Fantasia 2021 will run from August 5th to the 25th. A great number of films will be available to watch on-demand on the Festival's virtual streaming platform (powered by Festival Scope and Shift72). Some virtual screenings will be scheduled at a specific date and time, check out the website to know when to tune in! Several films will be shown in person at Montreal's Cinéma Impérial, Cinéma du Musée, or outdoors at Place de la Paix. Click here to see which ones! All panels, talks, masterclasses and special events will once again be completely free and accessible worldwide on Zoom or YouTube.
You can buy a Festival Passport HERE. Please check the Official Website for more info.
Here are, in alphabetical order, all the Asian Films:
THE 12 DAY TALE OF THE MONSTER THAT DIED IN 8 | JAPAN Dir: Shunji Iwai
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Shunji Iwai's latest is a delightfully meta slice of pandemic life in isolation – with kaiju!
ALL ABOUT LILY CHOU-CHOU | JAPAN Dir: Shunji Iwai
Pop star Lily Chou-Chou dominates the charts and the lives of two teens, in Shunji Iwai's generationdefining coming-of-age
masterpiece.
APRIL STORY | JAPAN Dir: Shunji Iwai
A shy girl from Hokkaido moves to Tokyo for university…and a crush. A Shunji Iwai classic.
ART KABUKI | JAPAN Réal/Dir: Kazutaro Nakamura
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
With live shows cancelled due to COVID-19, an actor creates a sumptuous filmed performance. Like a rock concert in a Zen
garden.
BACK TO THE WHARF | CHINA Dir: Li Xiafeng
CANADIAN PREMIERE
A truly refreshing film noir, with sharp reflections on corruption, greed and how China's modernization can transform an innocent
family.
BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES | JAPAN Dir: Junta Yamaguchi
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
A fun low-budget, high-concept time-loop movie that transcends expectations – sweet, silly, inventive and satisfying,
CAUTION, HAZARDOUS WIFE: THE MOVIE | JAPAN Dir: Toya Sato
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
An unremarkable housewife is in fact a formidable secret agent suffering from amnesia in this actionpacked thriller
COLLECTORS | SOUTH KOREA Dir: Park Jung-bae
CANADIAN PREMIERE
A funny and unpredictable historical adventure film, crime drama and comedy all in one!
THE DEER KING | JAPAN Dir: Masasashi Ando / Miyaji Masayuki
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
The legendary warrior Broken Antler Van must reluctantly face his destiny, in this grand anime fantasy epic of the first order.
THE DEVIL'S DEAL | SOUTH KOREA Dir: Lee Won-tae
WORLD PREMIERE
A captivating political thriller tinged with cynicism, masterful in its writing, acting, and direction.animée. The legendary warrior Broken Antler Van must reluctantly face his destiny, in this grand anime fantasy epic of the first order
DREAMS ON FIRE | CANADA / JAPAN Dir: Philippe McKie
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIER
Yume has only one dream – to break into the dance world in Japan. She leaves her small town to move to Tokyo and make her
mark in her discipline.
FIGHTER | SOUTH KOREA Dir: Jéro Yun
CANADIAN PREMIERE
A masterful film with a phenomenal actress, using the codes of the boxing drama to deliver a moving, powerful and hopeful work.
FOLLOW THE LIGHT | JAPAN Dir: Yoichi Narita
WORLD PREMIERE
A stunningly beautiful coming-of-age story set in a village in the Japanese countryside, where a crop circle appears one day.
FORTUNE FAVORS LADY NIKUKO | JAPAN Dir: Ayumu Watanabe
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Big things are going to happen in the lives of this small fishing town. A quirky, candid, colourful anime comedy-drama.
FUNKY FOREST: THE FIRST CONTACT | JAPAN Dir: Katsuhito Ishii / Hajime Ishimine / Shunichiro Mik
A defining work of Japan's millennial new wave of outrageously original pop cinema, guaranteed to confuse, amuse, repulse, and excite you.
GEORAMA BOY, PANORAMA GIRL | JAPAN Dir: Natsuki Seta
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Director Natsuki Seta demonstrates exemplary delicacy and sensitivity with this beautiful comingof-age story.
GRAND BLUE DREAMING | JAPAN Dir: Tsutomu Hanabusa
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
An extremely irreverent comedy in which a nudedash obstacle course and much more awaits fans of absurdist humour.
