Hey Yo, Draven here.
We have the entire lineup for the 2013 Fantasia International Film Festival that runs in Montreal, from July 18th, 2013 to August 7th, 2013. A lot of interesting films here and those of you lucky enough to attend, are going to have a lot to watch over three weeks.
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And now, without further ado:
The Fantasia International Film Festival is proud to announce the rest of
our 120-feature lineup that comprises our 2013 event, along with a string
of additional details that mark our 17th edition as a standout. Be sure to
visit our website for detailed essays on every title announced here, as
well as all films previously disclosed over the last weeks. Fantasia will
engulf the city of Montreal from July 18 – August 7, 2013.
Before we get started on titles…
*MEET OUR 2013 JURIES*
* *
*MAIN COMPETITION FOR THE CHEVAL NOIR AWARD FOR BEST FILM*
Jury President: *Laura Kern* (Critic, Curator, managing editor, Film
Comment)
*Jean-Pierre Bergeron* (Actor, Director, Screenwriter)
*Samuel Jamier* (Co-Director of the New York Asian Film Festival,
Programmer at Japan Society)
*Jarod Neece* (Senior Programmer & Operations Manager, SXSW Film Festival)
*Travis Stevens* (Producer, CEO and founder of Snowfort Pictures)
*
*
*FIRST FILM COMPETITON FOR THE NEW FLESH AWARD FOR BEST FIRST FILM*
Jury President: *Charles de Lauzirika* (Filmmaker)
*Ramachandra Borcar* aka *DJ Ram *(Composer and Musician)
*Manon Dumais* (Journalist, Voir, Télé-Québec)
*Jason Lapeyre* (Filmmaker)
*Stéphane du Mesnildot* (Author, Journalist, teacher, Les Cahiers du cinema)
*ANIMATION COMPETITION FOR THE SATOSHI KON AWARD FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN
ANIMATION*
Jury President: *Patrick Bouchard* (Filmmaker)
*Luc Chamberland* (Filmmaker, writer and teacher)
*Keltie Duncan* (Programmer and Technical Coordinator, Ottawa International
Animation Festival)
*INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM COMPETITION*
Jury President: *Sten-Kristian Saluveer* (Programmer at the Tallinn Black
Nights Film Festival, Director of the Haapsalu Horror and Fantasy Film
Festival, representative for the Estonian Film Commission FilmEstonia and
Producer)
*Garrick Dion* (Senior VP of Development, Bold Films)
*Frédérick Maheux* (Filmmaker)
And now, onto the films!
*HORROR IS CHILD’S PLAY – DON MANCINI’S CURSE OF CHUCKY (WORLD PREMIERE)*
A rarity among genre franchises, the *CHILD’S PLAY* series (begun in 1988)
has retained the sure-handed guidance of original screenwriter/creator *Don
Mancini *throughout killer doll Chucky’s decades’-long reign of horror.
Mancini, who will be hosting our “scar-studded” world premiere, graduated
to the director’s chair with 2004’s SEED OF CHUCKY, after having co-written
or written every entry in the series. His longevity with the project is, of
course, matched by the fiendish voiceover work by the incomparable Brad
Dourif as Chucky, as well as the enduring input of producer David Kirschner
(FRAILTY). For the new CURSE, SEED OF CHUCKY FX master Tony Gardner (ARMY
OF DARKNESS, DARKMAN) brings the deadly doll back to life once more through
ingenious puppeteering work. CURSE OF CHUCKY returns Chucky to the scarier
roots of the series’ initial entries, going more for the jugular than the
funnybone. World Premiere. Hosted by Writer / Director Don Mancini and
select members of the cast.
*GET READY, GET WILD FOR GATCHAMAN (INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE)*
At last, after years of rumours and dashed hopes, it’s here - the
live-action feature film based on *Tatsuo Yoshida*’s 1970s anime TV
series SCIENCE
NINJA TEAM GATCHAMAN… better known on these shores as *BATTLE OF THE PLANETS
*! The brand new, big-screen GATCHAMAN is directed by *Toya Sato* (the
GAMBLING APOCALYPSE KAIJI films) Written by Yusuke Watanabe (20TH CENTURY
BOYS, GANTZ), boasts visual effects by Takashi Yamazaki (SPACE BATTLESHIP
YAMATO) and features a cast that includes Tori Matsuzaka (a Super Sentai
Series veteran), Go Ayano (CROWS ZERO 2, HELTER SKELTER) and Japanese It
Girl du jour Ayame Gouriki. Don’t walk, don’t run —fly to Fantasia to catch
the Japanese pop-fantasy classic revisited, screening here for the first
time anywhere outside Japan!
