Lisa Dreyer is festival director.[1]Annick Mahnert is head of programming.
Historyedit
The festival focuses on genre films such as horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, Asian, and cult. The festival takes place in September at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, filling eight screens for eight days and hosting many writers, directors, and actors, either well-established or unknown. The festival has become known as a launch-pad for genre films, where critical acclaim at the fest can lead to big box office returns.[2] A notable feature of this festival is the inclusion of "secret screenings". For these screenings, the audience often does not know what the film will be until seated, moments before it begins.[3] It also features many themed parties, outings, film-themed "feasts", and other events that are hallmarks of the original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. In 2007, Variety publisher Charles Koones included Fantastic Fest as one of "ten festivals we love".[4] In 2008, Moviemaker named Fantastic Fest "one of the 25 film festivals worth the entry fee".[5] In 2017, Moviemaker listed Fantastic Fest in "The 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World."[6]
In 2022, an online-exclusive section of programming was created: "Burnt Ends." In this new segment, Fantastic Fest wants to showcase "the weirdest, wildest, most fringe films out there."[7]
Festivals by year (2005–2009)edit
2005edit
The 2005 festival was only three days long, October 6–9. Screened films included Feast, Wolf Creek, and Zathura. The official sponsors of the 2005 festival were Milkshake Media, KOOP Radio, The Austin Chronicle, Jackson Walker LLP, and Independence Brewery.
The special effects team from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe installed a display of costumes, creatures and props from the Narnia film. Legendary makeup and effects supervisor Howard Berger presided over a special effects Q&A.
2006edit
The 2006 festival was expanded to 8 days and held September 21–28.
A notable highlight for the audience occurred when Mel Gibson walked into the theater.
Closing night party was Undead Till Dawn, a vampire-themed dance party
There was a special screening timed with the release of 42nd STREET FOREVER VOLUME 5: ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE EDITION where every trailer was shown in 35mm
2007edit
The 2007 festival was held September 20–27. In 2007, Fantastic Fest became a supporting member of the Melies European Federation of Fantastic Film Festivals and helped to found the North American Fantastic Festival Alliance, along with Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal and Dead Channels in San Francisco. The official sponsors of the 2007 Fantastic Fest were AMD, Stella Artois, AT&T, Twitch.com, B-Side, Rue Morgue, Fangoria, and Mondo Macabro.
Los Cronocrímenes (Timecrimes), with director Nacho Vigalondo in attendance[10] (Timecrimes was purchased out of the festival by Magnolia Films for theatrical distribution, and remake rights were purchased by United Artists.)[11]
Special Jury Award for Visual Invention – "Rojo Red"
Animated Shorts
Gold Medal – "Bernie's Doll"
Silver Medal – "Muto"
Bronze Medal – "Violeta"
Special Jury Award for Technical Merit – "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Hollow"
Highlightsedit
Director Nacho Vigalondo covering his face with honey and shooting himself with a confetti cannon following the screening of his short films.
The "shaky-face" badge photos required attendees to submit a picture of themselves taken while violently shaking their heads back and forth. This resulted in some very unusual portraits.
The Fantastic Debates pitted film lovers against one another in spirited arguments about "Horror Remakes — Reinvented Classics, or Modern Abominations" and the like. Debators unable to resolve their differences with words then stepped into the boxing ring to settle things with fists.
Michael Jackson: Thrill the World, an attempt to break the world record for largest synchronized Thriller dance
Smokin' Karaoke Apocalypse Party 2008, with live band karaoke
2009edit
The 2009 festival was held September 24 – October 1. It was the first year of the Fantastic Fest Lifetime Achievement Award, which was given to director Jess Franco. The official sponsors of the 2009 Fantastic Fest were Real D, G4, Dark Sky Films, Best Buy, Stella Artois, Jeremiah Weed, Ain't It Cool News, and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
Watching Uwe Boll fight Alamo Drafthouse owner Tim League at the Fantastic Debates
Chaos Reigns!
Brutus and Balzaak Bash party celebrating Gentlemen Broncos opening night party
Shooting machine guns
100% medically accurate Q&A by director Tom Six after his film Human Centipede
Opening of the Highball, the official Fantastic Fest party-place/bowling alley/bar
Double 3D Dance Party at the Highball
The Future of 3D: Panels and Presentations event
The Michael Jackson Dance Party
Sake, Shochu and Karaoke: Meet the Japanese! – party at Highball
Return of the Fantastic Feud (and win by Team USA!)
