Fantasia Film Festival 2025: 15 Must-See Picks

Fantasia Film Festival is back—and this year marks the 29th edition of Montreal’s legendary celebration of all things genre. It also happens to be my very first time covering this festival, and while I won’t be attending in person, I’ll be diving into this cinematic feast remotely and sharing the films you absolutely need on your radar.

Running from July 16 to August 3, Fantasia will showcase an eye-popping lineup of 125 feature films and over 200 shorts, making it one of the most stacked genre festivals in the world.

The festival opens with Ari Aster’s highly anticipated “Eddington” and closes with “Fixed,” a raunchy, animated comedy from Genndy Tartakovsky that’s already racked up rave reviews. Both directors are being honored in major ways—Tartakovsky will receive a Career Achievement Award for his contributions to animation, and Danny Elfman will be presented with the Cheval Noir Career Achievement Award, celebrated with a special screening of The Nightmare Before Christmas (scored by Elfman, of course) and the world premiere of Bullet Time, a new animated short he also scored.

Other notable honorees include:

• Sheila McCarthy and George Mihalka, both receiving Canadian Trailblazer Awards
  
• Anne-Marie Gélinas, recipient of the Denis-Héroux Award for contributions to Quebec cinema
  
• Lloyd Kaufman, indie legend and founder of Troma, who will take home the Indie Maverick Award
  

There’s a lot happening at Fantasia this year—tributes, premieres, retrospectives—and even more films to get excited about. Below are 15 of my most anticipated titles from the lineup that I can’t wait to watch and report on.

Dui Shaw
A horror anthology from Bangladesh that mixes urban legends, surreal visuals, and pitch-black humor. Directed by Nuhash Humayun, this is said to be a terrifying blend of the gritty, the gruesome, and the magical. Expect nightmares.

Eddington
Ari Aster returns with what might be his most provocative film yet. Set during the height of the pandemic, the film centers on a political standoff in small-town New Mexico starring Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal. Buckle up—this one’s going to spark a lot of conversation.

Fixed
Tartakovsky’s animated, R-rated comedy follows a dog named Bull who finds out he’s getting neutered in the morning. Add in a stacked voice cast (Adam Devine, Idris Elba, Kathryn Hahn, Fred Armisen, and more) and this has cult hit written all over it.

Fucktoys
A John Waters-inspired descent into absurdity, sex work, and curses, this chaotic dark comedy made waves at SXSW and is back to raise hell at Fantasia. Filthy, unhinged, and oddly heartfelt—this is on the top of my watchlist.

Hellcat
A claustrophobic, single-location thriller where a woman wakes up in a stranger’s trailer with a chilling infection. Expect body horror and psychological mind games in this brutal, bloody descent into paranoia.

Hi-Five
Superhero fatigue? Not here. A team of organ recipients gain bizarre powers in this genre mash-up that sounds bonkers in the best way. This could be the weird, wild jolt the superhero genre needs.

I Live Here Now
A surreal 16mm psychodrama starring Lucy Fry, Madeline Brewer, and Sheryl Lee, blending Lynchian unease with psychological horror. If you like your horror weird, artsy, and emotionally raw—this is for you.

It Ends
A buzzed-about SXSW hit I regret missing, this existential thriller traps four college friends in an endless road trip. Think Coherence meets Triangle with a dose of cosmic dread.

Noise
A paranoid, chilling Korean horror about noisy neighbors, a missing sister, and the thin walls between madness and reality. A slow-burn thriller that turns everyday tension into something terrifying.

Touch Me
Two codependent best friends get addicted to the orgasmic touch of an alien narcissist. Yes, really. This sounds like a psychosexual fever dream wrapped in neon and chaos. Sign me up.

The Wailing
A supernatural horror spanning generations of women stalked by a curse that transcends time. Atmospheric, terrifying, and beautifully shot, this one’s giving The Ring meets The Others energy.

The Last Woman on Earth
A clever, meta comedy about filmmaking and gender politics, where a feminist revenge flick struggles to find support—until chaos ensues. If you like your satire sharp and your characters unhinged, don’t miss this.

Lucid
’90s grunge, dreamscapes, and an art student on the edge. This psychedelic fantasy sounds like Enter the Void meets Jawbreaker. Visually inventive and emotionally raw.

Nyaight of the Living Cat (Episodes 1–4)
What if touching a cat turned you into one? This absurdist anime from executive director Takashi Miike turns the “cute cat video” genre into a viral apocalypse. Insane, adorable, and absolutely purr-fect.

Sham
Also from Miike, Sham tells the harrowing true story of a teacher falsely accused, as media and social pressure spiral out of control. In today’s cancel-happy climate, this one will hit hard.

While I’m attending Fantasia virtually this year, I’ll be covering as many films as possible—aiming to catch at least 30 selections—and sharing reviews, recommendations, and hidden gems throughout the festival.

Whether you’re watching in-person or from your couch, Fantasia 2025 promises thrills, chills, and unforgettable discoveries. Stay tuned—there’s a lot more to come.