Quebec cinema investment: Fantasia is the chosen venture
**Fantasia International Film Festival Returns to Montreal for its 29th Edition**
The Fantasia International Film Festival, North America's largest and most celebrated genre film event, will return to Montreal from July 16 to August 3, 2025. The festival, which takes place at Concordia University’s Hall Building and J.A. de Sève cinemas, along with additional venues such as Cinéma du Musée and BBAM Gallery, promises a rich, varied, and international lineup.
This year, the festival will open with a screening of Ari Aster's latest film, Eddington, starring Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, and Emma Stone. In a playful counter-programming move, an advance peek at the Smurfs reboot, featuring voices by Rihanna and John Goodman, will also be presented. The festival will close with Fixed, an adult animated comedy by Genndy Tartakovsky, starring Adam Devine, Idris Elba, and Fred Armisen.
The festival's eclectic programming spans from high-stress thrillers to family-friendly animation and experimental shorts. Danny Elfman and Genndy Tartakovsky will receive lifetime achievement awards, with special events likely tied to their careers. Dozens of filmmakers and artists from around the globe are attending, with Q&As and panels enriching the festival experience.
While the specific list of new Quebecois features at Fantasia 2025 is not yet available, the festival has a long tradition of showcasing Canadian, especially Quebec, genre cinema. Tania Morissette, the festival's co-director and programmer, has shared her favorite picks for this year, including Lurker, written and directed by Alex Russell, which stands out as one of the most notable international works due to the participation of Théodore Pellerin in the lead role.
Other notable mentions include Reflet dans un diamant mort, a spy thriller directed by filmmaking duo Bruno Forzani and Hélène Cattet, and Bullet Time (Eddie Alcazar), which will be presented before a screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas (Henry Selick, 1993). The festival is also offering 14 programs of Quebec short films, totaling over 200 films, which is a first.
For those seeking the latest in global and local genre cinema, Fantasia remains a must-attend event in Montreal’s cultural calendar. Tickets and the full schedule are available via the festival’s official channels.
French movies-and-tv and entertainment will be showcased at the Fantasia International Film Festival due to the screening of Reflet dans un diamant mort, a spy thriller directed by filmmaking duo Bruno Forzani and Hélène Cattet. Festival attendees can also look forward to a program of 14 Quebec short films, totaling over 200 French-language films, offering a unique insight into the local genre cinema scene.