THE GREAT YOKAI WAR – GUARDIANS | JAPAN Dir: Takashi Miike
INTERNATIONAL PREMIER
The titan Takashi Miike takes us back to the magical world of the Yokai as a war threatens to destroy Tokyo. An irreverent fairytale!
HAND ROLLED CIGARETTE | HONG KONG Dir: Chan Kin-Long
CANADIAN PREMIERE
Petty crook Kwan must decide where his loyalties and fortune lie. Drama, suspense, humour and action in the neon-soaked
underbelly of Hong Kong.
HAYOP KA! THE NIMFA DIMAANO STORY | PHILIPPINES Dir: Avid Liongoren
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
When Nimfa's life gets turned upside down, will the sexy kitten land on her feet? A steamy cartoon soap-opera satire.
HELLO! TAPIR | TAIWAN Dir: Kethsvin Chee
CANADIAN PREMIER
When his father goes missing at sea, a boy seeks out a magical creature in the hopes of bringing dad back home.
HOLD ME BACK | JAPAN Dir: Akiko Ohku
QUEBEC PREMIERE
Mitsuko thrives on being alone. Until her hearts gets in the way. The latest from rom-com master Akiko Ohku (TREMBLE ALL
YOU WANT).
IT'S A SUMMER FILM! | JAPAN Dir: Soushi Matsumoto
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
The teen coming-of-age, the samurai and the sci-fi film come together in Soushi Matsumoto's imaginative, luminous ode to
moviemaking magic!
JOSÉE | SOUTH KOREA Dir: Kim Jong-kwa
A romance develops between a student and a young paraplegic woman in this moving new adaptation of JOSÉE, THE TIGER
AND THE FISH.
JUNK HEAD JAPON | Dir: Takahide
The existential cyber-horror of Takahide Hori's oneman stop-motion project returns at last in a tighter, meaner theatrical edit.
KAKEGURUI | JAPAN Dir: Tsutomu Hanabusa
Welcome to the private academy Hyakkaoh, where the hierarchy is defined by success in gambling. Catch up on the first film in
the series!
KAKEGURUI 2: ULTIMATE RUSSIAN ROULETTE | JAPAN Dir: Tsutomu Hanabusa
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
When a demented antagonist raises the stakes, our favourite characters are gambling with their lives in this new tale from Hyakkaoh Academy
LOVE, LIFE AND GOLDFISH | JAPAN Dir: Yukinori Makabe
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
musical comedy from Yukinori Makabe with extremely catchy J-pop songs, perfectly integrated into the story.
MIDNIGHT | SOUTH KOREA Dir: Kwon Oh-seung
CANADIAN PREMIERE
Two hearing-impaired women fall prey to a charismatic murderer in this breathtaking thriller with impeccable sound design.
MIDNIGHT IN A PERFECT WORLD | PHILIPPINES Dir: Dodo Dayao
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Near-perfect, near-future Manila. Enter a safe house after a blackout to discover how far the darkness can stretch, in Dodo Dayao's sophomore effort.
NOT QUITE DEAD YET | JAPAN Dir: Shinji Hamasaki
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Can Nanase save her dead dad's life? A quickpaced comedy of corporate intrigue, family melodrama, and supernatural silliness.
OFFICE ROYALE | JAPAN Dir: Kazuaki Sek
CANADIAN PREMIERE
Let's settle our workplace rivalries with our fists! OFFICE ROYALE doesn't skimp on the manga-style fights, one after another at a frantic pace.
ONE SECOND CHAMPION | HONG KONG Dir: Chiu Sin-Hang
CANADIAN PREMIERE
With the power to see one second into the future, loser Chow becomes a winner in the ring. Highpressure fun, Hong Kong style!
ORA, ORA BE GOIN' ALONE | JAPAN Dir: Shuichi Okita
QUEBEC PREMIER
Aging widow Momoko's inner thoughts manifest as a trio of mischievous, musical idiots. A tender, tragicomic examination of life's last lap
POMPO: THE CINÉPHILE | JAPAN Dir: Takayuki Hirao
PREMIÈRE NORD-AMÉRICAINE | NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
“Is there a secret to making a great movie?” The anime version of the much-loved manga is a love letter to the art and industry of filmmaking.
POUPELLE OF CHIMNEY TOWN | JAPAN Dir: Yusuke Hirota
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
A heartfelt rollercoaster ride of nonstop visual delights, from the cutting-edge animation talent at STUDIO4ºC.
