG by Quentin Dupieux

Guru Prize for the Most Energetic Feature: SINGHAM by Rohit Shetty

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 Christians
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.

Ronal the Barbarian
2012-07-21 11:00

Fists of the White Lotus
2012-07-21 13:25

Sushi Girl
2012-07-21 19:00

Dead Sushi
2012-07-22 19:10

Funeral Kings
2012-07-22 19:55

Possession
2012-07-22 20:30

My Amityville Horror
2012-07-22 22:10

Memory of the Dead
2012-07-23 19:15

We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists
2012-07-23 22:00

Punch
2012-07-24 15:25

Amok
2012-07-24 19:50

Crave
2012-07-24 21:55

The Pact
2012-07-25 17:00

Citadel
2012-07-25 21:50

Toad Road
2012-07-26 19:30

A Night of Nightmares
2012-07-26 21:45

My Amityville Horror
2012-07-27 17:05

Afro Tanaka
2012-07-27 19:20

Play Dead
2012-07-27 21:45

Errors of the Human Body
2012-07-28 19:05

V/H/S
2012-07-28 21:10

Zombie 108
2012-07-28 23:59

Sunny
2012-07-29 17:25

Beast
2012-07-29 20:00

Small Gauge Trauma 2012
2012-07-30 19:35

Schoolgirl Apocalypse
2012-07-30 22:05

A Fantastic Fear of Everything
2012-07-31 17:15

Killer Joe
2012-07-31 22:05

The Tall Man
2012-08-01 13:00

You Are the Apple of My Eye
2012-08-02 17:25

La Nuit Excentrique 2: la suite
2012-08-02 21:50

Replicas
2012-08-02 19:35

Ace Attorney
2012-08-02 22:15

Excision
2012-08-04 21:35

Turn Me on Goddammit
2012-08-05 15:35

Columbarium
2012-08-05 17:10

Poongsan
2012-08-05 19:20

The Fourth Dimension
2012-08-06 20:00

Hidden in the Woods
2012-08-06 22:15

Silenced
2012-08-07 21:45

Inseparable
2012-08-09 19:15

Press release
For immediate release

FIRST EDITION OF FANTASIA INDUSTRY RENDEZ-VOUS WRAPS UP,
TWO PRODUCTION DEALS ALREADY ANNOUNCED

Montreal, Wednesday, August 1, 2012 – The inaugural edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival’s Industry Rendez-Vous wrapped-up this past Sunday in Montreal with great success. It attracted over 250 members of the international film industry, with the greatest number of guests hailing from the US, but there were also many attendees who came from as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Denmark, ensuring that the market area was buzzing with business meetings over the four days of the event.

The Frontières International Co-Production market presented 14 projects in its Frontières line-up and 10 in its Off-Frontières line-up, hailing from Quebec and Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.

The market’s achievements can already be felt, as two deals have been announced, just two days after the merket’s end.

After screening their new thriller THE VICTIM on July 23 to rave responses, Blanc Biehn Productions (USA) announced they will be making the English language remake of Patricio Valladares’ EN LAS AFUERAS DE LA CIUDADA (HIDDEN IN THE WOODS) which will have its World Premiere at Fantasia on August 6 this year. Michel Biehn will star in the remake, which will be written by the original writers and creators of the Spanish version of the film, and will be shot in Chile by Patricio Valladares and Andrea Gavaletto. Jennifer Blanc Biehn and Michael Biehn will produce. Production is set to begin at the end of 2012 on location in Chile. HIDDEN IN THE WOODS was found and programmed for the festival by Fantasia co-director Mitch Davis.

Metaluna Production’s Fabrice Lambot (France) has made a deal with TCB Films’ Simon Trottier (Québec) for an international co-production of SÈVE by Fabrice Blin, one of the Frontières projects. Shooting is planned in Canada for 2013.

“I’m overjoyed that our first edition of the Rendez-Vous has already yielded results,” says Stéphanie Trépanier, Fantasia’s Market Director. “Over the course of the weekend, I received many testimonies on how such an event, with a focus on genre film production, was missing from the festival circuit and how Frontières helped tremendously to bring attention to film projects and talents that need a little push in the right direction. I’m convinced that many more projects will ink deals over the course of the next few weeks.”

The Fantasia International Film Festival still has 9 days and many premieres left to go, before it closes on August 9. Its 2012 programming, comprised of 160 feature films, included 20 World Premieres, 5 International Premieres, 12 North American Premieres and 45 Canadian Premieres.

