See also: Fantasia

FanTasia is the most important film festival of kind in North America. Each year, FanTasia presents a hundred feature-length films coming from a score of country. FanTasia is interested mainly in the Fantastique, the action, the horror, science fiction and animation but also presents the works considered to be unclassable because of their great eccentricity. FanTasia is held annually with Montreal, Quebec and generally takes place in July.

History

First years

FanTasia was created in 1996 by Pierre Corbeil, André Dubois and Martin Sauvageau. Resulting from a project of film club offering of weekly projections, the first edition of the festival finally presented to the Imperial Cinema feature-length films of HongKong and Japan in addition to animated Japanese. It is in 1997 that the festival adopted the current formula by extending its programming to films of kind coming from all the countries.

FanTasia offers programming leaving the beaten paths. The festival was in particular the first nonAsian festival has to present works of Takashi Miike with the presentation of Fudoh in 1997. FanTasia thus constitutes an exceptional window for several foreign realizers whose works would never have been presented in North America differently. Several works thus found a distributer following their passage to FanTasia. Let us quote in particular: The Boxing ring (Ringu), Perfect Blue and Millennium Actress.

FanTasia in Toronto

In 1998, an edition of FanTasia took place with Toronto with the Bloor Cinema, parallel to that of Montreal. Supervised by Julian Grant and Geddes Hake, this edition took place from July 10th to August 9th, that is to say at the same time as that of Montreal. However, the programming differed.

The prizes winner of this first Torontoise edition were:

A special mention is also granted to the film Angst of Germany.

The Toronto-native organizers are so satisfied with the reserved reception with FanTasia that at the end of festival, they announce that FanTasia will return to Toronto like to Vancouver as of the following year. Moreover, editions with New York and Los Angeles are considered for the year 2000.

However, in 1999, a planning of last minute makes so that the Toronto-native edition lasts only ten days and that the expansion in Vancouver does not take place. From August 20th to 29th, they are primarily films of HongKong who are introduced to the Bloor Cinema. The public is less enthusiastic than the previous year.

The Toronto-native editions of FanTasia ceased thereafter. Among the called upon reasons, one finds the difficulty in planning more than one event and a public less receptive than with Montreal.

1999: Short passage to the ex-Centris

In 1999, the duration of the festival is 24 days, rather than the 31 usual days. However, in addition to presenting films to Imperial, two projections per day take place with the ex-Centris. This offers certain advantages, but the organizers of FanTasia can only note the failure of the projections offered to the ex-Centris. In this crested place, environment is not there and FanTasia does not live really the places: it is only one event among so many others.

2000-2001: Collaboration with Juste To laugh

The year 2000 mark the beginning of collaboration between FanTasia and the shutter Comédia of the festival Just to laugh. From July 13rd to 23rd, FanTasia and Comédia thus divide the screen of the Impérial cinema.

It is about a rather short edition offering 69 projections distributed over 19 days compared to 139 projections distributed over 24 days the previous year. Moreover, 11 of these 69 projections are allotted to Comédia, which leaves little place to the usual programming of FanTasia. Among the catalog, the titles according to belong to Comédia: Andre Splendid the , Attack the Gas Station! , In Clouded They Eat Dogs , the Convent , Dying off Laughter , The Independent , Psycho Beach Party , Terry Jones Live! , Tuvalu and Life after the love . Whereas Attack the Gas Station! is preceded by the public of FanTasia, the film does not receive any reward within the framework of Comédia.

In 2001, FanTasia and Comédia are always associated, but the cooperation is less close. In the catalog, one finds two distinct sections: the first dedicated to FanTasia and the second dedicated to Comédia. Moreover, projections of FanTasia are presented to Imperial whereas projections of Comédia are presented to the Parisien cinema. This makes it possible FanTasia to offer 84 projections of 22 days. It is about the last year of collaboration between FanTasia and Comédia.

2002-2003: FanTasia moves in Concordia

Of 1996 with 2001, FanTasia was presented to the Imperial Cinema. In 2002, when the restorations of the Imperial Cinema took delay, the edition of FanTasia had to be cancelled. The following year, FanTasia moved its activities with the Université Concordia and is remained there since. With its two rooms of projection (Theater Hall of 700 places and room J.A. of Sap of 150 places), the Université Concordia offers an advantage of size compared to the Imperial Cinema which counted only one room.

Some accustomed of the festival reproach the little of comfort which the rooms of the Université Concordia offer, but for the organizers, this site is important because it makes it possible to maintain the environment good child which reigns on the site of the festival.

2004: FanTasia in the middle of the saga of the film festivals of Montreal

Following fallen in disgrace from the FM, to the autumn 2004, Telefilm Canada and SODEC launch out jointly in an invitation to tender aiming at the creation of a new cinema festival rassemblor of international scale for Montreal. Telefilm Canada and SODEC receives four candidatures: that of Spectra (FIFM), that of FNC, that of Comédia and that of FanTasia.

