The festival focuses on genre films such as horror, science fiction, fantasy, action, Asian, and cult. The festival takes place in September at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, filling eight screens for eight days and hosting many writers, directors and actors, either well-established or unknown. A notable feature of this festival is the inclusion of "secret screenings" by Knowles. For these screenings, the audience often does not know what the film will be until seated, moments before it begins. It also features many themed parties, outings, film-themed "feasts", and other events that are hallmarks of the original Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. In 2007, Variety publisher Charles Koones included Fantastic Fest as one of "ten festivals we love". In 2008, Moviemaker named Fantastic Fest "one of the 25 film festivals worth the entry fee".
The 2005 festival was only three days long, October 6–9. Screened films included Feast, Wolf Creek, and Zathura. The official sponsors of the 2005 festival were: Milkshake Media, KOOP Radio, The Austin Chronicle, Jackson Walker L.L.P., and Independence Brewery.
US premieres
Hakugei: Legend of the Moby DickTexas premieres
The Big WhiteThe BirthdayCreepThe Dark HoursG.O.R.A.MalefiqueMarebitoNight of the Living DorksPPulseStringsThe Wild Blue YonderWolf CreekSneak preview of FeastWork in progress sneak preview of HostelSneak preview of the recut and extended version of Sin CitySneak preview of ZathuraA Scanner DarklyThe theme of the 2005 Retrospective series was "Post Apocalyptic Cinema", and included
The Last WaveMiracle MileNo Blade of Grass1990: The Bronx WarriorsThe special effects team from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe installed a display of costumes, creatures and props from the Narnia film. Legendary make-up and effects supervisor Howard Berger presided over a special effects Q&A.
The 2006 festival was expanded to 8 days and held September 21–28.
World premiere
Roman with Q&A by director Angela Bettis and star Lucky McKeeUS premieres
GamerzIsolationLie Still with Q&A by director Sean HoganThe Living and the Dead with Q&A by director Simon RumleyThe WoodsBlood TrailsBrokenThe HostBlood Tea and Red StringFrank and WendyBug with Q&A by star Michael ShannonThe Hamster Cage with Q&A by director Larry KentVenus DrowningTexas premieres
AbominableThe Beach Party at the Threshold of HellThe District!FireflyFrostbiteThe Glamorous Life of Sachiko HanaiHatchet with Q&A by director Adam GreenInside with Q&A by director Jeff MahlerThe Last SupperFunky Forest (aka Naisu No Mori)NightmareOrigin: Spirits of the PastThe Piano Tuner of EarthquakesPuzzleheadA Quiet LoveRenaissanceSeveranceShinobi: Heart Under BladeShivaSimon Says With Q&A with star Crispin GloverStarfish HotelUnrestWildernessZhestAn unfinished version of Apocalypto, followed by a question and answer session with Mel Gibson and star Rudy YoungbloodPan's Labyrinth; director Guillermo del Toro was unable to attend but sent along a written introduction for the audienceAdvance Screening of Beowulf & GrendelAdvance Screening of Terry Gilliam's TidelandAdvance Screening of The Fountain with Q&A by director Darren AronofskyAdvance Screening of EdmondAdvance Screening of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The BeginningThere were 3 retrospective series:
The first paid homage to cult midnight films and included
Parasite 3-DNorthville Cemetery MassacreThe Texas Chain Saw Massacre with Q&A by star Edwin Neal ("The Hitchhiker")A Nightmare on Elm StreetFantastic Planet presented by Darren AronofskyThe second was presented by cult author Jack Stevenson and included
A compilation of films depicting drugs in American filmScandinavian Sinema, a presentation of postwar Scandinavian erotic cinemaHaxan: Witchcraft Through The AgesAnd the third was a retrospective of the action/crime films of director Ram Gopal Varma, featuring
Ab Tak ChhappanCompanyEk Hasina ThiThere was also Meltdown Memoirs, a documentary about the making of Street Trash, which also played.
