Oh hey, so Fantastic Fest will be back next month to thrill, overfeed, and exhaust Austin --- and I mean that in the best possible way. This festival is one of my absolute favorites and I'm proud to be repping ScreenAnarchy, along with a small army, led by Todd Brown.
Anyway, Fantastic Fest 2016 has just announced the first wave of programing and special guests for its film market component, Fantastic Market. FYI, the Market runs from September 22-25, 2016 under the umbrella of Fantastic Fest, which takes place September 22 - September 29, 2016 at altar of cinema worship, the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, TX.
The Market looks very interesting with several exciting additions and changes. From the press release:
This year's Fantastic Market brings significant changes as the event moves from a Latin American-focused genre project market into an industry forum for genre films. Market Director Rodney Perkins says: "We have transformed the market into a full-fledged industry event with screenings, talks, panels, film pitches and special guests from all over the world. Our goal is to become the premiere industry forum for genre films."
Fantastic Market will kick off with a keynote talk from two of the most knowledgeable minds in the genre world: Ryan Turek (Blumhouse) and Travis Stevens (Snowfort Pictures). "I began my career as a producer at Fantastic Fest and will likely be wheeled back on my deathbed, quips Stevens. "In the meantime, I'm excited to share what I've learned about the genre business with the next generation of rule breakers."
Turek says: "Fantastic Fest has always been a home away from home for me and I've attended as a fan, a journalist and a judge. I'm excited the team asked me to return for the market this year. I can't wait to not only participate, but also check out some amazing genre films. This year looks incredible."
In addition to the keynote, Fantastic Market will host a number of other talks and panels featuring special guests. Screenwriter and producer Rodo Sayagues (Panic Attack, Evil Dead and Don't Breathe) will present a special talk about the genre film industry. SpectreVision founders Elijah Wood, Daniel Noah, Josh C. Waller, and CEO Lisa Whalen return to Fantastic Market with another program of unique offerings. SpectreVision, which has produced cult favorites like the rabid kiddie flick Cooties and the incredibly weird The Greasy Strangler, will be attending once again, having recently expanded into TV, gaming, and music.
Finally, the 2016 crop of Fantastic Market film projects reflects the event's new expanded scope. The initial selection reflects a wide-ranging mix of newcomers and veterans from around the world including people involved in such films as The Void, The Hitcher, Here Comes The Devil, ABCs of Death, and numerous others. Two projects --- Jairo's Revenge and Birthday Present --- were selected through Fantastic Market's collaboration with Ventana Sur's Blood Windo genre market.
More Fantastic Market programming, such as including additional film projects, screenings, and other events are coming soon! In the meantime, enjoy reading up on this year's first wave of projects. I'm excited to see a few in particular, including EL CUCUY from Gigi Saul Guerrero and It Waits Below (concept art shown above) from Eric Red.
IT WAITS BELOW
USA
Director: Eric Red (THE HITCHER, NEAR DARK)
Producer: Soyoung Jung, Brendan McCarthy (LET US PREY, WAKEWOOD), John McDonnell (LET US PREY, WAKEWOOD)
A three-man submarine crew dive to the deepest part of the ocean to salvage priceless treasure from a sunken shipwreck, unleashing a nightmarish extraterrestrial organism they must survive when the sub gets stranded at the bottom of the sea.
DIRT EATERS
Canada
Director: Chris Nash (ABCS OF DEATH 2)
Producer: Peter Kuplowsky (THE VOID, THE INTERIOR), Shannon Hanmer (ABCS OF DEATH 2), Ant Timpson (HOUSEBOUND, TURBO KID, THE GREASY STRANGLER)
A down-and-out woman befriends a squirm of intelligent carnivorous worms, and seeks revenge on the small town officials that turned their backs on her, in this poli-sci-fi horror satire that evokes BLACK MIRROR and TREMORS.
BIRTHDAY PRESENT (REGALO DE CUMPLEAÑOS) - 2016 BLOOD WINDOW SELECTION
Mexico
Directors: Christian Cueva (JIRON), Ricardo Farías
Producers: Adrián García Bogliano (SCHERZO DIABOLICO, HERE COMES THE DEVIL), Andrea Quiroz Hernández (SCHERZO DIABOLICO, HERE COMES THE DEVIL)
When you accept a gift, you also accept its consequences.
JAIRO'S REVENGE (LA VENGANZA DE JAIRO) - 2016 BLOOD WINDOW SELECTION
Colombia/Guatemala
Director: Simón Hernández (PIZARRO)
Producer: Ivette Liang (VENICE)
A documentary about cult terror film director Jairo Pinilla, in his attempt to finance and produce his last dream project he's been working on for 6 years, THE SPIRIT OF DEATH, the first 3D terror film made in Colombia.
EL CUCUY
USA/Canada
Director: Gigi Saul Guerrero (EL GIGANTE)
Producer: Raynor Shima (EL GIGANTE)
A group of troubled kids at a residential treatment center are forced to work together despite their differences to defeat an ancient creature that is stalking and feeding on all of the naughty children within the facility.
ZERCH
USA
Director: J. Xavier Velasco
Producer: Javier Gonzalez (VALEDICTORIAN)
A police detective investigates a missing person case that leads her to a body-snatcher creature who uses humans as hosts in order to survive.