According to the report/ratio of Telefilm Canada, the representatives of FanTasia would have written: " We do not claim to be the solution with your call but to form integral part of it, that is to say as a member of a regrouping of other events or while continuing to be autonomous, distinct and complementary to the other cinema festivals montréalais, Canadian and internationaux."

For its part, the team of Comédia would have written: " Very serious and advanced discussions are in hand with the film festival of kind, FanTasia in order to create an alliance. There however was no time us to be able to announce it officially. This is why the budgets and certain parts of the concept will have to be possibly refitted according to this fusion."

After this first turn, none the received proposals satisfies Téléfilm Canada and SODEC. The proposal of FNC and the group Spectra (FIFM) are nevertheless préviligées compared to those of FanTasia and Comédia which has a too limited range.

The four groups are requested to revise their original proposal. At the end of this exercise, Telefilm Canada and SODEC receive three projects: that of Spectra (FIFM), that of FNC and a project united between Comédia and FanTasia. The continuation is known: the discussed choice of the project of the group Spectra (FIFM), the refusal of FNC to collaborate with the FIFM, décriée behavior of three festivals general practitioners in Montreal in 2005 (FNC, FM, FIFM), the death of the FIFM and public survey keeping near Telefilm Canada and of SODEC

2006: The tenth edition

In 2006, within the framework of its 10th edition, FanTasia presented for the first time of projections in the open air free to the park of peace. Projected works (Kamikaze Girls, last four episodes of Goldorak, Night off the Living room Dorks, Attack the Gas Station) belonged to successes of the back issues. Between 400 and 600 people assisted has each one of its projections. The organizers wishes to renew the experiment at the time of the edition 2007.

Always within the framework of its 10th edition, on July 8th 2006, one attends the launching of the DVD SMALL GAUGE TRAUMA, a compilation of best court-measurings of horrors presented since 1997 to FanTasia in the block SMALL GAUGE TRAUMA.

The current team of the festival is made up of:

  • Directing of the festival: Pierre Corbeil
  • Assistants director: Mitch Davis and Marc Lamothe
  • Directing of the international programming: Mitch Davis and Tony Timpone
  • Directing of the Asian programming: Pierre Corbeil and André Dubois

Customers

The customers of FanTasia mainly made up of a public of are accustomed festival. These customers are strongly provided education for. She consists of 60% men and 40% women. She consists of 60% of French-speaking people. She comes mainly from the age bracket 20-40 years with a 28 years average. 15% of festival come from the outside of the metropolitan region.

The festival attracts more 70  000 festival each year. The last edition (2006) attracted more 78  000 spectators and the organizers think of crossing the course of the 80  000 spectators at the time of the edition 2007.

The principal characteristic of the festival is the character good child which reigns on the site. Sometimes the energy released at the time them representations makes think of the environment in a concert rock'n'roll. The quasi-systematic subtitling of films makes it possible not to lose only one word of the dialog, in spite of the general euphoria. However, the public is particularly respectful works and listens attentively when the tone of film becomes more serious.

Near many people, FanTasia is especially perceived as a festival of films of horror which however account for only 25% of the programming. This somewhat restrictive perception tends to grow blurred with the years.

Governmental subsidies

FanTasia is been sulky by the government organizations (SODEC, Téléfilm Canada) during the attribution of the subsidies to the various cinema festivals. FanTasia is regarded for these organizations as being a too specialized festival. However, with its 78.000 spectators, FanTasia has been for two years the most popular film festival in Quebec.

This paradoxical situation is explained by the organizers by the fact why contrary to the other festivals, FanTasia was not born from a political will but is rather an entrepreneurial project. It is thus necessary to convince, which is not always easy when one does not comply with the usual rules of the play.

What would mean obtaining a financing for FanTasia? For the organizers, a sum of 150.000$ could make miracles. In addition to more publicity to international and the possibility of inviting personality such Quentin Tarantino, these funds public would make it possible to offer subtitles in the two official languages at the time of the representations. For the moment, the majority of films in foreign language are subtitled only in English what deprives FanTasia of the French-speaking unilingual public.

Of 1996 with 2004, FanTasia thus survived only thanks to the sale of the tickets (2/3 of returned) and at private funds (silent partners and advertisers). The team of FanTasia (programmers, canvassers, etc) is mainly made up of voluntary which is remunerated only if the edition generates profits.

In 2005, FanTasia obtained for the first time an financial aid of 25.000$ coming from the ministry for the municipal Businesses and the Areas within the framework of the “Development funds of the metropolis”. This subsidy was used with the financing of the 9th edition and its setting in market except Quebec.

In 2006, FanTasia receives a subsidy of 35.000$ of the ministry for the municipal Businesses and Areas as well as a help of 10.000$ and Town of Montreal.

