Fantasia 2016: Second Wave Of Films Announced

Additional Second Wave Highlights:

ANOTHER EVIL

USA — Dir: Carson D. Mell

A couple whose vacation home is haunted enlist a hardcore exorcist — and the real problems begin. This parapsychological gem, the feature debut from Carson D. Mell, a writer on EASTBOUND & DOWN and SILICON VALLEY, is both a weird, intimate comedy and a different kind of haunted-house chiller. Official Selection: SXSW 2016. International Premiere

ANTIBIRTH

USA-Canada — Dir: Danny Perez

Natasha Lyonne, Chloe Sevigny, Meg Tilly and Mark Webber star in this twisted, surrealistic and grotesque tale of drug addiction and a very unusual kind of pregnancy that stunned audiences at Sundance earlier this year. Official Selection: Boston Underground Film Festival 2016

A BRIDE FOR RIP VAN WINKLE

Japan — Dir. Shunji Iwai

Nanami meets her husband on the Internet, and her life unravels into a complex network of artifice, strange jobs and deceitful relationships. An epic of alienation and love for the age of social media, from master Shunji Iwai (ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU, VAMPIRE)! Official selection: Seattle International Film Festival 2016, New York Asian Film Festival 2016. Canadian Premiere

A CONSPIRACY OF FAITH

Denmark — Dir: Hans Petter Moland

A message in a bottle comes across the desk of a sleepy cold-case investigation unit in Denmark. It begins with the word ‘Help.’ An exhilaratingly chilling Nordic Noir starring the great Nikolaj Lie Kaas, A CONSPIRACY OF FAITH broke a 15-year Opening Weekend box office record in Denmark. Official Selection: Edinburgh International Film Festival 2016. Canadian Premiere.

THE DEVIL’S CANDY

USA — Dir: Sean Byrne

A vivid new take on the Satanic haunted-house thriller by way of a home-invasion siege nightmare, complete with a ferociously effective doom-metal sound design that will have the cinema’s walls shaking with demonic force to match director Byrne’s exhilarating storytelling chops. Official Selection: Toronto International Film Festival 2015, Fantastic Fest 2015. Quebec Premiere.

EYES OF MY MOTHER

USA — Dir: Nicolas Pesce

First-time writer/director Nicolas Pesce’s B&W nightmare had everyone talking–and screaming–during its Sundance debut, and now makes its bloody mark on Fantasia. This rural horror show jangles the nerves from the get-go, when a lunatic arrives at the remote homestead of an odd family. But that’s just the tip of this chilling iceberg that evokes Takashi Miike at his most disturbing and Terrence Malick at his most evocative. Canadian Premiere.

LAZY HAZY CRAZY

Hong Kong — Dir: Jody Luk Yee-Sum

An audacious and unsettling coming of age story of three girls reaching adulthood in Hong Kong from 1st time director Jody Luk Yee-Sum, a regular co-writer (LOVE IN THE BUFF & VULGARIA) for award winning director Pang Ho-Cheung (who also serves as producer). Official Selection: Tokyo Film Festival, Stockholm Film Festival, Five Flavors Film Festival, New York Asian Film Festival, Canadian Premiere.

THE LOVE WITCH

USA — Dir: Anna Biller

A modern-day witch uses spells and magic to get men to fall in love with her, in VIVA director Anna Biller’s tribute to 1960s pulp novels and Technicolor melodramas. Dazzlingly decked out in the filmmaker’s aesthetic signature of personally hand crafted costumes and art direction (Biller also scripted, edited and scored the film). Official Selection: Maryland Film Festival 2016, Edinburgh International Film Festival 2016. Canadian Premiere.

THE MASTER CLEANSE

USA — Dir: Bobby Miller

Heartbroken Paul (Johnny Galecki) joins an unusual spiritual retreat, where the approach to inner growth is perhaps a touch too literal. An intimately whimsical black comedy about personal baggage and the monsters it can become. The long awaited feature debut from Bobby Miller, whose brilliant short TUB astonished audiences at Fantasia in 2010. Also starring Anna Friel, Kyle Gallner and Anjelica Huston. Official Selection: SXSW 2016. International Premiere.

SLASH

USA — Dir: Clay Liford

Teenagers Neil (Michael Johnston) and Julia (Hannah Marks) bond over their shared devotion to amateur, erotic fan fiction for sci-fi/fantasy geeks in this smart, empathic, often funny and always convincing coming-of-age drama. Official Selection: BAMCinemaFest 2016, Munich Film Festival 2016, Edinburgh International Film Festival 2016. Canadian Premiere. 8

TEENAGE COCKTAIL

USA — Dir: John Carchietta

Picture-perfect teens Annie (Nichole Bloom) and Jules (Fabianne Therese) are in love, and have made a plan. A cautionary tale of sorts about mad teenage love, growing up on the Internet, and the kind of poor decisions that characterize life lived to its fullest… or shortest. Also starring Pat Healy. Official Selection: SXSW 2016. International Premiere.

THREE

Hong Kong — Dir: Johnnie To

A Crook, a cop and a surgeon with dark secrets converge in a hospital leading to deadly results. Director Johnnie To returns to the action genre after a three-year hiatus! Filmed entirely in a hospital in Southern China and without a full script, To is back in full force, creating tense cat and mouse games and a thrilling climatic shoot-out that he can do so effortlessly with fresh vigor! Official Selection: Taipei Film Festival 2016. Quebec Premiere.

THE THRONE

South Korea – Dir. Lee Joon-ik

The horrible death of Prince Sado, condemned by his father King Yeongjo to die of thirst in a rice chest, is among most tragic events in Korea’s history. Lee Joon-ik masterfully turns this national drama in an intimate family tragedy where the great Song Kang-ho and Yoo Ah-in lead stellar cast. A multiple award-winner, THE THRONE was South Korea’s runner up for the latest Academy Awards. Official Selection: Hawaii International Film Festival 2015 and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival 2016. Quebec Premiere

WHAT A WONDERFUL FAMILY!

Japan — Dir. Yoji Yamada

Living legend Yoji Yamada (TORA-SAN, TWILIGHT SAMURAI) reunites with the cast of his 2013 remake of Yasujiro Ozu’s TOKYO STORY for this comedic tour-de-force; a rip-roaring slapstick take on elderly divorce, and the generational gap that molds traditional values through time. Official Selection: Tokyo International Film Festival 2016, Hong Kong International Film Festival 2016. Canadian Premiere