Look out for review coverage on The People’s Movies when the Madness begins.

All synopses are courtesy of Fantasia.

1.          The Book of Sijjin And Illiyyin

North American Premiere 

‘Bring a raincoat, there will be blood, and lots of it. A bloody, gory nightmare in which the Lucio Fulci-style eye torture will make even the most hardened shudder from the opening scene. Everything seems to hurt, to traumatise, and to stink. However, this work has much more to offer than a simple explosion of haemoglobin in which even children can spatter the walls like little Jackson Pollocks. This fascinating incursion into Muslim mythology is superbly filmed and showcases the majestic exterior and interior panoramas of Indonesia. Viewers are warned to apply discretion, but horror fans will be in for a treat, at their own peril… ‘  

2.                                FLUSH

World Premiere 

‘Parisian super-force Grégory Morin has made a feature, and it’s utterly, gloriously insane. Evocative of Dupieux by way of Gaspar Noé and early Álex de la Iglesia, FLUSH is as inventively delirious as it is hyper-cinematic, a real-time, over-the-top blast of indie brilliance with gross-out curves to spare.

Tight, imaginative and quite frankly miraculous, FLUSH consistently ups the ante in darkly comic sleaze and shock, strapping it together with bigger-than-life heart to deliver a singular “huis clos” thrill ride on the wings of drain pipes and degeneracy.’ 

3.       Reflet Dans Un Diamant Mort

                                                                       Canadian Premiere

‘REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND is as much a fetishistic love letter to cinema as it is about the act of filmgoing itself, vibrant with highly stylized costume and set designs, mindblowing choreography and a supporting cast that includes Yannick Renier (CARNIVORE), Koen De Bouw (DOSSIER K.), Maria de Medeiros (PULP FICTION) and, as super assassin Serpentik, dancer Thi Mai Nguyen, who amazes in spectacular set pieces with rusted fish hooks, among other sharp things.

A kaleidoscopic deconstruction of memory and mortality, REFLECTION IN A DEAD DIAMOND is an astonishing act of hyper-detailed, volcanically imaginative filmmaking that stands at the very top of an unwaveringly brilliant filmography.’

4.                       A Grand Mockery

                                                                     International Premiere

‘ Sam Dixon stars as Josie, a troubled man living an ordinary life, whose mental illness deforms and pushes him into an almost ritualistic and increasingly horrific wandering. Grimy, experimental, cursed, and spectacular, the film pulls us through the mundane underbelly of Brisbane into the horrific sublime of the Sunshine Coast. Underground in tone and spirit, A GRAND MOCKERY nonetheless stands as a towering technical achievement. Working in 8mm, the film pushes the format to its limits; powering through grain to create an almost painterly quality akin to the nightmares of Francis Bacon, while utilising an intuitive but moody editing scheme to craft an intimately unsettling world view.’

5.                              Mother of Flies

                                                                     World Premiere

‘Written and directed by John & Zelda Adams and Toby Poser (The Adams Family), who also star, shot, edited, and scored, MOTHER OF FLIES is the latest creation from the gifted filmmaking family behind such singular works as THE DEEPER YOU DIG, HELLBENDER and WHERE THE DEVIL ROAMS, each of which has World Premiered at Fantasia.

MOTHER OF FLIES is an extraordinary work of personal genre storytelling, gestated through the family’s own experiences battling and surviving cancer.

Its chalice flowing over with dialogue and imagery that will sear into your memory, MOTHER OF FLIES conjures genuine horror magic. It haunts as further testament that the Adams Family continue to rank among the most compelling and original artists in the modern genre world.’

Ticket pre-sales open at 10:00AM on July 4th

For the very latest in up-to-date information on this year’s screenings and events, follow the Fantasia International Film Festival on Facebook, X/Twitter, Bluesky, and Instagram.

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