*FANTASIA TEAMS UP WITH JUST FOR LAUGHS TO SHOWCASE OUTDOOR PROJECTIONS OF
SILENT COMEDY CLASSICS WITH LIVE MUSICAL ACCOMPANIMENT*
For one night only, on the evening of July 22, Montreal cinephiles will
have a rare chance to experience a trio of silent-era comedy masterpieces
starring *Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton *and *Laurel & Hardy*, projected
under the stars on a giant outdoor screen, with live piano accompaniment by
the renowned composer *Gabriel Thibaudeau*. Among his many
accomplishments, Thibaudeau has written, conducted and performed silent
film score accompaniment at the Cannes Film Festival (in 1998, for Paul
Leni’s THE MAN WHO LAUGHS) and the Toronto International Film Festival (in
2005, for Robert Flaherty’s NANOOK OF THE NORTH) and his work appears on
numerous DVD and Blu-Ray releases of silent cinema classics. No stranger to
the Fantasia universe, Thibaudeau wrote and conducted the orchestral
accompaniment for our gala METROPOLIS and PHANTOM OF THE OPERA events. For
this new event, which we’re calling LES ROIS DU RIRE (the Kings of Comedy),
Thibaudeau will be live-scoring Charlie Chaplin’s THE IMMIGRANT (1919),
Buster Keaton’s ONE WEEK (1920) and Leo McCarey’s LIBERTY (1929). This
special event is a co-presentation between Fantasia and the Just For Laughs
comedy festival, in collaboration with Archambault and the Cinémathèque
québécoise. Screenings will take place on JFL’s Videotron Stage in the Quartier
de Spectacles in downtown Montreal.
* *
* *
*DOCUMENTARIES FROM THE EDGE RETURNS*
Fantasia’s popular doc section is back. Along with the previously announced
World Premiere of *Richard Stanley*’s extraordinary *L’AUTRE MONDE *(The
Otherworld), audiences can look forward to:
*I AM DIVINE (USA) Dir: Jeffrey Schwartz*
A rollicking and touching documentary tribute to Harris Glen Milstead, more
famously known as *Divine*, the 300-pound transvestite performance artist
who found a lifelong collaborator in filmmaker friend *John Waters*, the
two transforming underground cinema with boundary-pushing “trash” works. A
glorious celebration of an extraordinary outsider story from the director
of SPINETINGLER: THE WILLIAM CASTLE STORY. Official Selection: SXSW,
Sheffield Doc/Fest 2013. Quebec Premiere.
*THE KILLING OF AMERICA (USA) Dir: Sheldon Renan *
A special retro screening of Sheldon Renan and Leonard Schrader’s
transgressive powerhouse documentary about the darker side of life in the
late ‘70s USA. This screening is playing as part of a special book launch
event for *Snuff movies : Naissance d’une légende urbaine*, written by
Antonio Dominguez Leiva and Fantasia’s own Simon Laperrière.
*MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS (USA) Dir: Tom Berninger*
What happens when a rock star invites his brother to accompany him on tour?
Chaos, simply! Opening Film of the Tribeca Film Festival, the hilarious
MISTAKEN FOR STRANGERS is a triumph of cinema vérité that captures like no
other film the complex ties between siblings. Tom Berninger puts us front
row backstage, presenting *The National* as they truly are. This is nothing
less than 2013’s answer to D.A. Pennebaker’s DON’T LOOK BACK. Official
Selection: Hot Docs 2013. Quebec Premiere
*REWIND THIS! (USA) Dir: Josh Johnson*
A passionate geek doc that not only follows the life and death of the
videocassette, but also the amazingly complex backstory of how it became a
format for the ages - transforming from after-thought into obsession.
Features hilarious interviews with Frank Henenlotter, Jason Eisener, Atom
Egoyan, Cassandra Peterson, Charles Band, Don May Jr, Zack Carlson, David
Gregory… A joy. Official Selection: SXSW 2013. Canadian Premiere. Hosted by
Director Josh Johnson, Producer Carolee Mitchell & Cinematographer / Editor
Christopher Palmer.
