Echo Chamber - Fantasia 23 - Day 5
We are straight film gazing with our Fantasia International Film Festival (20th July - 9th August 2023) coverage on today's @EchoChamberFP episode!
There are two feature films, a documentary, and three very different Short films!
'A Disturbance In The Force' is written & directed by Jeremy Coon & Steve Kozak. Travel back to a galaxy far, far away—the infamous "Star Wars Holiday Special." Dive into the mystery of how it happened and why 45 years later it has become, much to the chagrin of George Lucas, the ultimate cult classic among Star Wars fans.
'Pruning' is directed by Lola Blanc and she co-wrote with Jeremy Radin. A reactionary political commentator (Madeline Brewer) struggles to balance her ambitions with her morals when a mass shooter cites her as an influence.
'Hundreds of Beavers' is directed by Mike Cheslik who co-wrote with Ryland Brickson Cole Tews. In this 19th century, supernatural winter epic, a drunken applejack salesman (Ryland Brickson Cole Tews) must go from zero to hero to win the hand of a Furier (Olivia Graves), and become North America's greatest fur trapper by defeating hundreds of beavers.
'Only Yourself To Blame' is written & directed by Noomi Yates. When Mai (Severin Simone) sends her drunk friend Sian (Megan Purvis) home in a taxi, she finds herself being pursued by a shadowy assailant who is copying her every move. Unable to outrun her stalker, she confronts them to discover something deeply unsettling.
'With Love and a Major Organ' is directed by Kim Albright and written by Julia Lederer. In an alternate world where hearts are made of objects and suppressing emotions is self-care, a lonely woman rips out her own heart for the man she loves, only to discover that he has run away with it.
'Nian' is written & directed by Michelle Krusiec. A young Chinese-American girl (Lauren Mei) stands up to a racist classmate (Ava DeVoe) with the backing of a Chinese demon mask and all it represents.
Today we have:
A Disturbance In The Force - Poster
A Disturbance In The Force
Watch Review: Here.
South by Southwest Film Festival: 11th March 2023
Fantasia International Film Festival
Saturday, 29th July 2023 at 14:30pm
Auditorium des diplômés de la SGWU
Sidewalk Film Festival: 27th August 2023 - Info: Here.
Sitges International Film Festival - Info: Here.
Director: Jeremy Coon, Steve Kozak
Cast: Kevin Smith, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Seth Green, Bonnie Burton, Taran Killam
Credit: September Club
Genre: Documentary, Fantasy, Sci-Fi
Running Time: 93 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Website: Here.
Pruning - Poster
Pruning
Watch Review: Here.
Fantasia International Film Festival
Sunday, 30th July 2023 at 16:00pm, World Premiere,
Part of 'Born of Woman 2023' programme
Salle J.A. De Sève
Director: Lola Blanc
Cast: Madeline Brewer, Peyton Kennedy, Akilah Hughes, Ben Gleib, Anjali Bhimani, Jeremy Radin
Credit: Rustic Films
Genre: Drama, Horror, Short, Thriller
Running Time: 14 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Website: Here.
Twitter: @pruningfilm
Instagram: @pruningfilm
Hundreds of Beavers - Scene
Hundreds of Beavers
Watch Review: Here.
Fantasia International Film Festival
Friday, 28th July 2023 at 21:20pm
Monday, 31st July 2023 at 11:45am
Salle J.A. De Sève
Octopus Film Festival: 11th August 2023
Popcorn Frights Film Festival: August 2023
Cinequest Film Festival: August 2023
Charlotte Film Festival: September 2023
Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival: September 2023
Cine Underground: October 2023
Film Fest Gent: October 2023
Cine Horror Festival: October 2023
Sitges International Film Festival: October 2023 - Info: Here.
Lausanne Underground Film & Music Festival: October 2023
Toronto After Dark: October 2023
Director: Mike Cheslik
Cast: Ryland Brickson Cole Tews, Olivia Graves, Doug Mancheski, Wes Tank, Luis Rico, Jay Brown, Stephen Cervantes
Credit: SRH
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Running Time: 108 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Website: Here.
Twitter: @beaversfilm
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @hundredsofbeavers
Only Yourself To Blame - Poster
Only Yourself To Blame
Watch Review: Here.
Fantasia International Film Festival
Sunday, 30th July 2023 at 16:00pm, World Premiere,
Part of 'Born of Woman 2023' programme
Salle J.A. De Sève
Director: Noomi Yates
Cast: Ash Dawn Clarke, Pete Picton, Megan Purvis, Severine Simone
Credit: EP:IK Pictures
Genre: Drama, Horror, Short
Running Time: 9 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Website: Here.
With Love and a Major Organ - Poster
With Love and a Major Organ
Watch Review: Here.
South by Southwest Film Festival: 12th March 2023
Indy Film Fest: 23rd April 2023
Fantasia International Film Festival
Saturday, 29th July 2023 at 22:00pm
Room JA De Sève
Director: Kim Albright
Cast: Anna Maguire, Hamza Haq, Veena Sood, Donna Benedicto, Arghavan Jenati, Laara Sadiq, Ryan Beil, Kerën Burkett, Enid-Raye Adams, Miho Suzuki, Linda Pollard, Jennifer Copping, Ken Godmere, Michael Daingerfield
Credit: Common Knowledge Films, Virtual Insurance Films
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Fantasy
Running Time: 91 min
Cert: 15
Trailer: Here.
Website: Here.
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @withlove.andamajororgan
Nian - Image
Nian
Watch Review: Here.
Premiere: 1st October 2022
Fantasia International Film Festival
Sunday, 30th July 2023 at 16:00pm, World Premiere,
Part of 'Born of Woman 2023' programme
Salle J.A. De Sève
Director: Michelle Krusiec
Cast: Lauren Mei, Dawn Akemi Saito, Ava DeVoe, Sophia Zavala, Grace Briella Wilcox, John Walcutt
Credit: Made in Taiwan Pictures, 20th Digital Studio
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Short
Running Time: 6 min
Cert: 12a
Trailer: Here.
Watch via Hulu: Here.
Website: Here.
27th Fantasia International Film Festival
Echo Chamber Intro: Here.
Since its beginnings, the Fantasia International Film Festival has explored the diverse realms of genre cinema, creating bridges between the cutting edge and the mainstream, and providing a festive but professional environment where emerging artists are given exposure alongside their more established counterparts, both locally and internationally. We showcase the best in Canadian and world cinema, discovering and nurturing exciting new talents and offering a platform through which artists and audiences can connect.
Information
Festival Information: Here.
Film Programme: Here.
Short Film Programme: Here.
Tickets & Venue Info: Here.
Panel + Special Events: Here.
Website: Here.
Twitter: @FantasiaFest
Facebook: Here.
Instagram: @fantasiafestival
Vimeo: Here.
*(Music)
'Fantastic Voyage' by Coolio - 1994