What can I say? I’m enamored with film festival coverage now. The fresh voices. The energy of the community. The experience. Of course, COVID-19 has thrown the festival circuit for a loop, as SXSW and Cannes have been cancelled, and the Atlanta Film Festival has been delayed until September. I will have more on the latter in a future post; for now, it’s another festival’s chance to shine.
The other day on Twitter, someone shared a tweet from Kaila Hier on behalf of the Fantasia International Film Festival to film writers about the festival’s virtual format this year, and inviting people to cover the fest. I emailed, and I am pleased to join in on covering the Montreal-based festival in its virtual platform from Kennesaw. One day, I’d love to go in person, but this will have to do for now, and if the first wave of announcements is any indication, this is going to be a terrific lineup.
Here are the films that standout, first and foremost, from a glance over that first wave:
“The Reckoning”, the Opening Night film, Neil Marshall’s thriller set during the Great Plague, and the witch hunts to follow, in 1665.
“Tezuka’s Barbara”, an adaptation of the manga from the author of Astro Boy about a novelist who encounters a homeless girl, and the encounters that follow.
“The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw”, a Gothic horror tale about a mother and daughter suspected of witchcraft.
“Sleep”, a German horror tale about a mother who suffers from nightmares she believes is real, and what happens when her daughter joins her.
“Labyrinth of Cinema”, the final film from director Nobuhiko Obayashi, who passed away in April.
Some more from the first wave will likely be of interest to me as I begin to dig into the larger selection list, but that’s a damn fine start to what looks like it’ll be a terrific festival and experience.
Thanks for listening,
Brian Skutle
www.sonic-cinema.com