*
*
PLUS two phenomenal documentary shorts:* **Josh Koury *and *Myles Kane*’s *WE
WILL LIVE AGAIN* (Official Selection: Tribeca Film Festival 2013) and *Adam
Abouaccar*’s *MINIACI: DOLBY OF THE IMAGE* (winner at the 40th Concordia
Film Festival).
On the subject of shorts…
*WRAP YOUR RETINAS AROUND OVER 200 SHORTS*
Over the course of our three-week run, Fantasia will showcase over 200
short films from around the world, including astonishing new works
from *Katsuhiro
Otomo *(AKIRA), *Robert Morgan *(BOBBY YEAH),* **Jörg Buttgereit *
(NEKROMANTIK),* Masaaki Yuasa *(MIND GAME), *Sofia Carrillo *(PRITA
NOIRE),*RKSS
*(T IS FOR TURBO)* *and* Yeun Sang-ho *(THE KING OF PIGS). Seek them out in
our assortment of short film showcases – *DJ XL5’s DECADENT ZAPPIN’ PARTY,
FAR EAST FRAGMENTS, THE OUTER LIMITS OF ANIMATION 2013, SLIPSTREAMS AND
ECLECTIC SHEEP *and *SMALL GAUGE TRAUMA 2013*, as well as in front of
select features and within the body of Fantasia’s *FANTASTIC WEEKEND OF
QUEBECOIS SHORTS*, the latter a parallel event that celebrates the best of
our homegrown talent.
*
*
*AN ELECTRIFYING WHIRLWIND OF STYLES AND TONES*
Behold, the final title announcements of our 2013 festival lineup!
*5-25-77 (USA) **Dir: Patrick Read Johnson***
An autobio coming-of-age tale about an aspiring fantastic film director
from smalltown USA who gets one of the first peeks at a little sci-fi
project by one *George Lucas*... Over six years in the making, this is a
true labour of love and an absolute gift from the Geek Gods. Starring John
Francis Daley, Austin Pendleton, Colleen Camp. Quebec Premiere. Hosted by
Writer / Director Patrick Read Johnson.
*AFTER SCHOOL MIDNIGHTERS (Japan) Dir: **Hitoshi Takekiyo***
A school’s morbid monsters of the night are no match for a trio of
irrepressible little girls in this charming, distinctive and eye-poppingly
weird work of 3D digital animation from Japan. Scientifically proven to
spook and amuse! Official Selection: Annecy International Animation Film
Festival 2013, Raindance Film Festival, Sitges International Fantastic Film
Festival 2012. North-American Premiere.
*THE APOLOGY KING (Japan) Dir: N**obuo Mizuta***
In this vibrant comedy of manners from director Nobuo Mizuta, Sadao Abe
(THE GREAT YOKAI WAR) stars as an eccentric motivational speaker running
the Tokyo Apology Centre, which advise in the age-old Japanese practice of
apologizing known as “dogeza”. Screenwriter Kankuro Kudo (ZEBRAMAN, PING
PONG) builds his story as a relentless escalation of cases to be tackled,
and it is in their cumulative effect that THE APOLOGY KING succeeds,
defying expectations of scale and thrusting the viewer into a complex,
absurd and hilarious supra-case in need of more fixing than a simple
apology can provide. World Premiere.
*BAD FILM (Japan) Dir: Sion Sono*
A recently unearthed and completed early Sion Sono (*LOVE EXPOSURE, SUICIDE
CLUB*) work and pieced together from more than 150 hours of footage shot on
Hi-8 video in 1995, starring the young director in a lead role, and
hundreds of members of Tokyo GAGAGA, the performance art collective he
founded in 1993. BAD FILM is not only entirely inaccurate in its title but
a shockingly assured early film. This is simply a must for any
self-respecting Sonophile, as well as one of this year’s most exciting
retro discoveries, for any fan of loud, abrasive and subversive Japanese
cinema. Official Selection: Hong Kong International Film Festival 2013.
Canadian Premiere.
*THE BATTERY (USA) Dir: Jeremy Gardner*
Exquisitely crafted, this microscopically budgeted buddy movie breathes new
life into the once stale zombie subgenre with a smart and contemplative
approach to the road movie reminiscent of the pervasive Americana and
sun-drenched pastoral atmosphere of Kelly Reichardt’s OLD JOY. WINNER:
Audience Award, Dead By Dawn 2013, Silver Scream Award, Amsterdam Fantastic
Film Festival 2013. Quebec Premiere. Hosted by Director/Writer/Actor
Jeremy Gardner & select members of the cast.
