The 29th Fantasia International Film Festival opened on July 16 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, with American neo-Western black comedy film Eddington, by Ari Aster. The Canadian Trailblazer Award was presented to Hungarian-born Canadian filmmaker George Mihalka, the director of the 1981 slasher film My Bloody Valentine, and Sheila McCarthy, Canadian actress and singer during festival.
Pascal Plante, a Canadian film director and screenwriter served as jury president for Compétition Cheval Noir. The seven of the competition’s eight categories awards were announced on July 26, with the jury awarding Mother of Flies, a horror–fantasy film by John Adams, Zelda Adams, and Toby Posner, with the Cheval Noir Award for Best Film, marking the first time a United States production has received this award.
The festival closed on August 3, 2025 with dog sex adult comedy Fixed, by Russian-American animator, producer–director, Genndy Tartakovsky, who was also honored with 'Cheval Noir Career Achievement Award' along with Danny Elfman, American film composer, and musician. In the Audience Awards announced on August 5, 2025, Best International Feature Gold was awarded to 2025 French film Flush, a thriller comedy by Grégory Morin.
Juries
Compétition Cheval Noir Pascal Plante, Canadian film director and screenwriter – Jury President Ethan Eng, Canadian filmmaker Alison Foreman, Journalist, features writer at IndieWire Payton McCarty-Simas, freelance writer, artist, and editor based in New York City George Schmalz, Vice President, Theatrical Distribution and New Business Development at Kino Lorber
New Flesh Competition for Best First Feature
Chris Nash, writer, director, and prosthetics effects artist from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario – Jury President Jim Brunzell, director of festivals, Dark Star Pictures Louise Buckler, head of marketing Arrow Films Deirdre Crimmins, film critic and programmer Anelle Deghani, The Coven sales agent Jean-François Leblanc, filmmaker
International Short Film Competition
Kaniehtiio Horn, Canadian actress and filmmaker – Jury President Rémi Fréchette, Director, Screenwriter, Editor Evan O’Brien, Junior Executive, NEON Carol Nguyen, Vietnamese Canadian filmmaker Wylie Rush, Director, Screenwriter
Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation Rachel Samson, an animation filmmaker and programmer from Quebec City – Jury President Sam Chou Animation Director and Showrunner Chimwemwe Miller, Voice Actor
Director's Guild of Canada Award for Best Feature Director Elza Kephart, Canadian filmmaker, from Montreal, Quebe – Jury President Cam Maitland, Film and Content Specialist, Hollywood Suite Alanna Thain, Professor of Cinema and Cultural Studies, McGill University Joe Lipsett, Freelance Film and Television Critic Olivia Norquay, Film Programmer, Dave Barber Cinematheque
Poulain Noir Ginette Petit, Producer – Jury President Bryan Perro, Québec author of the children's fantasy fiction series Amos Daragon Luc Chamberland, Director, Screenwriter and Teacher Alex Parkinson, Associate Director and Feature Animation VFX Supervisor at Cinesite
Jury AQCC – Camera Lucida Miguel de Plante, film critic, editor, director Louis-Paul Rioux, Mediafilm Senior Collaborator Elijah Baron, Film Critic, AQCC Vice-President
L'écran Fantastique Jury Yves Rivard, French-Canadian film critic
Jury of the Fantastic Weekends of Quebec Cinema JP Bergeron, Actor, Director Isabelle Giroux, Actress Hélène Théberge, Director of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue International Film Festival
Films
Opening Film The opening film Eddington is a 2025 American action comedy film by Ari Aster. It depicts the political and social turmoil in the fictional city of Eddington, New Mexico, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country Eddington Ari Aster United States
Closing Film
The closing film Fixed is a 2025 American adult animated romantic comedy film by Genndy Tartakovsky. It follows a dog who learns that he is going to be neutered in the morning.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country Fixed Genndy Tartakovsky United States
Compétition Cheval Noir
Highlighted title and double-dagger () indicates Cheval Noir Competition winner.
