Festivals - Fantastic Fest 2021 : Discover the first information

By Mulder, 06 august 2021

Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from all around the world. In years past, the festival has been home to the world and US premieres of Parasite, Jojo Rabbit, Bone Tomahawk, John Wick, Frankenweenie, There will be blood, Apocalypto, Zombieland, Red, Split, Halloween, Bad times at the El Royale, Mid 90s, and Suspiria while the guest roster has included such talent as Tim Burton, Nicolas Winding-Refn, Lilly and Lana Wachowski, Bong Joon-Ho, Taika Waititi, Robert Rodriguez, Rian Johnson, Bill Murray, Keanu Reeves, Martin Landau, Winona Ryder, Edward Norton, Ryan Reynolds, Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, Karl Urban, Josh Hartnett, The RZA, Dolph Lundgren, Paul Rudd, Bill Pullman, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kevin Smith, Jon Favreau, George Romero, Darren Aronofsky, Mike Judge, Karyn Kusama, M. Night Shyamalan, James McAvoy, Vince Vaughn, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jonah Hill, Barbara Crampton and Jessica Harper. Fantastic Fest also features world, national, and regional premieres of new, up-and-coming genre films. Fantastic Fest has seen the acquisition of many titles, including Bullhead, Kill list, Monsters, Klown, The fp, Penumbra, here comes the devil, no rest for the wicked, vanishing waves, combat girls, i declare war, the perfection, and tigers are not afraid. Fantastic Fest is held each year at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, Texas. Alamo Drafthouse has been named the best theater in the country by Entertainment Weekly, Wired, and TIME. Variety included Fantastic Fest in a list of "10 Film Festivals We Love" and was also named one of the "25 coolest film festivals” by Moviemaker Magazine.

Mechanophilia, possessed nuns, possessed children, hallucinations, ghostly hauntings, time travel, exorcism, cerebral expansion, heavy metal, friendship, yakuza, canine trauma, multiple serial killers, coprophagia, cannibalism, tender embraces, vampires, copious bodily fluids, superheroes, warm laughs, disco-dancing firemen and more, more, more. Yes, this can only mean one thing: Fantastic Fest is back. 
 
After 18 months of isolation and uncertainty, this year’s “Post-Apocalyptic” edition of Fantastic Fest is here to remind us of the joy of cinema, community, and weird and wonderful movies. 
 
The first wave of films is headlined by the truly extraordinary 2021 Palme D’Or winner Titane from Parasite distributor Neon. It might not have seemed possible to top her staggering debut Raw (Fantastic Fest 2016), but Julia Ducournau has somehow done just that. A poignant study on loneliness, isolation and gender identity wrapped in a constantly surprising world of body horror, muscle cars, violence, and disco-dancing firemen. Fantastic Fest is so proud to share this singular vision. Fantastic Fest 2021's opening night party will be dedicated to the instantly iconic visuals of TITANE. Muscle cars will be on hand, and metallic-themed or “French firefighter” costumes are highly encouraged. TITANE opens in US cinemas on October 1.
 
Mondo Records is also celebrating its 10 year anniversary at Fantastic Fest this year and will be on-hand with a very special TITANE soundtrack giveaway ahead of the official Mondo vinyl release later this year. Additionally, on opening night there will also be a Mondo Records pop-up featuring rarities from the vault.
 
Additional studio premieres include A24’s Lamb, winner of the Un Certain Regard Prize of Originality at Cannes (opening in theaters on October 8); Bingo Hell, part of the Amazon Studios and Blumhouse Television “Welcome to the Blumhouse” series; and Netflix’s The Trip, starring Noomi Rapace in a delightfully twisted Norwegian mind-bender. The first wave of Fantastic Fest films features 39 titles, showcasing world, US and regional premieres, and two classic film sidebars.
 
“We’re thrilled at how the program is coming together,” says Fantastic Fest Director of Programming Annick Mahnert. “For this Post-Apocalyptic edition, we’ve scoured the four corners of the globe to find weird, silly, terrifying, entertaining and fantastic movies directed by established and emerging filmmakers. Opening this year’s fest with a Palme d’Or winner from a Fantastic Fest alum is a real treat. As always, we also try to find unforgettable repertoire titles, and we couldn’t be happier about hosting the US Premiere of the new restoration of Andrzej Zulawski’s POSSESSION. This first wave is but the tip of the iceberg and we cannot wait to unveil the rest of the program to y'all!”

Concerning the safety protocols for the event : All badge holders will be required to show proof of COVID vaccination.  Please bring physical or electronic proof of vaccination to check-in. No vaccine, no Fantastic Fest, no exceptions.   Additionally, masks must be worn at all times indoors when not eating or drinking.

FAN Badges, 2ND HALF Badges, and MIDNIGHT Badges for Fantastic Fest 2021 are available for purchase here. The all-new FANTASTIC FEST @ HOME Badges are also available and provide access to the fest’s new virtual event which takes place from 9/30 - 10/11. 

For the latest developments, visit the Fantastic Fest official site www.fantasticfest.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.

(Source ; press release)