Horror Jury Awards, for excellence in the Horror Genre
Best Picture - IsolationBest Director - Billy O'Brien, for IsolationBest Script - Dylan Bank and Morgan Pehme for NightmareBest Actor - Kane Hodder for HatchetBest Actress - Nicole Roderick for NightmareBest Supporting Actor - Lance Henriksen for AbominableBest Supporting Actress - Kristen Bell for RomanBest Art Direction - Alex Boynton for UnrestBest Cinematography - Robby Ryan for IsolationBest Special Effects - HatchetBest Make-up - BrokenServing on the Horror jury were Jay Slater of FilmThreat.com, Edwin Neal of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Peter Martin of Twitch.com, and Chris Cargill of AintItCoolNews.com.
Short Film Jury Awards
Best of Show - The Listening DeadBest Short Form - Cost of LivingBest Long Form - Rogairi (Villains)Best Animated - If I Had a HammerBest Comedy - They're Made Out of MeatServing on the Short Film Jury were Brian Satterwhite, Jay Knowles and Chris Cargill, all of AintItcoolNews.com.
Fantastic Fest Jury Awards, for excellence in films outside the Horror Genre
Best Film — The Living and the DeadBest Director — Simon Rumley for The Living and the DeadBest Script — Larry Kent and Daniel Williams for The Hamster CageBest Actor — Leo Bill from The Living and the DeadBest Actress — Jodie Jameson from Venus DrowningBest Supporting Actor — Alan Scarfe from The Hamster CageBest Supporting Actress — Kate Fahy from The Living and The DeadBest Art Direction — Starfish HotelBest Cinematography — A Quiet LoveBest Special Effects — PuzzleheadBest Make-up — The Living and the DeadSpecial Jury Mention — Blood Tea and Red StringServing on the Fantastic Fest Jury Awards were Christian Hallman of the Lund International Fantastic Film Festival, Wiley Wiggins of Dazed and Confused and Waking Life, and Scott Weinberg of Fearnet and Cinematical.com.
Audience Awards
1st Place - Hatchet2nd Place - Isolation3rd Place - FireflyA notable highlight for the audience occurred when Mel Gibson walked into the theater.Closing night party was Undead Till Dawn, a vampire themed dance partyThere was a special screening timed with the release of 42nd STREET FOREVER VOLUME 5: ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE EDITION where every trailer was shown in 35mmThe 2007 festival was held September 20–27. In 2007, Fantastic Fest became a supporting member of the Melies European Federation of Fantastic Film Festivals (EFFFF) and helped to found the North American Fantastic Festival Alliance, along with Fantasia in Montreal, and Dead Channels in San Francisco. The official sponsors of the 2007 Fantastic Fest were: AMD, Stella Artois, AT&T, Twitch.com, B-Side, Rue Morgue, Fangoria, and Mondo Macabro.
World premieres
There Will Be Blood, with a Q&A by director Paul Thomas AndersonLos Cronocrímenes (Timecrimes), with director Nacho Vigalondo in attendance (Timecrimes was purchased out of the festival by Magnolia Films for theatrical distribution, and remake rights were purchased by United Artists.)US premieres
AloneThe BackwoodsThe Devil's ChairDiary of the Dead with Q&A by director George A. RomeroFlash PointHell's FeverLa Hora Fria (The Cold Hour)InsideInvisible TargetMaiko Haaaan!!!Mirageman with Q&A by director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza and action star Marko ZarorRug CopSummer ScarsWolfhoundWrong Turn 2: Dead End with Q&A by director Joe LynchTexas premieres