* *
*BERSERK GOLDEN AGE ARC 2: THE BATTLE FOR DOLDREY (Japan) Dir: Toshiyuki
Kubooka*
Guts, Griffiths and the Band of the Hawk hack and slash their way to the
top of the bloody heap in this spectacular animated work of medieval mayhem
that makes GAME OF THRONES seem like a pillow fight. Official Selection:
Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*BERSERK GOLDEN AGE ARC 3: DESCENT (Japan) Dir: Toshiyuki Kubooka*
Leaving the blood-soaked battlefields of medieval Midlands behind, the Band
of the Hawk are drawn ever deeper into something far more dire and
nightmarish as the manga adaptation draws to an apocalyptic close.
North-American Premiere.
*BLACK OUT (Netherlands) Dir: **Arne Toonen ***
Reformed criminal Jos Vreeswijk wakes up after his bachelor party to a gun,
a corpse, and 24 hours to retrieve a Russian mobster’s stolen drugs. A
suspenseful Dutch crime comedy reminiscent of early Guy Ritchie and Lasse
Spang Olsen. Official Selection: Fantastic Fest 2012. Canadian Premiere
*BOOMERANG FAMILY (South Korea) Dir: Song Hae-sung*
Bolstered by an amazing cast, this engaging dramedy laced with Korean trash
talk showcases a family that may be at each other’s throats, and leaves
disaster in its wake, but holds together through anything. Recently
acquired by the excellent Third Window Films in the U.K. Quebec Premiere.
*BOUNTY KILLER (USA) Dir: Henry Saine*
In the aftermath of apocalyptic Corporate Wars, it’s open season on suits
and there are plenty of warriors of the wasteland ready to collect the
rewards for their white-collar kills... this action firecracker is mad, to
the max! Exploding with charm, violence and laughs BOUNTY KILLER pops with
an entertaining comic-book vibe and a hearty love for genre cinema. From
the director of* THE LAST LOVECRAFT*. BOUNTY KILLER is the official Opening
Film of Fantasia’s 2013 Action! Section. International Premiere. Hosted by
Actors Christian Pitre and Barak Hardley.
*THE BURNING BUDDHA MAN (Japan) Dir:** Ujicha***
Gruesome abductions, a mysterious monk, monstrosities from a realm beyond
our grasp... A truly independent oddity, using the forgotten “gekimation”
(live-action paper cutout) technique. Weird, wondrous and way out there!
North-American Premiere.
* *
*BUSHIDO MAN (Japan) Dir: Takanori Tsujimoto*
Seven master fighters, seven meals to meditate on, seven noble challenges
and a whole lotta chop-socky fun in a low-budget, high- octane martial arts
delight from the man behind *HARD REVENGE MILLY!* Official Selection:
Yubari Fantastic Film Festival 2013. North-American Premiere.
Hosted by Writer/Director Takanori Tsujimoto, Actor Mitsuki Koga,
Actor/Action Director Kensuke Sonomura and actor Marc Walkow
*A COMPANY MAN (South Korea) Dir: Lim Sang-yoon*
Ji Hyeong-do is a model employee — the best hitman at his agency. A
muscular action film masterfully directed, done the way only Koreans can. A
COMPANY MAN is an auspicious feature directorial debut from Lim Sang-yoon,
Canadian Premiere.
* *
*THE COMPLEX (Japan) Dir: Hideo Nakata*
Surprising and disturbing, THE COMPLEX marks the long-awaited return to the
J-horror genre of Hideo Nakata (*RINGU, DARK WATER),* and he still has the
touch when it comes to oppressive atmosphere and disturbing sounds, but the
master has matured in both style and thematic substance. Official
Selection: International Film Festival Rotterdam 2013, Brussels
International Fantastic Film Festival 2013, Udine Far East Film Festival
2013. Canadian Premiere.
*CONFESSION OF MURDER (South Korea) Dir: Jung Byung-gil *
White-knuckle chases, ferocious fights, sharp social critique and black
humour abound in this thriller about a battle-scarred cop consumed with
busting a killer who’s become a star since publishing his confessions.
Among the most outrageously entertaining flicks of the year. Starring Jung
Jae-young (GOING BY THE BOOK, CASTAWAY ON THE MOON). WINNER: Thriller
Award, Brussels International Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*COTTAGE COUNTRY (Canada) Dir: Peter Wellington*
Till death do us part! Todd’s weekend in the great Canadian wilderness with
his fiancée is about to become a nightmare of blood-red butchery and black
comedy starring *Tyler Labine* (TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL, MONSTERS UNIVERSITY)
and *Malin Akerman* (WATCHMEN). North-American Premiere.
