Another year, another Fantasia Fest comes to a close in Montreal. The fest confirmed record attendance numbers this year, boasting more than 125,000 festival-goers for its 17th edition, surpassing last year’s record of 109,000 (a 15% increase). Over the course of its three-week film marathon, it presented over 131 features from 31 countries and more than 220 shorts from across the globe.
Fantasia also announced all of its prestigious winners; check out the list below!
New Flesh Award for Best First Feature: CHEAP THRILLS by E.L. Katz (pictured above)
Winner of this year’s SXSW’s Audience Award, the Fantasia jury calls CHEAP THRILLS, “Darkly humorous, smart and bloody in ways that will make many viewers squirm with glee. This abundantly confident first feature provides a thoroughly entertaining snapshot of modern blue collar desperation in a world addicted to easy money and childish amusement.”
Special Mention: HALLEY by Sebastian Hofmann
The jury for the First Feature Competition consisted of Jury President Charles de Lauzirika (Filmmaker), Ramachandra Borcar (Musician), Manon Dumais (Film Critic, Voir), Jason Lapeyre (Filmmaker), and Stéphane du Mesnildot (Film Critic, Les cahiers du cinema).
Cheval Noir Award for Best Film: BIG BAD WOLVES by Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado
Statement: With elements of horror, crime thriller, revenge drama, and wicked black comedy, BIG BAD WOLVES takes genre-bending to bold new levels. This sense of originality, along with its subversive political subtext, assured visual style, and impeccable ensemble cast, is what separates the film from the rest of the pack.
Best Director: Hou Chi-Jan for WHEN A WOLF FALLS IN LOVE WITH A SHEEP
Best Screenplay: Aharon Keshales and Navot Papushado for BIG BAD WOLVES
Best Actor: Cho Jae-hyun for THE WEIGHT by Jeon Kyu-hwan
Best Actress: Nathalie Boutefeu for LES GOUFFRES by Antoine Barraud
Special Mention: ACROSS THE RIVER by Lorenzo Bianchini and LES GOUFFRES by Antoine Barraud
The grand jury for the Cheval Noir Competition was comprised of Jury President Laura Kern (Managing Editor of Film Comment), Jean-Pierre Bergeron (Actor, Filmmaker), Samuel Jamier (Co-Director of the New York Asian Film Festival), Jarod Neece (Senior Programmer, South by Southwest Film Festival), and Travis Stevens (Producer, CEO of Snowfort Pictures).
Audience Awards:
Best Asian Feature:
Gold HK/FORBIDDEN SUPER HERO by Yuichi Fukuda
Silver LESSON OF THE EVIL by Takashi Miike
Bronze HOW TO USE GUYS WITH SECRET TIPS by Lee Wonsuk
Best International Feature:
Gold CURSE OF CHUCKY by Don Mancini
Silver OXV: THE MANUAL by Darren Paul Fisher
Bronze BROKEN CIRCLE BREAKDOWN by Felix Van Groeningen
Best Canadian or Quebec Feature:
LES 4 SOLDATS by Robert Morin
Best Animation Feature:
THE GARDEN OF WORDS by Makoto Shinkai
Guru Prize For Most Energetic Film:
Gold HK/FORBIDDEN SUPER HERO by Yuishi Fukuda
Most Innovative Film:
OXV: THE MANUAL by Darren Paul Fisher
Best Short Film:
Gold LE CHEVREUIL by Rémi St-Michel
Silver L’ÉTRANGER by Olaf Svenson
Bronze JACK ATTACK by Antonio Padovan and Bryan Norton
Best Documentary:
REWIND THIS! by Josh Johnson
CHEAP THRILLS’ Sara Paxton