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In a poor area of Seoul, Wan-deuk lives in a run-down house with his hunchbacked father and simple-minded uncle, two unemployed tap dancers reduced to performing in public markets. The withdrawn 17-year-old, who grew up without ever knowing his mother, chafes against his family’s social and financial situation, and vents his frustration by punishing anyone who attempts to judge or humiliate his family. At school, Wan-deuk is last in his class, leaving him vulnerable to the harsh remarks of his teacher, the caustic Dong-joo, whose straight talk in class would raise many a politically correct eyebrow. Dong-joo never lets Wan-deuk be for a second, to the despair of the young man, who is forced to endure his teacher’s jibes the whole way home because they are neighbours. But behind his bluntness, Dong-joo hides a heart of gold and it leads him to take the young man under his wing to get him out of his shell. With all the subtlety he’s known for, he enters the boy’s life like a truck in a pottery museum. In quick succession, he finds Wan-deuk’s mother (a Filipino immigrant), steers him into kickboxing to release his aggression and begins the process of teaching him to love himself. Against all expectations, the two men develop a shaky bond.

If you’re in need of restoring your faith in humanity in two hours of cinema capable of eliciting as many gales of laughter as it does tears shed for the right reasons, PUNCH is your prescription. This feel-good movie celebrates the decency of a community united in the face of others’ judgements — about poverty, ethnicity, solitude and handicaps of all kinds — and does it with so much verve and humanity it could instil empathy in the worst shark on Wall Street. Adapted from a popular novel, the rhythmic screenplay by Kim Dong-woo (AN EYE FOR AN EYE) is full of absolutely delectable dialogue (you’ll laugh till you cry at the earthy verbal jousting between the protagonists and a hysterically vulgar neighbour) and a cluster of sympathetic subplots that don’t weigh the story down in the slightest. At the heart of a formidable cast portraying a gallery of unforgettable characters, Yoo Ah-in (ANTIQUE) holds his own admirably before the immense Kim Yun-seok (the pimp in THE CHASER), who delivers a remarkable motormouth performance that elicits hilarity with the twitch of an eyebrow. In this socially turbulent time, PUNCH is the perfect antidote to all-pervasive cynicism.

PUNCH screens July 21 at 7:40pm and again on July 24 at 3:25pm both in the Salle JA DeSeve. More info, including images and trailer links, on the film description page HERE.

We are pleased to invite you to the exclusive World Premiere launch of a unique national art exposition, presented by Rue Morgue Magazine, the Fantasia International Film Festival and the Cinémathèque québecoise:

IF THEY CAME FROM WITHIN
An Alternative History of Canadian Horror
Vernissage cocktail: Friday, July 20 from 5:00-7:00PM
At the Cinémathèque québecoise (335 de Maisonneuve Blvd. East)
Free Exhibition Dates: July 20-29

In attendance, filmmakers Rodrigo Gudino, Maurice Devereaux, Karim Hussain, Lee Demarbre, and Brett Kelly (TBC)

With artwork by: Beeforeo, Rupert Bottenberg, Angus Byers, Donald Caron, Jason Edmiston, Justin Erickson, Vince Marcone, Mathew Marigold, Richard Patmore, Martin Plante, Ghoulish Gary Pullin, Paige Reynolds, Eric Robillard, Mathieu Verreault, Mark Unterberger, whatisadam and James White.
Please join us to mingle with numerous festival guests and organizers over a drink and a snack!

