For its 30th edition, the Fantasia Festival has decided to pull out all the stops by offering a particularly rich lineup this year, bringing together over 125 feature films and more than 200 short films! From July 16 to August 2, 2026, Montreal will vibrate to the rhythm of genre cinema. As usual, the festivities will take over several flagship venues in Montreal, including the Hall Theatre, Concordia University’s J.A. de Sève Cinema, as well as the Cinéma du Musée.
To mark this anniversary, the event brings together major world premieres, retrospectives, and prestigious guests from around the globe to celebrate the vitality of genre cinema.
Her Private Hell, by director Nicolas Winding Refn
A Flying Start
The festival will kick off on July 16 with the Canadian premiere screening of Her Private Hell, the latest creation by Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn. This feature film, which was discovered at Cannes a few months ago, blends the codes of neo-noir and psychedelic tale, transporting the audience into a foggy futuristic city where notions of memory and identity intertwine.
Freaks Part II, by Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein
This opening work promises to immediately plunge festival-goers into a particularly strong visual and narrative atmosphere, faithful to its author’s singular style.
A Glorious Ending
And to close this anniversary edition in style, Fantasia will present the world premiere of Freaks Part II, a sci-fi thriller by Canadian filmmakers Zach Lipovsky and Adam Stein. This highly anticipated second installment takes place a few years after the events of the first cult film. We follow Mary and her daughter Chloe, who must live in hiding to escape a paramilitary unit hunting down beings with supernatural powers.
The Samurai and the Prisoner by Kiyoshi Kurosawa
This film, which combines action and visual effects, doesn’t stop there: it takes a more intimate look at the themes of family and exclusion. It will also be presented in the official competition for the Cheval Noir award.
Our Must-Sees
The North American premieres also hold some great surprises, starting with the new film by Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa, The Samurai and the Prisoner (you can find an exclusive interview with the director, conducted by our team at the Cannes Film Festival), which skillfully blends historical drama and mystery. Festival-goers will also be able to discover the French animated feature Jim Queen (we also had the chance to interview the film’s team at the Cannes Film Festival) directed by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané, or the Korean action film Tristes Tropiques by Park Hoon-jung.
Jim Queen directed by Marco Nguyen and Nicolas Athané
In parallel, several proven hits from international festivals will make a stop in Montreal, such as the disaster film Colony by Yeon Sang-ho, presented at Cannes, or the American drama The Leader about the Heaven’s Gate cult, which features an impressive cast including Vera Farmiga and Jim Parsons.
A Beautifully Organized Celebration
To mark these three decades of existence, the festival has chosen to pay tribute to major creators who have left their mark on world cinema.
Director Nicolas Winding Refn will receive the prestigious Cheval Noir Lifetime Achievement Award, a distinction that will be accompanied by a public masterclass on his career, from the Pusher trilogy to his recent projects. Japanese horror master Takashi Shimizu, famous for the Ju-on saga, will also be honored with the same award. He will take advantage of his visit to present two new films: the world premiere of his folk horror film Village of Eight Gravestones and the North American premiere of The Mouths.
A Jam-Packed Schedule
The festival does not forget to celebrate the talents that make genre cinema thrive. Between presenting honorary awards to outstanding figures like Don Hertzfeldt or Canadian filmmaker Bruce McDonald, this edition offers a rich program for learning and sharing.
Festival-goers will be able to attend exceptional masterclasses led by Louise Portal and Robert Lepage, discover the special effects secrets of local team Blood Brothers FX, or participate in free roundtables and interactive activities.
On the lineup side, Fantasia shines through its diversity, balancing intriguing world premieres (like the Canadian satire Permanent Damage or the Quebec road trip Les regards parallèles) and a retro section that brings restored 35mm classics back to life. To evaluate this sharp selection, a prestigious jury led by Bob Murawski will have the delicate task of awarding the honors of the official competition. By skillfully balancing tributes to great masters and a showcase for the next generation, this 30th edition is already shaping up to be an unmissable event and a true collective celebration of the imagination.