English title Original title Director(s) Production countryBlank Canvas: My So-Called Artist Life Kazuaki Seki JapanThe Book of Sijjin and Illiyyin Hadrah Daeng Ratu IndonesiaCielo Alberto Sciamma United Kingdom, Bolivia I Fell in Love with a Z-Grade Director in Brooklyn ブルックリンでZ級監督と恋に落ちた私 Kenichi Ugana JapanThe Forbidden City Gabriele Mainetti ItalyI Live Here Now Julie Pacino United States Mother of Flies John Adams, Zelda Adams and Toby Poser United States New Group Yuta Shimotsu JapanStinker Yerden Telemissov KazakhstanTerrestrial Steve Pink United States The Verdict Lee Chang-hee, Yusron Fuadi South Korea, IndonesiaThe Well Hubert Davis Canada The Woman Hwang Wook South Korea
New Flesh Competition
Highlighted title and double-dagger () indicates New Flesh Competition winner.
English title Original title Director(s) Production countryFind Your Friends Izabel Pakzad United States Flush Grégory Morin FranceForeignerAva Maria Safai Canada Fucktoys Annapurna Sriram United StatesHaunted Mountains: The Yellow Taboo Tsai Chia Ying TaiwanHellcatBrock Bodell United States It Ends Alex Ullom United States The Last Woman on Earth 지구 최후의 여자 Yeum Moon-kyoung and Lee Jong-min South Korea Nesting Peau à peau Chloé Cinq-Mars Canada Noise 노이즈 Kim Soo-jin South KoreaThe School Duel Todd Wiseman Jr. United StatesUndertone Ian Tuason CanadaThe Wailing El llanto Pedro Martín-Calero Spain, Argentina, France Ya Boy Kongming! The Movie 派對咖孔明Shū Honma Japan
International Short Film 2025 Competition
English title Original title Director(s) Production countryBarlebas Malu Janssen Belgium, NetherlandsBear Rebecca Parker AustraliaChaehwa Hong Seung-gi South KoreaThe Collector Scott Leberecht United StatesConfession Mai Nakanishi JapanEver After Helen Hideko AustriaFloor Jo Ba-reun South KoreaHotel Acropole Sarah Lasry FranceHow to Open the Door Park Ji-wan and Joan Hui Ji-yey South KoreaKill Tradition Juliana Reza MalaysiaLast Call Winnie Cheung United StatesLet’s Settle This! Jack Woon New ZealandLove Machine Jon Clark United StatesMagai-Gami Norihiro Niwatsukino JapanMom, Stay Dead Lee Na-hee South KoreaProxy Artem Skiy JapanThe Rebirth Connie Shi United StatesShrimp Fried Rice Dylan Pun CanadaS!cko Philip Wan Hong KongSonic Beat Shunta Seki JapanSounds of Glass Morgan Abele CanadaStrip Mall Andrew Appelle CanadaLe Tour De Canada John Hollands CanadaWhere Roots Go Heo Ga-young South KoreaWeird to Be Human Jan Grabowski Poland, France
Selection 2025 English title Original title Director(s) Production country $Positions Brandon Daley United States The 1% Tal S. Shamir United StatesBlazing FistsBlue Fight 〜蒼き若者たちのブレイキングダウン〜Takashi Miike Japan Burning Ot Radik Eshimov Kyrgyzstan Dollhouse Shinobu Yaguchi Japan Dui Shaw Nuhash Humayun Bangladesh En Suspens Émilie Sigouin CanadaFind Your Friends Izabel Pakzad United States Flush Grégory Morin FranceFragment Kim Sung-yoon South Korea Fucktoys Annapurna Sriram United States Garo: Taiga Keita Amemiya Japan Good Boy Ben Leonberg United StatesGood Game Dickson Leung Kwok-Fai Hong KongHellcat Brock Bodell United States Hi-Five 하이파이브 Kang Hyeong-cheol South KoreaHold the Fort William Bagley United StatesHaunted Mountains: The Yellow Taboo Tsai Chia Ying Taiwan Holy Night: Demon Hunters 거룩한 밤: 데몬 헌터스 Lim Dae-hee South KoreaHoneko Akabane’s BodyguardsJun Ishikawa Japan It Ends Alex Ullom United States Kazakh Scary Tales Adilkhan Yerzhanov Kazakhstan The Last Woman on Earth 지구 최후의 여자 Yeum Moon-kyoung and Lee Jong-min South KoreaLifeHack Ronan Corrigan United Kingdom, Cyprus Lurker Alex Russell United States, Italy Noise 노이즈 Kim Soo-jin South Korea OBEX Albert Birney United States Omniscient Reader: The