We are quickly approaching one of my favorite film festivals, the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival! Taking place in Montreal and running from July 18th through August 4th, Fantasia has something to offer for every type of film fan. This includes an array of short films, several special events and tributes, and of course tons of feature films from across the globe.

If you’re planning to make the journey and attend the festival in-person, there are certain events you won’t want to miss. On July 21st, you can witness legendary horror filmmaker Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep) receive Fantasia’s 2024 Cheval Noir career award and discuss his filmography. Fans of the FANGORIA podcast Colors of the Dark can also attend a live recording of the show on Thursday, July 25th featuring Rebekah McKendry, Elric Kane, and special guest Chuck Russell. These are just a couple of the amazing live events scheduled for this year’s festival.

What most people love about Fantasia International Film Festival is the feature film program. Covering a wide range of genres from every corner of the globe, attendees have an abundance of options to choose from. Naturally, I’m excited for the always impressive slate of horror films. Here are some of the feature films I’m most excited for at this year’s festival!

Azreal is a post-apocalyptic survival film about two people trying to survive sinister cults, demonic entities, and the end of the world. Starring horror fan-favorite Samara Weaving (The Babysitter, Ready or Not), written by Simon Barrett (The Guest, You’re Next), and directed by E.L. Katz (Cheap Thrills, Channel Zero), this is one film that is sure to be a heart-pounding thrill ride. Catch this one on Friday, August 2nd.

Earlier I mentioned Elric Kane will be at the festival for a live recording of his podcast, but he will also be there for the world premiere of his latest film, The Dead Thing. Co-written by Kane and Webb Wilcoxen (The Frontier), The Dead Thing tells the story of a young woman meeting someone who seems to be the perfect man, the horrors of modern dating, lust and obsession, and dark supernatural secrets. The film stars Blu Hunt (The New Mutants, The Originals) and premiers on Friday, July 26th with a second screening on Sunday, July 28th.

Is it really the Fantasia International Film Festival without the world premiere of an Adams Family film? With hits including Hellbender and Where the Devil Roams, directors John Adams and Toby Poser teamed up to write their latest film, Hell Hole, along with Lulu Adams. This time around, the Adams Family transports audiences to remote Serbia where a monstrous creature is unleashed on a fracking crew. Hell Hole will have its world premiere on Monday, July 29th with a second screening on Wednesday, July 31st.

If you’re a fan of RSKK films such as Turbo Kid and Summer of 84, then you won’t want to miss their latest feature film, Wake Up. This film follows a group of youths planning to vandalize a store after-hours as a form of environmental activism, but they are met by a deranged security guard with a passion for hunting. While we all know horror is a political genre, Wake Up is one film that slashes out of subtext to bring politics right to the forefront. Be sure to catch the film on Saturday, August 3rd.

Last, but not least, is the world premiere of the highly anticipated Witchboard remake! This reimagining of the 80’s cult classic is written and directed by Chuck Russell (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, The Blob). Russell’s update to the film tells the story of a New Orleans museum robbery gone wrong and stars the likes of Jamie Campbell Bower (Stranger Things, The Twilight Saga: New Moon) and Madison Iseman (Riot Girls, Annabelle Comes Home). Witchboard will premier at the festival on Friday July 26th.

These films (and many many more) will be available for audiences. Be sure to get your tickets here while you can, and keep an eye out for my reviews of all the films I see at the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival!