“Whenever the lights go down at Fantasia and the ‘meows’ begin, you know you’re in for something terrific,” says a panelist, stressing the Montreal-based genre circuit centerpiece’s infectious communal vibe. “Filmmakers will never feel more at home anywhere else,” adds a panelist, with another praising its “contagious energy.” A marathon of macabre moviemaking, Fantasia runs over three weeks, the longest of its kind in duration, and showcases at least 120 features and hundreds of shorts. South Korean gems like Train to Busan are a small taste of what attendees can expect from what one panelist proclaims to be “the absolute best in Asian discoveries.” Fantasia is also home of Frontières, an international co-production market and networking platform devoted to genre film financing and co-production between Europe and North America that has become an industry juggernaut.
Actor Michael Moriarty and moviemaker Larry Cohen at Fantasia’s world premiere of Steve Mitchell’s King Cohen, where Cohen received a Lifetime Achievement Award. Photograph by King-Wei Chu
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Loved reading this, especially seeing Roger Corman, Larry Cohen(THE STUFF), Michael Moriarty(Q THE WINGED SERPENT), Adrienne Barbeau(ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK) and more recognizable memorable greats in film. Thanks for sharing!
Who knew there are so many fests dedicated to horror. Excited to have these in my conscious reservoir to keep up with their output in the future.
I felt it could have had more members to the panel more diversity of people who head to the larger fests as well as the rest. Of course there will be interweaving festivals but this list primarily focuses on larger ones but does not include many of the fests who r in the mid part of the US among other things.
Don't get me wrong, I'm Not putting down what this article is and contains. For me, it's not a piece that shows festivals that are on the rise or in the tier below many of these. Have nothing but respect for panel and the writer. No doubt more incarnations to come ... ;)
Missing Nightmares FILM FEST!!!
Solid list, but missing the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival is a huuuuge oversight. One of the best genre film festivals in Europe since 1983! One of the few festivals I've been to worldwide that truly has unique, internal festival culture. Really fosters a sense of community.
Other stuff worth mentioning includes:
Shockproof (Prague)
Next Fest (Los Angeles)
PUFF (Philadelphia)
Telluride Horror Show (Telluride, Colorado)
I feel like this is not a complete list of the best genre fests! some of these are all genre fest with a horror event thrown in. What about my favorite one Shriekfest? I've been submitting and involved with that fest for years now and they treat everyone great! The fest director is the best I've ever met!