The festival, year per year

1996

Dates : from July 12th to August 11th

Place: Imperial cinema

Characteristic : First edition of the festival. Only films of HongKong and Japan are presented.

1997

Dates : July 11th at August 10th

Place: Imperial cinema

Price :

  • Price of best Asian film:
  • Price of best international film:
  • Prix of best short-measuring:
    • Aftermath , of Nacho Cerdà
    • Dr. Curry , of David Alcalde
    • Cutting Moments , of Douglas Buck

1998

Dates : July 10th at August 9th

Place: Imperial Cinémal

Characteristic : Year of the first edition of the festival in Toronto

Price :

  • Price of best Asian film:
  • Price of best international film:
  • Price of best short-measuring:

1999

Dates : July 23rd at August 15th

Places: Imperial cinema and exCentris

Characteristic : Second edition of the festival in Toronto. Only year when the cinema exCentris is used.

Price :

  • Price of the public
    • Price of best Asian film:
      • Gold: Boxing ring ( Ringu ) (Japan), of Hideo Nakata
      • Money: Jin-Roh, the brigade of the wolves ( Jin-Roh ) (Japan), of Hiroyuki Okiura
      • Bronze: Hypnosis (Japan), of Masayuki Ochiai
    • Price of best international film:
    • Price of best short-measuring:
      • Gold: Come outside! (Canada), of Eric Tessier
      • Money: How' S Your News? (ÉUA), of Arthur Bradford
      • Bronze: Elevated (Canada), of Vincenzo Natali

2000

Dates : From July 13rd to 31st

Place: Imperial cinema

Characteristic : Beginning of collaboration between FanTasia and the festival Just to laugh.

Price :

2001

Dates : From July 10th to 31st

Place: Imperial cinema

Characteristic : Second and last year of collaboration with Just to laugh. Last year with the Imperial Cinema.

Price :

2002

Edition cancelled because of the restorations of the Imperial Cinema.

2003

Dates : July 17th at August 10th

Place: Concordia university

Characteristic : First edition with the University Concordia

Price :

  • official Prize list
    • Drive , of Hiroyuki Tanaka (better Asian film)
    • Dead End , of Jean-Baptiste Andrea and Fabrice Canepa (better international film)
    • Tamala 2010 , of Tol (better cartoon film)
    • Suicide Club , of Sound system Sion (revolutionary film)
    • Adventures of Klaus to the carriage controls lifting , of Stefan Prehn and Jörg Wagner (better short-measuring)
  • Price of the public
  • Prix Vision Total :

2004

Dates : July 8th at August 1st

Place: Concordia university

Price :

2005

Dates : From July 7th to 25th

Place: Concordia university

Characteristic : 10th birthday of the festival. It is however about the 9th edition because of cancellation of the edition of 2001.

Price :

  • Official Prize list
    • Better film
    • Better realizer: equal
      • Gen Sekiguchi - Survives Style 5+ (Japan)
      • Masaaki Yuasa - Mind Game (Japan)
    • Meilleur scenario
    • Meilleure cinematography:
      • Kosuke Matushima - The Taste off Tea (Japan)
    • Better actor:
    • Better actress:
      • Kate Greenhouse - Dark Hours (Canada)
    • Special price - visual Achievement:
  • Price Sequences - 50e birthday
    • Better Asian film
    • Special mention
      • One Nite in Mongkok (HongKong)
    • Special mention - Guilty Pleasure (guilty Pleasure)
  • Prix the Fantastic Screen
    • Survives Style 5+ (Japan)

2006

Dates : From July 6th to 24th

Place: Concordia university

Characteristic : 10th edition of the festival. To underline the event, of projections in the open air are organized for the first time.

Price :

  • official Prize list - feature-length films
    • Better film:
      • Strange Circus - Sound system Sion (Japan)
    • Better realizer:
    • Better scenario:
    • Better photo direction:
    • Meilleur actor:
      • Zlatko Buric - Pusher tractor 3 (Denmark)
    • Better actress:
      • Masumi Miyazaki - Strange Circus (Japan)
  • official Prize list - short films
    • Better Québécois short film (together with a purse of 1.000 $):
      • the FOREIGNER - Guillaume Fort
    • Better international short film:
      • BEFORE DAWN - Balint Kenyeres (Hungary)
    • Better short film of animation:
      • ZERO DISMANTLES - Omid Khoshnazar (Iran)
    • Special mention - visual Achievement:
      • RABBIT - Run Wrake (England)
  • Price Sequences
    • BEHIND THE MASK: THE SMALL CHANNEL OFF LESLIE VERNON (the United States)
  • Price the Fantastic Screen
    • BEHIND THE MASK: THE SMALL CHANNEL OFF LESLIE VERNON (the United States)

2007

Dates : From July 5th to 23rd

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