*DRUG WAR (Hong Kong) Dir: Johnnie To*
The great Johnnie To reunites with screenwriter Wai-Kai Fai* *to deliver a
stylish, edge-of-your-seat crime drama with the kind of perfectly
choreographed action sequences that confirm To as a true master of his
delectable art. Official Selection: Rotterdam International Film Festival
2013, Seattle International Film Festival 2013. Quebec Premiere.
*EVANGELION: 3.0 YOU CAN (NOT) REDO (Japan) Dir: Hideaki Anno*
Fourteen years have elapsed since the last film’s events — alliances have
shifted and the stakes have raised in Hideaki Anno’s masterful feature-film
revision of his challenging and amazing EVANGELION anime series!
North-American Premiere.
*FATEFUL FINDINGS (USA) Dir: Neil Breen*
Bill and Ted would agree this is the best movie on Earth and... let’s leave
it that way. Showcasing at the Nuit excentrique, Neil ''I AM HERE NOW....''
Breen's new film is the next sensation in cult cinema. To quote Alain
Resnais, “vous n'avez encore rien vu!” Official Selection: Seattle
International Film Festival 2013. International premiere.
* *
*FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY (Netherlands) Dir: R**ichard Raaphorst ** *
Soviet soldiers in enemy territory discover the grandson of Doctor
Frankenstein carrying on the family tradition, raising an army of undead
machine-men — for the Nazis! Features an eccentric performance by the great
*Karel Roden* and some of the coolest, craziest monsters you’ve seen in
years. Official Selection: Rotterdam International Film Festival 2013,
Tribeca Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
* *
*THE GANGSTER (Thailand) Dir:** Kongkiat Khomsiri***
Humane melodrama, brutal street violence, intricate criminal politics and
greasy-haired rock ’n’ roll hoodlum cool collide in this immersive
evocation of the Thai gangster scene at a dangerous, dynamic time in
history. Official Selection: Udine Far East Film Festival 2013, New York
Asian Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
* *
*THE GARDEN OF WORDS (Japan) Dir: **Makoto Shinkai***
A series of meetings in the park are the thread of this anime tale of
something like love, both deep and forever distant... A turn to realism
from *Makoto Shinkai* (*CHILDREN WHO CHASE LOST VOICES FROM DEEP BELOW*),
to many eyes the heir to Miyazaki’s throne. Canadian Premiere.
* *
*GO DOWN DEATH (USA) Dir: Aaron Schimberg*
The essence of creative madness, the experimental 16mm Black & White GO
DOWN DEATH is an impossible symphony of the macabre evocative of early Guy
Maddin and David Lynch that like a Tom Waits song will bewitch your senses.
Official Closing Film of this year’s Camera Lucida section. International
Premiere. Hosted by Director Aaron Schimberg
*LES GOUFFRES (France) Dir:** Antoine Barraud*
Fantasia proudly invites you to plunge into the impossible world of Antoine
Barraud, one of the most innovative directors to come out of France since
Marina De Van gave us the shocking DANS MA PEAU in 2002. A master at
manipulating cinematic codes of horror and the supernatural, he is hands
down the key revelation of this year’s Camera Lucida section.
North-American Premiere.
*THE GRAND HEIST (South Korea) Dir: **Kim Joo-ho *
This Korean period-piece spin on the OCEAN’S ELEVEN formula of the
elaborate, ensemble-cast crime caper flick boasts a lively pace, quick wit
and clever comedy, effective drama and exciting thrills (and a dash of
sweet romance)! WINNER: Best Film, Orient Express Competition, Fantasporto
International Fantastic Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.*
*
* *
*THE GREAT PASSAGE (Japan) Dir: **Yuya Ishii*
The director of *SAWAKO DECIDES* (winner, Best Film, Fantasia 2010)
and *MITSUKO
DELIVERS* returns with another sensitive character study of an introverted
young man throwing himself into editing an ambitious dictionary. Subtly
epic in its manner and understatedly funny in its scripting. Official
Selection: Hong Kong International Film Festival 2013, Puchon International
Fantastic Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*HATCHET III (USA) Dir: **BJ McDonnell*
Showing off-site as a special Fantasia co-presentation with Raven Banner
and Cineplex’s fantastic Sinister Cinema screening series. Hosted by Actor
/ Stuntman Kane Hodder.
