Fantasia is back, and we’re covering it! Our Favorite Festival is back with a whole lot of awesome sauce for your eyeballs. So, buckle up, because we’re diving into some of the genre greatness that the Mad Geniuses at Fantasia have in store for you this year.
In the immortal words of Jesse Spano “WE’RE SO EXCITED!” for the return of Fantasia Film Festival. Ready to cover the Festival (remotely, thank you very much) with bided breath. Here are just a few of the films that we’re excited to watch in the coming weeks…
The Forbidden City
Martial Arts and Romance set in the backdrop of Rome and the underbelly of criminal activity?? Yes, please count us in for what Fantasia is promising, one of the best films of the year. Fest alum director Gabriele Mainetti (his Freak Out is truly a unique WW2 film) goes all out in this film that turns Yaxi Liu from stunt performer to full-on movie star.
Anything That Moves
Last year Fantasia debuted Vinegar Syndrome first foray into film Black Eyed Susan. They’ve come back with another film this time starring Ginger Lynn Allen and Nina Hartley. From the sounds of it, Writer/Director Alex Phillips shot on Super 16mm Chicago set sexual thriller is the kind of envelope pushing seedy film that VS specializes in and Fantasia loves showing.
Fixed
You had us at Genndy Tartakovsky (run to HBO MAX to see his brilliant Primal), but Fixed is the tale of a Dog trying to save his … beans from the old snip-snip. With the voice talents of Adam Devine, Idris Elba, Fred Armisen, Bobby Moynihan, and Kathryn Hahn adding to Tartkovsky’s wonderful style its sure to be a unique expencice and a throwback to the R-Rated animated films of the 1970s. This is one film, the closing night film of the fest, that’s sure to bring the house down.
The Verdict
This film co-directed by Yurson Fuadi (the director of the brilliant gem The Draft!) has proved he can make a surprising film that defies genre conventions. Add in the ripped from the headlines premise – an elite security specialist takes revenge on the rich kid who killed his wife – and we’re there for this sure to be explosive action thriller making its world premiere at the fest.
All You Need is Kill
We loved the Novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. Edge of Tomorrow the US Adaptation of the source material is one of our favorite Tom Cruise Films of the last twenty years. So, we’re over the moon excited for Studio4C to take on a proper Anime Adaptation of the source material. Though not too proper as it’s found a unique entry point for this version we can’t wait to see.
Blazing Fists/Sham
It wouldn’t be a Festival without not one but two (three if you count his Anime TV Series) Takeshi Miike films debuting at the festival. Blazing Fists and Sham could not be any more different and almost seem like exercises in contrast by the prolific director. Blazing Fists is a crowd pleasing coming-of-age fight film. Sham is a thought-provoking anxiety inducing thriller about a teacher wrongfully accused of abusing one of his students. Knowing Miike’s confrontational style both films are sure to bring the house down at the festival in very different ways.
Tamala 2030: A Punk Cat in Dark
If you have seen Tamala 2010 (we have) then you know to be super excited for this one. The long in the making sequel to the original dystopian sci-fi animated film by t.o.L (tree of Life, for those not in the know) is the kind of brilliant but not easily cracked mysteries that fans of fringe filmmaking love. We’re not sure what to expect even by the descriptions out of Fantasia because even those descriptions, we are pretty sure, will not do this one justice.
The Fantasia Film Festival 2025 runs from July 16th through August 3rd. Check back for our continuing coverage of the festival…
Fantasia is back, and we’re covering it! Our Favorite Festival is back with a whole lot of awesome sauce for your eyeballs. So, buckle up, because we’re diving into some of the genre greatness that the Mad Geniuses at Fantasia have in store for you this year.
In the immortal words of Jesse Spano “WE’RE SO EXCITED!” for the return of Fantasia Film Festival. Ready to cover the Festival (remotely, thank you very much) with bided breath. Here are just a few of the films that we’re excited to watch in the coming weeks…
The Forbidden City
Martial Arts and Romance set in the backdrop of Rome and the underbelly of criminal activity?? Yes, please count us in for what Fantasia is promising, one of the best films of the year. Fest alum director Gabriele Mainetti (his Freak Out is truly a unique WW2 film) goes all out in this film that turns Yaxi Liu from stunt performer to full-on movie star.
Anything That Moves
Last year Fantasia debuted Vinegar Syndrome first foray into film Black Eyed Susan. They’ve come back with another film this time starring Ginger Lynn Allen and Nina Hartley. From the sounds of it, Writer/Director Alex Phillips shot on Super 16mm Chicago set sexual thriller is the kind of envelope pushing seedy film that VS specializes in and Fantasia loves showing.
Fixed
You had us at Genndy Tartakovsky (run to HBO MAX to see his brilliant Primal), but Fixed is the tale of a Dog trying to save his … beans from the old snip-snip. With the voice talents of Adam Devine, Idris Elba, Fred Armisen, Bobby Moynihan, and Kathryn Hahn adding to Tartkovsky’s wonderful style its sure to be a unique expencice and a throwback to the R-Rated animated films of the 1970s. This is one film, the closing night film of the fest, that’s sure to bring the house down.
The Verdict
This film co-directed by Yurson Fuadi (the director of the brilliant gem The Draft!) has proved he can make a surprising film that defies genre conventions. Add in the ripped from the headlines premise – an elite security specialist takes revenge on the rich kid who killed his wife – and we’re there for this sure to be explosive action thriller making its world premiere at the fest.
All You Need is Kill
We loved the Novel by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. Edge of Tomorrow the US Adaptation of the source material is one of our favorite Tom Cruise Films of the last twenty years. So, we’re over the moon excited for Studio4C to take on a proper Anime Adaptation of the source material. Though not too proper as it’s found a unique entry point for this version we can’t wait to see.
Blazing Fists/Sham
It wouldn’t be a Festival without not one but two (three if you count his Anime TV Series) Takeshi Miike films debuting at the festival. Blazing Fists and Sham could not be any more different and almost seem like exercises in contrast by the prolific director. Blazing Fists is a crowd pleasing coming-of-age fight film. Sham is a thought-provoking anxiety inducing thriller about a teacher wrongfully accused of abusing one of his students. Knowing Miike’s confrontational style both films are sure to bring the house down at the festival in very different ways.
Tamala 2030: A Punk Cat in Dark
If you have seen Tamala 2010 (we have) then you know to be super excited for this one. The long in the making sequel to the original dystopian sci-fi animated film by t.o.L (tree of Life, for those not in the know) is the kind of brilliant but not easily cracked mysteries that fans of fringe filmmaking love. We’re not sure what to expect even by the descriptions out of Fantasia because even those descriptions, we are pretty sure, will not do this one justice.
The Fantasia Film Festival 2025 runs from July 16th through August 3rd. Check back for our continuing coverage of the festival…
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