Aachi & SsipakThe Beautiful BeastBlood, Boobs, and BeastDeath NoteDeath Note 2: The Last NameDevil's Helper: The Folk Art Films of Phil ChamblissA Dirty CarnivalDog Bite DogEnd of The LineThe EntranceExte: Hair ExtensionsThe FerrymanFinishing the GameFive Across The EyesFlight of the Living DeadThe Girl Next DoorThe Girl Who Leapt Through TimeHell's GroundKiltro with Q&A by director Ernesto Díaz Espinoza and star Marco ZarorThe Last WinterMoebius Redux: A Life In Pictures with Q&A by director Hasko BaumannNever Belongs To MeOffScreenPostal with Q&A by director Uwe Boll and actor Zack WardPrincessRetributionSex and Death 101Son of RambowSpiralThe Sword BearerTaxidermiaUncle's Paradise (the food/film feature of the year)WeirdsvilleWicked FlowersSouthland Tales, the world premiere of the final version after heavy edits, with Q&A by director Richard KellyPersepolisDai Nipponjin (Big Man Japan)El Orfanto (The Orphanage), with Q&A by director Juan Antonio Bayona.The Nikkatsu action series featured films mainly never before shown theatrically in the United States:
Velvet HustlerThe Warped OnesA Colt Is My PassportCrazy Thunder RoadAMD Next Wave Award, for excellence by an up-and-coming new filmmaker
Gold Medal - Los Cronocrímenes (TimeCrimes)Silver Medal - SpiralBronze Medal - MiragemanSpecial Jury Prize for Innovative Vision - End of the LineHorror Jury Award, for excellence in the Horror genre
Gold Medal - Exte (Hair Extensions)Silver Medal - AloneBronze Medal - The Devil's ChairFantastic Fest Jury Award, for excellence outside of the Horror genre
Gold Medal - OffscreenSilver Medal - Never Belongs to MeBronze Medal - Aachi and SsipakSpecial Jury Prize for Most Original Scenario - Never Belongs to MeHorror Shorts Award
Gold Medal - "In the Wall"Silver Medal - "The Fifth"Bronze Medal - "Far Out"Animated Shorts Award
Gold Medal - "Everything Will Be OK"Silver Medal - "Raymond"Bronze Medal - "X-Pression"Fantastic Shorts Award
Gold Medal - "Waiting For Yesterday"Silver Medal - "Sniffer"Bronze Medal - "Suityman"Audience Award
Gold Medal - MiragemanSilver Medal - TimeCrimesBronze Medal - Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next DoorShooting shotguns with the "Next Wave" directorsImpromptu Karaoke party and "Fantastic Feud" game showWatching pornography (Japanese pinku Uncle's Paradise) in the suburban front yard of festival director Tim League's houseQ&A by director Uwe Boll and star Zack Ward after a screening of PostalFantastic Fest 2008 was held September 18–25.
World premieres
Feast 2: Sloppy Seconds, with director John Gulager and most of the cast in attendanceSantos, with director Nicolas Lopez in attendanceSeventh Moon, with director Eduardo Sanchez and stars Amy Smart and Tim Chiou in attendanceZombie Girl: The MovieUS premieres
Acolytes with director Jon Hewitt in attendanceArt of the Devil 3SaunaDeadgirl with directors Gadi Harel and Marcel Sarmiento in attendance.Texas premieres
Alien RaidersAstropiaThe BurrowersCargo 200The ChaserChocolateLa CremeDark FloorsDoctor InfiernoDonkey PunchEstomago: A Gastronomic Story (Food/film event)Ex DrummerFanboysFear(s) of the DarkFighterGachi Boy: Wrestling With a MemoryThe Good, The Bad, the WeirdHow To Get Rid of OthersI Think We're Alone NowJack Brooks: Monster SlayerJCVDJust Another Love StoryLate BloomerLeft BankLet The Right One InMartyrsMuay Thai ChaiyaPulse 2: AfterlifeRepo! The Genetic OperaRule of ThreeSouth of HeavenSpine Tingler — The William Castle StoryThe SubstituteSurveillance with Q&A by director Jennifer LynchTerraTokyo!Tokyo Gore PoliceVinyanWicked LakeThe Wild Man of the NavidadThe WreckYour Name HereZack and Miri Make a Porno (opening night film) with guest director Kevin Smith in attendance (followed by the Air Sex World Championships)The Brothers Bloom, with director Rian Johnson in attendanceAppaloosaEagle Eye (With road rally scavenger hunt)Role Models, with Paul Rudd and David Wain in attendanceRocknRollaCity of Ember (closing night film), with Bill Murray and Gil Kenan in attendance.There was an Ozploitation retrospective featuring Australian exploitation films from the 70s and 80s:
Dark AgeMad MaxThe Man From Hong KongRazorbackRoad Warrior - shown on an outdoor screen in the parking lotTurkey ShootAnd the documentary Not Quite Hollywood about Ozploitation in the golden age.
