Fantasia International Film Festival 2024: Audience Awards Announced
The Fantasia International Film Festival, a cornerstone of genre cinema, concluded its 28th edition on August 4, 2024, in Montréal, Quebec. This year’s festival, which drew record-breaking crowds and featured numerous sold-out screenings, marked a significant return to its pre-pandemic grandeur.
As the festival came to a close, it proudly announced the Audience Awards, a tradition that reflects the tastes and preferences of its dedicated attendees. The awards highlight the best in international, Asian, animated, and Canadian cinema, alongside a selection of short films.
Taking the top spot in the Best International Feature category was "BOOKWORM," directed by Ant Timpson from New Zealand, a film that captivated audiences with its unique narrative and engaging performances. The Silver award in this category went to the French adaptation of "THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO," directed by Mathieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patelière, while the Bronze was awarded to "RATS!" directed by Maxwell Navelansky and Carl Fry from the United States.
In the Best Asian Feature category, the Gold award was claimed by "A SAMURAI IN TIME," directed by Junichi Yasuda from Japan, a film that resonated deeply with the festival's audience. The Silver and Bronze awards in this category were given to "TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN," directed by Soi Cheang from Hong Kong, and "PENALTY LOOP," directed by Shinji Araki from Japan, respectively.
"Ghost Cat Anzu," directed by Yōko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita from Japan, won the Gold award for Best Animated Feature. "The Missing," a film from The Philippines directed by Carl Joseph Papa, received the Silver award, and "Mononoke The Movie: Phantom In The Rain," directed by Kenji Nakamura from Japan, took home the Bronze.
The festival also recognized short films across several categories. Notably, "FACES," directed by Blake Simon from the United States, won Gold for Best International Short, while "MEMORY," directed by Jang Hawon from South Korea, earned the Gold award for Best Asian Short.
Canadian and Québecois cinema were also celebrated. "SELF DRIVER," directed by Michael Pierro, won Gold for Best Canadian Feature, and "THE SHITTY RIDE," directed by Cole Doran, took the top prize for Best Canadian Short. In the Best Québec Feature category, "KIDNAPPING INC.," directed by Bruno Mourral, was awarded Gold, while "THE IMAGE SELLER," directed by Donovan Richard, earned the Gold award for Best Québec Short.
The festival's documentary segment also saw recognition, with "VOIVOD: WE ARE CONNECTED," directed by Felipe Belalcazar from Canada, winning Gold for Best Documentary Feature.
Additionally, the prestigious L’Écran Fantastique Award was presented to "THE BEAST WITHIN," directed by Alexander J. Farrell from the United Kingdom. The film was lauded for its meticulous direction and striking imagery, which contributed to its neo-Gothic atmosphere.
With a successful 28th edition behind them, the organizers of the Fantasia International Film Festival have confirmed that the festival will return for its 29th edition from July 17 to August 3, 2025, promising another year of cinematic excellence and audience engagement.
Complete List of Winners:
- Best International Feature:
- Gold: "BOOKWORM" / Dir. Ant Timpson / New Zealand
- Silver: "THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO" / Dir. Mathieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patelière / France
- Bronze: "RATS!" / Dir. Maxwell Navelansky and Carl Fry / United States
- Best Asian Feature:
- Gold: "A SAMURAI IN TIME" / Dir. Junichi Yasuda / Japan
- Silver: "TWILIGHT OF THE WARRIORS: WALLED IN" / Dir. Soi Cheang / Hong Kong
- Bronze: "PENALTY LOOP" / Dir. Shinji Araki / Japan
- Best Animated Feature:
- Gold: "GHOST CAT ANZU" / Dir. Yōko Kuno and Nobuhiro Yamashita / Japan
- Silver: "THE MISSING" / Dir. Carl Joseph Papa / The Philippines
- Bronze: "MONONOKE THE MOVIE: PHANTOM IN THE RAIN" / Dir. Kenji Nakamura / Japan
- Best International Short:
- Gold: "FACES" / Dir. Blake Simon / United States
- Silver: "THE STREETLIGHT" / Dir. Sophia Parella / United States
- Bronze: "LES YEUX D’OLGA" / Dir. Sarah Carlot Jaber / Belgium
- Best Asian Short:
- Gold: "MEMORY" / Dir. Jang Hawon / South Korea
- Silver: "WANNA DIE WANNA KILL" / Dir. Jeong Jaehee / South Korea
- Bronze: "NIGHT FISHING" / Dir. Byoung-gon Moon / South Korea
- Best Animated Short:
- Gold: "RUTHLESS BLADE" / Dir. Bo Zhang / China
- Silver: "LANTERN BLADE, EPISODE 3" / Dir. Ziqi Zhu / China
- Bronze: Tie - "LES BÊTES" / Dir. Michael Granberry / United States and "NUMBER 23. GIANT FISH" / Dir. Si Seunghyun / South Korea
- Best Canadian Feature:
- Gold: "SELF DRIVER" / Dir. Michael Pierro
- Silver: "THE SILENT PLANET" / Dir. Jeffrey St. Jules
- Bronze: "SCARED SHITLESS" / Dir. Vivieno Caldinelli
- Best Canadian Short:
- Gold: "THE SHITTY RIDE" / Dir. Cole Doran
- Silver: "DIRTY BAD WRONG" / Dir. Erica Orofino
- Bronze: "BATH BOMB" / Dir. Colin G. Cooper
- Best Québec Feature:
- Gold: "KIDNAPPING INC." / Dir. Bruno Mourral
- Silver: "JOUR DE CHASSE" / Dir. Annick Blanc
- Bronze: "ABABOUINÉ" / Dir. André Forcier
- Best Québec Short:
- Gold: "THE IMAGE SELLER" / Dir. Donovan Richard
- Silver: "MOURIR EN SILENCE" / Dir. Émile Lavoie
- Bronze: Tie - "RÉINSERTION" / Dir. Youssef Harouj and "BRING BACK GUILLAUME" / Dir. Kevin de Laval
- Best Documentary Feature:
- Gold: "VOIVOD : WE ARE CONNECTED" / Dir. Felipe Belalcazar / Canada
- L’Écran Fantastique Award:
- "THE BEAST WITHIN" / Dir. Alexander J. Farrell / United Kingdom