Festivals by year (2010–2014)edit
2010edit
The 2010 festival was held September 23–30. It was the first year of the Fantastic Arcade, a showcase of independent video games.[22] The presenting sponsors of the 2010 Fantastic Fest were Dell, AMD, RealD, Ambhar Tequila, FearNet.com, Sony PlayStation, and Qriocity.[23]
Runner-up: "All Men Are Called Robert" (Marc-Henri Boulier)
Special Jury Mention for Acting: Robert Picardo ("The Candidate")
Drawn and Quartered: Animated Shorts
Best Animated Short: "The Last Norwegian Troll" (Pjotr Sapegin)
Runner-up: Lazarov ("NIETOV")
Highlightsedit
James Quinn McDonagh versus Tim League at the Fantastic Fest Debates
The opening night film Human Centipede 2 had an ambulance on standby outside and handed out barf bags[32]
Opening night party in celebration of Human Centipede 2 with live music from the Charles Edward Cheese band
Fantastic Feud (Team USA continues win streak over Team International)
Fantastic Arcade ran Sept. 22–24
Japan Night: Chaos Reigns Karaoke Party
100 Best Kills featuring the best of audience submitted movie deaths
Karaoke Apocalypse – karaoke with a live band
Fantastic Trivia presented by Geeks Who Drink
Fantastic Fest Closing Night Party: Superhero Carnival – featuring Aquaman's Ocean, The Flash's Mountain Race Challenge, Batman's Boxing Battle, Spider-man's Wall of Webbing, Superman's House of Flight and carnival food
2012edit
The 2012 Fantastic Fest Film Festival took place September 20–27. This was the last year Fantastic Fest was held at the Highball and South Lamar theater before it was all remodeled.
The Conspiracy – Q&A with Director Christopher MacBride, producer Lee Kim, actor/producer Aaron Poole, cinematographer Ian Anderson, and actor Jim Gilbert
Errors of the Human Body – Q&A with actor Michael Eklund, director Jennifer Phang, actor/co-producer Jacqueline Kim, and technical director Jon Destoppeleire
Everybody in Our Family
Fuck Up – Q&A with director Oystein Karlsen, producer Anders Tangen, cinematographer Pal Bugge Haagenrud, and actor Jon Oigarden
Datapop party celebrating 8-bit music and culture for Fantastic Arcade
"Hellfjord" Norwegian Party
Tim League fighting YK Kim at the Fantastic Debates
Closing night party was Red Dawn themed. The Austin American Legion was decorated as a maximum-security prison with free prison tattoos and head shaving
Fantastic Feud (Team International's first victory over Team USA)
2013edit
The 2013 festival was hosted for the first time at the brand new Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline location from September 19–26.
The 2017 festival took place at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar from Sept. 21–28. The event attracted attention due to the disclosure that Tim League had re-hired Devin Faraci as a writer even though Faraci resigned from Birth.Movies.Death in 2016 after he was accused of sexual assault. Faraci's re-hiring prompted the resignation of Todd Brown, Fantastic Fest's director of international programming.[62] Alamo Drafthouse/Fantastic Fest severed ties with Harry Knowles after sexual harassment/assault allegations pertaining to him also surfaced.[63]
In 2020, due to the prevalence of COVID-19, the physical festival was canceled. Instead, they held a completely free, virtual festival with a reduced lineup called Celebration of Fantastic Fest.[81] The virtual event also included two special physical screenings and virtual parties.[82]
World Premieres
Action U.S.A (world premiere of the 4K restoration)
Bloodthirsty (dir. Amelia Moses)
The Boy Behind The Door (dir. David Charbonier & Justin Powell)
AGFA presents Triple Fisher: The Lethal Lolitas of Long Island (dir. Dan Kapelovitz)
Festivals by year (2021–present)edit
2021edit
The 2021 festival took place at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar from 23 to 30 September. The festival was held in reformated structure due to restrictions of COVID-19 pandemic aftermath.[83]
The 2022 festival took place at the Alamo Drafthouse in South Lamar, Austin, Texas from September 22 to September 29, with virtual screenings taking place from September 29 to October 4.[84]
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