*HELL BABY (USA) Dirs: **Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon*
Rob Corddry, Leslie Bibb and Keegan Michael Key star in the Sundance
comedy/horror hit about an expectant couple who move into a haunted
fixer-upper in New Orleans. Canadian Premiere.
* *
*HELTER SKELTER (Japan) Dir: **Mika Ninagawa***
LiLiCo is on the cover of every magazine, the object of lust and idolatry
for all that enter her orbit. But perfect beauty is nothing more than a
lovely nightmare. An aggressively effective, deceptively candy-coloured
portrait of sex and power, where superstar *Erika Sawajiri* delivers a
spectacular performance. Official Selection: BFI London 2012, New York
Asian Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
* *
*HK/FORBIDDEN SUPER HERO (**Japan) Dir: Yuichi Fukuda ***
Disguised by a pair of panties, the Masked Pervert is the world’s first
sex-fiend superhero! Forget Captain America, check out this delirious
pastiche loaded with lowbrow laughs. Pervert power for the win! Official
Selection: Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival 2013, New York
Asian Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*HORROR STORIES (South Korea) Dirs: Jung Bum-shik, Lim Dae-woong, Hong
Ji-young, Kim Gok, Kim Sun, Min Kyu-dong*
This tremendously entertaining omnibus horror film serves as a showcase of
six up-and-coming South Korean horror directors, including Kim Gok & Kim
Sun (WHITE: MELODY OF THE CURSE), assembling five terrifying, varied short
tales into a jam-packed thrill ride. Official Selection: Sitges 2012, Hong
Kong International Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*LES KAÏRA (France) Dir: Franck Gastambide*
Whaddaya do when you lust for glory yet haven’t a cent to your name? You go
into porn! If you’re after one of the best French comedies in ages, LES
KAÏRA is for you. The outrageous film adaptation of “Kaïra Shopping”,
Canal+’s first web series, LES KAIRA also marks the feature-film debut of
series creator Franck Gastambide. North-American Premiere.
*KEY OF LIFE (Japan) Dir: **Kenji Uchida** *
A failed actor usurps the identity of a hired killer who has been struck by
amnesia. Great idea! This little gem of comedy carried by deadpan hilarious
humour, sharp dialogue and stunning plot twists has charmed crowds
everywhere it’s played. WINNER: Best Screenplay Award, Shanghai
International Film Festival 2012, Official Selection: Toronto International
Film Festival 2012, Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival 2013.
Quebec Premiere.
* *
*THE LADY ASSASSIN (Vietnam) Dir: **Quang Dzung Nguyen ** *
An isolated tavern is the lair of a band of beautiful killers... An
impressive piece of historical fantasy that overflows with intrigue and
fight scenes standing proudly alongside those of Vietnam’s Asian neighbors. The
high production values, amazing fights, over-the-top characters and humour
of this entertaining piece of celluloid recall the golden years of Hong
Kong cinema. International Premiere.
*THE LAST TYCOON (Hong Kong) Dir: Wong Jing*
Director Wong Jing (*GOD OF GAMBLERS, LAST HERO IN CHINA*) reunites with
the great *Chow Yun-Fat* for a grand Chinese gangster saga, paying tribute
to the crime epics of Coppola and Leone, and the stylistic flourishes of
Johnnie To and John Woo. Winner: Best Art Direction, Best Original Film
Song, Hong Kong Film Awards 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*LESSON OF THE EVIL (Japan) Dir: Takashi Miike*
Takashi Miike, who also opens this year’s festival with the North American
Premiere of the previously-announced SHIELD OF STRAW, makes a powerful
return to exploitation cinema with what may well be the single most
shocking film of his career. In this horrific thriller threaded with black
humour, a model teacher loved by all is in fact a psychopath planning the
mass slaughter of his students. Official Selection: Rome Film Festival
2012, International Film Festival Rotterdam 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*LOVE ETERNAL (Ireland) Dir: **Brendan Muldowney***
A taciturn man accompanies a series of women as they take their own lives.
Despite its macabre premise, this important discovery is an unconventional
ode to life that will reach into your heart. Featuring extraordinary
performances by *Robert de Hoog* (TRICKED) and *Pollyanna McIntosh* (THE
WOMAN). International Premiere. Hosted by Actress Pollyanna McIntosh.
