Preview: Fantasia International Film Festival (2025)

Preview: Fantasia International Film Festival 🍿 

The most electrifying film festival in Canada, the Fantasia International Film Festival, has returned to Montreal for its 29th annual event, which will feature over two weeks of films that lean into the genre-bending imaginations of creators who go against the Hollywood grain.

From July 16th through August 3rd, Fantasia will host a wide array of films, from world premieres to director-led discussions and so much more.

This is my second year covering the festival, and I’m yet again blown away at the eclectic catalogue of films they’re able to compile that explore seemingly any and every idea the mind can muster.

I’ve compiled a list of the five films I’m most excited for at this year’s festival, so let’s dive in!

1. Lurker (Canadian Premiere) | Screening: Aug 01 @ Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)

Synopsis:

“When a twenty-something retail clerk encounters a rising pop star, he takes the opportunity to edge his way into the in-crowd. But as the line between friend and fan blurs beyond recognition, access and proximity become a matter of life and death.”

This is the directorial debut of Alex Russell (writer of The Bear and Netflix’s Emmy Award-winning BEEF), and with that resume alone, you can’t not have this on your watch list.

LURKER examines the parasocial relationships formed by fans with the celebrities they idolize, and in the age of social media, that fine line between the digital and real-life self blurs, making this a topic worth exploring.

2. The Girl Who Stole Time (North American Premiere) | Screening: July 26th @ Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)

Synopsis:

“A girl from a fishing village gains the power to stop time with a coveted magical device. She embarks on an adventure with new friends through a fantastical metropolis but must eventually face the consequences of her power.”

This is one of the few films from the festival I’m lucky enough to have already seen. It’s my favourite movie of the year. Need I say more?

3. Foreigner (World Premiere) | Screening: July 31st & August 2nd @ Salle J.A. De Sève

Synopsis:

“In the age of low-rise jeans and flip phones, a Persian teen trying to fit in with her new Canadian clique dyes her hair blonde—and invites a monstrous force into her life.”

Seeing a filmmaker's career blossom in real time is what we are witnessing with director Ava Maria Safai, who is going from making the award-winning short film Zip (2023) to now getting a world premiere for her first feature film.

She has such a distinct vision that deviates from the traditional Western lens and claims ownership over a new generation of Canadian stories. Stay tuned for my review on July 31st.

4. All You Need is Kill (North American Premiere) | Screening: August 1st @ Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)

Synopsis:

“In a time loop during an alien plant invasion, Rita relives the same day repeatedly, becoming a skilled warrior. Exhausted by endless deaths, she discovers Keiji, another person trapped in the loop.”

This is one of my most anticipated movies in the final half of 2025. It’s based on a manga, but most people may know it better for Tom Cruise’s Hollywood adaptation, renamed Edge of Tomorrow, which in itself is one of the best time travel movies I’ve ever seen.

If this is half as good as that movie, then we’re in for a treat.

5. Sham (Canadian Premiere) | Screening: July 30th @ Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)

Synopsis:

“A drama crime thriller based on a book about a court case where a teacher was falsely accused of bullying a student to suicide, exploring the moral complexities of the fabricated allegations and media frenzy.”�.�I’ve been eyeing this film since Tribeca. Go Ayano is one of my favourite actors out of Japan. From the Yakuza movie A Family (2021) to the thieving story in Netflix’s Tokyo Swindler (2024), Ayano is on a hot streak of projects that you don’t want to miss.

Honourable Mention:

Floor (International Premiere) | Screening: July 17th @ Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall).

Synopsis:

“His perfect home has just one flaw—the unrelenting noise from upstairs. For neighbours who refuse to listen, maybe fists will have to speak instead.”

As someone who treasures their sleep, the idea behind this short film speaks to me on so many levels.

For the full list of films playing at this years festival head over to FantasiaFestival.com.

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Thank you for reading! 🍿

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