The almighty Fantasia Film Festival kicks off this July and for their 20^th anniversary, this titanic fest is gearing up for its most massive edition yet. I’ve been lucky enough to attend Fantasia for the past two years and am beyond stoked to be have been invited back for the big 20^th. There’s always a staggering amount of primo genre films from across the globe to watch, people to meet, and Montreal cuisine to consume – my mind and body are ready.

Fantasia’s first big announcement for this year is the return of their Frontières International Co-Production Market. The first wave of this year’s projects has been revealed and there’s some real juicy-sounding ones, including two television series that horror fans should be drooling over: House of Psychotic Women, based on Kier-la Janisse’s incredible horror film journey-cum-autobiography, and Untold Horror, an 8-part documentary series on the “greatest horror movies never made.”

Also included are new projects from Jeruzalem directors Yoav and Doron Paz, Let Us Prey director Brian O’Malley, and He Never Died director Jason Krawczyk.

Dig the full press release below and check back as we’ll be bringing you more Fantasia 2016 news at it comes in!

MONTREAL, Friday May 13 – After a highly successful third European edition at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in April, Frontières returns to the Fantasia International Film Festival for its sixth edition, which will take place July 21-24 in Montreal.

Industry Registration for Frontières is open (Early bird deadline: June 10).

Frontières connects North America with Europe in an environment specifically focused on genre film production and financing. Frontières marks its return to Fantasia with an expanded Frontières line-up that will allow more projects to participate in live pitch sessions. The complete project line-up will be announced during the first week of June.

Frontières is thrilled to announce a first wave of projects selected to participate in its 5th North American edition. For the first time, Frontières will be presenting two television series as part of its line-up: HOUSE OF PSYCHOTIC WOMEN, from producer Andy Starke (SIGHTSEERS, THE DUKE OF BURGUNDY, THE GREASY STRANGLER) , based on the book by Canadian author Kier-la Janisse, and UNTOLD HORROR, an 8-part documentary series on the greatest horror movies never made, from Dave Alexander, editor-in-chief ofRue Morgue magazine. The line-up also includes film projects in development from director Brian O’Malley(LET US PREY), directors Yoav and Doron Paz (JERUZALEM), director Alexandre Franchi (THE WILD HUNT), and the team behind HE NEVER DIED, producer Zach Hagen & writer-director Jason Krawczyk.

Frontières is also pleased to include in its line-up the winner of the Imagine Film Festival Pitch Contest, THE PROFUNDIS, awarded to the top Dutch genre project. THE PROFUNDIS, from director Richard Raaphorst(FRANKENSTEIN’S ARMY) is a co-presentation with the Imagine Film Festival, with support from the Netherlands Film Fund.

Frontières recently announced a new partnership with the Marché du Film-Festival de Cannes for 2017. To introduce the partnership, Frontières and the Marché are pleased to present Frontières Day, which will include a day of programming in Cannes on Sunday, May 15. Events will include a Canadian-Genre VR presentationin collaboration with the Canadian Film Centre; Frontières Goes to Cannes, a work-in-progress presentation of 3 films in post-production; and the Fantastic Fanatics Mixer, a networking cocktail in collaboration with Blood Window at Ventana Sur, the Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, and the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.
Frontières@Fantasia 2016: First Wave Projects

Brain Freeze (Canada)
Director/Writer: Julien Knafo
Producer: Barbara Shrier (Palomar)

Darius (Canada)
Director/Writer:  Alexandre Franchi
Producers: Ménaic Raoul, Alexandre Franchi, Gabrielle Tougas-Fréchette (Voyelles Films /  Les Films de la Mancha)

House of Psychotic Women  (United Kingdom) *Series
Directors: Various TBA
Writers: Sean Hogan (pilot episode), Kier-La Janisse (book)
Producers: Andy Starke (Rook Films), Kier-La Janisse

Mars Camp  (USA/Israel)
Directors: Yoav and Doron Paz (PAZ brothers)
Writers: Yoav and Doron Paz (PAZ brothers), Lauri Donahue
Producers: PAZ Films, Epic Pictures

The Profundis (Netherlands)
Director: Richard Raaphorst
Writers: Shane Berryhill and Richard Raaphorst
Producer: Richard Raaphorst
Winner: Imagine Film Festival Pitch Contest

Room Service (USA)
Director: Yedidya Gorsetman
Writers: Mark Leidner Yedidya Gorsetman
Producers: Josh Itzkowitz, Matthew Smaglik and Mark Leidner

Soulless  (Ireland)
Director: Brian O’Malley
Writer: Tony Philpott
Producers: Brendan McCarthy, John McDonnell  (Fantastic Films)

The Squall (Canada)
Director/Writer: Jason Krawczyk
Producer: Zach Hagen (Alternate Ending Studios)

Striguni (Croatia)
Director/Writer: Aldo Tardozzi
Producer: Barbara Jukopila, Damir Ibrahimovic (Ziva produkcija)

Untold Horror (Canada) *Series
Director: Bob Barrett
Writers: Mark Pollesel, Dave Alexander
Producers: Bob Barrett, Dave Alexander, Kevin Burke, Andrea Butler (Post No Joes Productions)

Established in 2012 at the Fantasia International Film Festival, Frontières specifically focuses on the co-production and financing of genre films between North America and Europe. Frontières 2016 is a collaborative initiative between the Fantasia International Film Festival, the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF), and Vision-in-Motion. Frontières is made possible thanks to the generous support of Creative Europe, Telefilm Canada and SODEC.