* *
*THE MACHINE (UK) Dir: Caradog James*
In the near future, a scientist develops cybernetic technology that can
fuse human and machine. Aesthetically impeccable, smartly directed and
straight up cool, THE MACHINE is a superb fable, pro-science and antiwar,
starring Toby Stephens (SEVERANCE) and THE PACT’s Caity Lotz. Official
Selection: Tribeca Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere. Hosted by Writer
/ Director Caradog James
*NUMBER 10 BLUE S / GOODBYE SAIGON (Japan/Vietnam) Dir: Norio Osada*
One of the most exciting retro discoveries in years, this stunning
insider’s look at the Vietnam War by Kinji Fukasaku collaborator Norio
Osada (best known as the screenwriter of *LADY SNOWBLOOD*) flows with the
madcap energy unique to 1970s counter-culture/exploitation cinema. Official
Selection: International Film Festival Rotterdam 2013. North-American
Premiere
*RAZE (USA) Dir: Josh Waller*
More than the usual women-in-prison film, the brutal, violent, Zoë Bell (*DEATH
PROOF*) starring RAZE hits its mark like a roundhouse to the face, a
refreshing, relentless addition to a genre too long associated with
gratuitous sex and girls taking showers. A tough-as-nails entry in this
year’s Action! Section, RAZE, also stars Rachel Nichols and Sherilyn
Fenn.Official Selection: Tribeca Film Festival 2013. International
Premiere.
Hosted by Director Josh Waller and Actress Zoë Bell.
*RITUAL: A PSYCHOMAGIC STORY (Italy) Dir: **Giulia Brazzale, luca Immesi *
Directly inspired by the Psychomagic philosophy of *Alejandro Jodorowsky*,
RITUAL is a dive into a wild universe where the energy of sadomasochism
crosses paths with hallucinated beliefs from an exotic folklore. Its dark
humour and violence also situates itself in the vein of Almodovar’s early
work. Official selection, CPH PIX 2013. North-American Premiere.
*THE ROOFTOP (Taiwan) Dir:** Jay Chou***
An all-singing, all-dancing, musical martial arts movie with technicoloured
production numbers and massive kung fu fight scenes. Put on your goggles,
folks. This one’s an eyeball exploder! Official Selection: New York Asian
Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*RUROUNI KENSHIN (Japan) Dir: Keishi Otomo***
In Meiji-era Japan, a former killer now wanders the countryside, his
backward-bladed sword a symbol of his devotion to justice. It’s peace he
seeks - but strife and treachery that find him! Fans of slick, slice-’em-up
samurai cinema won’t want to miss this! Official Selection: Sitges
International Fantastic Film Festival 2012 Quebec Premiere.
* *
*SAMURAI COP (**USA) Dir: Amir Shervan ***
Idiotic dialogue! Inept editing! A video-arcade soundtrack! Far too
frequent appearances of black bikini briefs and numerous bungled bedroom
scenes! The 1989 “classic” SAMURAI COP is so unbearably bad it’s brilliant!
New HD master!
* *
*SEE YOU TOMORROW, EVERYONE (Japan) Dir: **Yoshihiro Nakamura** *
Following a traumatic event, Satoru refuses to leave the urban island
Furoku. A brilliant dissection of modern Japan, this insightful and
exceptional film stars the formidable *Gaku Hamada* (FISH STORY). From the
inimitable director of *FISH STORY, GOLDEN SLUMBER, A BOY AND HIS
SAMURAI*. Official
Selection: Udine Far East Film Festival 2013. North-American Premiere
*SON OF SARDAAR (India) Dir:** Ashwani Dhir***
Tighten your turban, the amazing *Ajay Devgan *(*SINGHAM*) is back in a
colourful, madcap situation comedy that delights its public with a
ridiculous accumulation of gags, over-the-top action and stunts - and of
course breathtaking Bollywood musical numbers!
* *
*TALES FROM THE DARK (Hong Kong) Dirs:** Simon Yam, Fruit Chan, Lee Chi-Ngai
***
The biggest, most star-studded horror omnibus Hong Kong audiences have ever
seen comes to town, serving a triple-barreled blast of pure old-school
entertainment - three sinister shorts, directed by the returning *Fruit Chan
* (*DUMPLINGS), Lee Chi-Ngai* (*VENGEANCE IS MINE*) and, in a rare
directorial turn, none other than celebrated actor *Simon Yam*. Official
Selection: New York Asian Film Festival 2013. Canadian Premiere.