Prophet 전지적 독자 시점 Kim Byung-woo South Korea Queens of the Dead Tina Romero Mexico Redux Redux Kevin and Matthew McManus United StatesRewrite Daigo Matsui Japan Reflection in a Dead Diamond Reflet dans un diamant mortHélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, France The School Duel Todd Wiseman Jr. United States Stuntman Herbert Leung Koon-Shun, Albert Leung Koon-Yiu Hong KongSham Takashi Miike Japan Straight Outta Space Michael Middelkoop NetherlandsTaroman: Expo Explosion Ryo Fujii JapanTogether Michael ShanksAustralia, United States Touch Me Addison Heinmann Canada Transcending Dimensions 次元を超える, Jigen o koeru Toshiaki Toyoda Japan The Virgin of the Quarry Lake La virgen de la tosquera Laura Casabe ArgentinaThe Wailing El llanto Pedro Martín-Calero Spain, Argentina, France Ya Boy Kongming! The Movie 派對咖孔明Shū Honma Japan
Animation Plus
Feature films English title Original title Director(s) Production countryAll You Need is Kill Kenichiro Akimoto Japan Angel's Egg 天使のたまご Mamoru Oshii Japan ChaO Yasuhiro Aoki Japan Dog of God Raitis Abele, Lauris Abele United States, Latva Fixed Genndy Tartakovsky United StatesThe Girl Who Stole Time Yu Ao and Zhou Tienan China I Am Frankelda Soy Frankelda Arturo and Roy AmbrizMexico Juliet & the King Ashkan Rahgozar Iran Maya, Give Me a Title Maya, donne-moi un titre Michel Gondry FranceMononoke the Movie: The Ashes of Rage 劇場版「モノノ怪 第二章 火鼠 Kenji Nakamura JapanThe Nightmare Before Christmas Henry Selick United States Night of the Living Cat ニャイト・オブ・ザ・リビングキャット Takashi Miike JapanTamala 2030: A Punk Cat in Dark t.o.L Japan Thelma’s Perfect Birthday Thelma du pays des glaces Reinis Kalnaellis Latvia
Documentaries From The Edge English title Original title Director(s) Production country Inner-Walls Au pied du mur Alexandra Elkin CanadaJapanese Avant-Garde Pioneers Amélie Ravalec Japan, United Kingdom, France Occupy Cannes Lily-Hayes United States
Fantasia Underground English title Original title Director(s) Production countryAnything That Moves Alex Phillips United States Contact Lens Lu Ruiqi ChinaEvery Heavy Thing Mickey Reece United States A Grand Mockery Adam C. Briggs and Sam Dixon Australia Sugar Rot Becca Kozak Canada
The Fantastic Weekends of Quebec Cinema This section highlights the talent of Quebec filmmakers, shown across their feature films.
English title Original title Director(s) Production country16mm Francis Bordeleau Canada A Dios Christine Rodriguez CanadaAnna Kiri Francis Bordeleau CanadaA-Okay Marie-Anne Décarie Canada Barbie Boomer Marc Joly-Corcoran Canada Cardboard City Ville Jacques-Carton André Forcier, Jean-Marc E. Roy Canada Death Does Not Exist La mort n'existe pas Félix Dufour-Laperrière Canada, France En Suspens Émilie Sigouin Canada Nesting Peau à peau Chloé Cinq-Mars CanadaOld Guys in Bed Jean-Pierre Bergeron Canada
Fantasia Retro English title Original title Director(s) Production country Angel's Egg Mamoru Oshii Japan The Battle Wizard (1977) 天龍八部 Pao Hsueh-Li Hong Kong Bullet in the Head (1990) 喋血街頭 John Woo China A Chinese Ghost Story III (1991) 倩女幽魂III：道道道 Ching Siu-Tung Hong Kong The Devil's Bride (1975) Arunas Zebriunas Lithuania Funky Forest: The First Contact (2005) ナイスの森 Katsuhito Ishii, Shunichiro Miki, Hajime Ishimine Japan The House with Laughing Windows (1976) La casa dalle finestre che ridono Pupi Avati Italy Looking for an Angel (1999) 天使を探して Akihiro Suzuki JapanMixed Blood (1984) Paul Morrissey United States Night of the Juggler (1980) Robert Butler United States The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Henry Selick United States Noroi: The Curse (2005) ノロイ Koji Shiraishi Japan
Sepentrion Shadows Feature films