About the Exhibit:
Imagine an alternative universe of Canadian horror movies that didn’t get made, couldn’t get made and maybe even shouldn’t get made… but we’d still love to see. Rue Morgue Magazine Editor-in-Chief Dave Alexander brings some of Canada and Quebec’s most celebrated genre filmmakers together with some of the country’s best designers and illustrators to create a gallery of poster art for Maple Syrup genre films that don’t exist.Jason Eisener (HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN) dreams up a post-apocalyptic, gangster, man-fish odyssey. Vincenzo Natali (SPLICE) offers his own cross- border version of BLUE SUNSHINE. Maurice Devereaux (END OF THE LINE) draws on Quebec folklore for a story of a supernatural child-killer named the Bonesetter. Bruce McDonald (HARDCORE LOGO) and author Tony Burgess (People Still Live In Cashtown Corners) imagine two sequels to PONTYPOOL (the first of which is actually a part of Fantasia’s new international co-produc- tion market!). Lee Demarbre (SMASH CUT) brings sex, cannibalism and espion- age to Parliament Hill in his hoser-happy EMANNUELLE movie. Plus more from filmmakers Eric Tessier (5150 ELM’S WAY), Karim Hussain (LA BELLE BETE, cinematographer of Brandon Cronenberg’s ANTIVIRAL), Astron-6 (FATHER’S DAY), Rodrigo Gudiño (THE FACTS IN THE CASE OF MISTER HOLLOW), George Mihalka (MY BLOODY VALENTINE), Brett Kelly (MY DEAD GIRLFRIEND), Donna Davis (NIGHTMARE FACTORY) and several from Alexander himself. The film- maker’s original concepts will appear on display in their own words, mounted on foamcore in both French and English.

Featuring original art created by: Beeforeo, Rupert Bottenberg, Angus Byers, Donald Caron, Jason Edmiston, Justin Erickson, Vince Marcone, Mathew Marigold, Richard Patmore, Martin Plante, Ghoulish Gary Pullin, Paige Reynolds, Eric Robillard, Mathieu Verreault, Mark Unterberger, whatisadam and James White. Expect additional multimedia surprises, including original soundtrack recordings from Montreal musician Conrad Simon. Montrealers will get a special chance to see this first, with many of the creators present, before the show embarks on a nationwide gallery tour.

See more info and artwork on the film event page HERE.

Individualistic, cutting-edge genre cinema from Canada is front and centre at this year’s Fantasia fest. 

Rob Grant (director of the crazy impressive Super 8 zombie epic YESTERDAY) and his team are back – this time with a proper budget – with the positively lunatic, blood-soaked comedy MON AMI (World Premiere).  Selma Blair, Josh Close and Rachel Miner star in Jeremy Power Regimbal’s terrifying home invasion thriller REPLICAS (Canadian Premiere), a standout at Tribeca this year. David Boutin and Maxime Dumontier star as a pair of estranged brothers who exorcise their family demons while forced to spend a week together as a condition to an inheritance in Steve Kerr’s gripping COLOMBARIUM (World Premiere). Enter the broken mind of a serial killer who desperately wants to be a good person in Braden Croft’s compellingly terrific breakout HEMORHHAGE (Quebec Premiere).

Canada has now got an ERASERHEAD (or BEGOTTEN!) to call its own in the form of Seth Smith’s hallucinatory and wildly original starfish-tripping LOW LIFE (World Premiere). Boris Rodriguez’s Tribeca film fest hit EDDIE: THE SLEEPWALKING CANNIBAL (Canadian Premiere) is a rare co-prod between Denmark and Canada that depicts a humorously macabre solution to writer’s block and stars Thure Lindhardt, Georgina Reill and Stephen McHattie. McHattie also appears in Casey Walker’s award-winning A LITTLE BIT ZOMBIE (Quebec Premiere), a romantic zombie comedy (yes!) in which an undead outbreak is launched through mosquitos.  The great McHattie appears once again in Pascal Laugier’s THE TALL MAN (Canadian Premiere) starring alongside Jessica Biel in an unconventional, disturbing and politically-charged new chiller from the inimitable Laugier, whose previous film, MARTYRS, has already become a modern classic of the genre.

A motely pack of misfits defend the earth against Count Draculon’s robo-Nazi-vampires from Hell in Steven Kostanski’s completely insane (and multiple award-winning!) MANBORG (Quebec Premiere). A porn producer tries his hand at producing a children’s puppet show in Aaron Houston’s raunchy mockumentary THE SUNFLOWER HOUR (Montreal Premiere).

A lone female cop (DEVIL’s Zoie Palmer) faces down against murderous thugs in the nightmarishly vast isolation ward of a major urban hospital in Jason Lapeyre’s COLD BLOODED (Quebec Premiere). Michael Peterson’s LLOYD THE CONQUEROR (Quebec Premiere) is a riotous look at the world of LARPing (Live Action Role Playing) starring Mike “Bubbles” Smith and featuring a nearly wall-to-wall soundtrack of indie Canadian metal bands. Finally, Andrew Bush’s ROLLER TOWN (Quebec Premiere) is an inspired, eccentric sendup of early ‘80s disco films that turned endless heads at Slamdance this year.