*THERMAE ROMAE (Japan) Dir: Hideki Takeuchi*
A public-bathhouse builder in Rome of 128 A.D. tumbles through time to
modern Japan, land of such marvels as toilet paper, Jacuzzis and of course
electronic bidets! A wonderfully offbeat Japanese historical fantasy comedy
with *Hiroshi Abe* (*SURVIVE STYLE 5+, CHOCOLATE*). Winner, Outstanding
Performance by an Leading Actor, Japan Academy Awards 2013. Quebec Premiere
*THE TIGER MASK (**Japan) Dir: Ken Ochiai*
Revamping the orphan who becomes a wrestler to fight villains - an icon of
anime, manga and live wrestling - Shochiku has initiated a new Japanese
superhero franchise with THE TIGER MASK. Be sure to get a ringside seat for
its dynamic debut, screening here for the first time on the continent.
North-American Premiere. Hosted by Co-Writer/Director Ken Ochiai
*ULTRAMAN ZERO: THE REVENGE OF BELIAL (Japan) Dir: Yuichi Abe*
Nebula M78, the Land of Light, homeworld of the Ultramen, is attacked by
Belial’s robotic weapons... celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tsuburaya
Productions with this all-action sci-fi extravaganza. North American
Premiere
*VEGETARIAN CANNIBAL (Croatia) Dir: Branko Schmidt*
The story of a corrupt gynecologist’s exploits within a toxic medical
system, VEGETARIAN CANNIBAL is a tough, transgressive, black-beyond-black
gaze into the heart of amorality and an unforgiving rage against the worst
kind of institutionalized corruption and sleaze, one that by its very
nature is inescapable to its victims. Winner of awards for Best Director,
Best Actor and Best Cinematography at the 2012 PulaFilm Festival and Best
Actor at Fantastic Fest 2012. Canadian Premiere.
*VESSEL (Australia) Dir: **Adam Ciancio***
Is Ash a drug addict, mentally ill... or one of those rare humans with the
gift (or curse?) of interdimensional communication? A remarkably
sure-footed debut and a gem of indie filmmaking, VESSEL uses an intricately
structured sci-fi concept to explore the complex nature of basic emotions
and the inexplicable process of human connection. Official Selection:
Sci-Fi London 2013 North American Premiere.
*V/H/S 2 (USA/Canada/Indonesia) Dirs: **Simon Barrett, Adam Wingard,
Eduardo Sanchez, Gregg Hale, Timo Tjahjanto, Gareth Huw Evans, Jason Eisener
***
Truly a film that needs no introduction, but for those living completely
under rocks, V/H/S 2 is a throttling, intense and imaginative anthology
horror film featuring subjectively-shot segments from the makers of *THE
RAID, HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN, BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, MACABRE* and *YOU’RE NEXT*.
Official Selection: Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, Karlovy Vary 2013. Canadian
Premiere.
*WHEN A WOLF FALLS IN LOVE WITH A SHEEP (Taiwan) Dir: Hou Chi-Jan*
A quirky yet entirely convincing story of two incongruous personalities
gravitating to each other to soothe their wounded hearts. The comedy is
pitch-perfect in its gentle yet revealing tone, while inventive camera
work, animation and an eye for detail add zest to a solid story. Official
Selection: Seattle International Film Festival 2013, New York Asian Film
Festival 2013, Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival 2013. Canadian
Premiere.
*ZERO CHARISMA (USA) Dirs: **Katie Graham & Andrew Matthews***
Scott, a tried-and-true nerd, must re-examine his place in “nerd- dom” when
threatened at his D&D table by successful hipster Miles. Comparable only to
FREAKS & GEEKS as both endearing and heartbreaking, ZERO CHARISMA is a
stunning nerd dramedy for the ages. Truly an amazing film. Official
Selection: SXSW 2013 International Premiere. Hosted by Directors Katie
Graham & Andrew Matthews.
*ZOMBIE HUNTER (USA) Dir: K. King*
The title is all you need to know about this outlandish apocalyptic
rollercoaster starring *MACHETE*’s *Danny Trejo* as a ghoul-smashing priest
hacking his way to heaven. Bounty of pure B-movie entertainment, we promise
hot chicks, intense action and exploding heads aplenty. World Premiere.
The Fantasia International Film Festival’s 17th edition will take place in
Montreal from July 18 to August 7, 2013. For more information, visit us on
the web at www.fantasiafestival.com.