REMAIN IN TWILIGHT | JAPAN Réal/Dir: Daigo Matsui
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Six high school friends reunite, yet one shouldn't be there. Grief comes alive in Daigo Matsui's metaphysical dramedy.
RETURN OF THE BASTARD SWORDSMAN | HONG KONG Dir: Tony Lu
An outlandish onslaught of over-the-top fight scenes involving deadly palms, killer heartbeats, fingers shooting lasers, and cool music.
THE SADNESS | TAIWAN Dir: Rob Jabbaz
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
This relentlessly shocking horror rollercoaster is an assaulting new landmark in both extreme cinema and the zombie subgenre.
SAKURA | JAPAN Dir: Hitoshi Yazaki
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
A charming family chronicle full of tenderness and sensitivity, particularly touching for anyone who has ever owned a dog.
SATOSHI KON, THE ILLUSIONIST | FRANCE / JAPAN Dir: Pascal-Alex Vincent
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
A poignant, detailed portrait of the late Satoshi Kon, a transformative anime talent who toyed with truth and illusion.
SEOBOK | SOUTH KOREA Dir: Lee Yong-ju
CANADIAN PREMIERE
A secret service agent's mission is to protect Seobok, the first human clone. A sci-fi thriller mixing ethical reflection with high-octane action.
SEPTET: THE STORY OF HONG KONG | HONG KONG / CHINA Dir: Ann Hui / Sammo Hung / Ringo Lam / Patrick Tam / Johnnie To / Tsui Hark / Yuen Wo-Ping
QUEBEC PREMIERE
Seven legendary Hong Kong directors come together to compose a symphony for their changing city.
SEXUAL DRIVE | JAPAN Réal/Dir: Kôta Yoshida
PREMIÈRE CANADIENNE | CANADIAN PREMIER
Three unexpected stories of food and sex, from new-school pinku director Kôta Yoshida.
THE SLUG | SOUTH KOREA Réal/Dir: Choi Jin-young
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Hit by lightning, solitary Chun-hee is visited by her younger self. The weight of the past comes alive in Choi Jin-young's delicate fantasy debut.
THE STORY OF SOUTHERN ISLET | MALAYSIA Dir: Chong Keat Aun
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Yan must save her husband's soul in this remarkable debut, set in the rural Malaysia of the 1980s.
SWEETIE, YOU WON'T BELIEVE IT | KAZAKHSTAN Dir: Ernar Nurgaliev
CANADIAN PREMIERE
Three buddies on a fishing trip are pursued by inept gangsters – and they're all the prey of a crazed killer.
TIME | HONG KONG Dir: Ricky Ko
PREMIÈRE CANADIENNE | CANADIAN PREMIERE
Two assassins, now in their golden years, find renewed purpose in this love letter to Hong Kong cinema and its legendary heroes.
TIONG BAHRU SOCIAL CLUB | SINGAPORE Dir: Tan Bee Thiam
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
Something's not quite right in the “happiest neighbourhood in Singapore”. A sci-fi-tinged, candy-coloured satire of our algorithmic lives
TOKYO REVENGERS | JAPAN Dir: Tsutomu Hanabusa
INTERNATIONAL PREMIERE
Takemichi may have a chance to change the future – if he can survive his own past. A high-stakes, streetfighting time-travel thriller!
UNDER THE OPEN SKY | JAPAN Dir: Miwa Nishikawa
QUEBEC PREMIERE
The legendary Koji Yakusho delivers one of his most moving performances in this repentant yakuza drama by Miwa Nishikawa.
UZUMAKI | JAPAN Dir: Higuchinsky
A town cursed by spirals. Higuchinsky's J-horror classic returns to Fantasia!
VOICE OF SILENCE | SOUTH KOREA Dir: Hong Eui-jeong
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIER
A masterfully handled debut in which the majestic cinematography, gripping suspense and excellent acting impress.
THE WARPED FOREST | JAPAN Dir: Shunichiro Miki
The extraordinary is never out of the ordinary in the sequel to FUNKY FOREST. A fantastic, feelgood freak show of the finest sort.
WONDERFUL PARADISE | JAPAN Dir: Masashi Yamamoto
NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE
The Sasayas are moving out, but not without a party! A demented spin on the unwanted-guest scenario from punk iconoclast Masashi Yamamoto.