There was also a sampling of Japanese "pinku" titles, including
Blue Film WomanGushing PrayerA Lonely Cow Weeps at DawnS&M HunterAMD Next Wave Award for excellence by an up-and-coming new filmmaker
Gold Medal - Tokyo Gore PoliceSilver Medal - DeadgirlBronze Medal - La CremeAMD Fantastic Fest Online
Best Feature Film - South of HeavenBest Short Film - TreevengeHorror Features, for excellence in the Horror genre
Gold Medal - Let the Right One InSilver Medal - AcolytesBronze Medal - Donkey PunchSpecial Jury Award for most politically incorrect gore - Feast 2Special Jury Award for best use of latex - Jack Brooks: Monster SlayerFantastic Features, for excellence outside of the Horror genre
Gold Medal - How to Get Rid of OthersSilver Medal - Cargo 200Bronze Medal - Ex DrummerSpecial Jury Award for originality and vision - SantosHorror Shorts
Gold Medal - "Electric Fence"Silver Medal - "I Love Sarah Jane"Bronze Medal - "El Senor Puppe"Special Jury Award for sheer enjoyability - "The Horribly Slow Murderer with the Extremely Inefficient Weapon"Fantastic Shorts
Gold Medal - "The Object"Silver Medal - "Spandex Man"Bronze Medal - "Stagman"Special Jury Award for Visual Invention - "Rojo Red"Animated Shorts
Gold Medal - "Bernie's Doll"Silver Medal - "Muto"Bronze Medal - "Violeta"Special Jury Award for Technical Merit - "The Facts in the Case of Mr. Hollow"Director Nacho Vigalondo covering his face with honey and shooting himself with a confetti cannon following the screening of his short films.The "shaky-face" badge photos required attendees to submit a picture of themselves taken while violently shaking their heads back and forth. This resulted in some very unusual portraits.The Fantastic Debates pitted film lovers against one another in spirited arguments about "Horror Remakes — Reinvented Classics, or Modern Abominations" and the like. Debators unable to resolve their differences with words then stepped into the boxing ring to settle things with fists.Closing party, sponsored by the film City of Ember was held at Longhorn Caverns. Bill Murray attended.100 Best Kills PartyDonkey Punch Boat PartyThe Fantastic Feud (Team USA wins!)Michael Jackson: Thrill the World - an attempt to break the world record for largest synchronized Thriller danceSmokin' Karaoke Apocalypse Party 2008 - live band karaokeThe 2009 festival was held September 24–October 1. It was the first year of the Fantastic Fest Lifetime Achievement Award, given to director Jess Franco. The official sponsors of the 2009 Fantastic Fest were: Real D, G4, Dark Sky Films, Best Buy, Stella Artois, Jeremiah Weed, Ain't It Cool News, and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.
World premieres
Zombieland, with a Q&A by director Ruben Fleischer and stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, and Emma Stone.Gentlemen Broncos, (opening night film) with a Q&A by director Jared Hess and stars Jemaine Clement, Michael Angarano Sam Rockwell, and Mike White.Universal Soldier: Regeneration, with Q&A by star Dolph LundgrenREC 2Down Terrace with Q&A by director Ben WheatleyFirst SquadMacabreMandrill with Q&A by director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza and action star Marko ZarorU.S premieres
AntichristDaybreakers, with Q&A by star Dolph LundgrenSurvival of the Dead with Q&A by director George A. RomeroHuman Centipede with Q&A by director Tom SixDoghouse with Q&A by director Jake WestSmash CutRoboGeishaDuress with Q&A by director Jordan BarkerMerantauMetropia with Q&A by director Tarik SalehSweet Karma with Q&A by director Andrew Thomas Hunt and star Shera BechardVan Diemen's Land with Q&A by star Mark Leonard WinterTokyo OnlypicsUnder the MountainTexas premieres
BreathlessBronsonBuratino, son of Pinocchio with Q&A by director Rasmus MerivooThe ChildrenClive Barker's DreadCrazy Racer (Food/film event)CropseyDirty MindDistrict 13: UltimatumFireballFish StoryGroper TrainHard Revenge MillyHouse (Hausu)The House of the DevilJourney to SaturnK-20: Legend of the MaskKaifek MurderKamogawa Horumo — Battle League in KyotoKenny BeginsKrabatThe Legend Is AliveLove ExposureMorphineNinja AssassinParanormal ActivityPrivate EyeRampage with Q&A by director Uwe BollThe RevenantSalvageSoloman KaneStingray Sam with Q&A by director Cory McAbeeSurvival of the DeadTerribly HappyA Town Called PanicTrick R TreatTruffe (Food/film event) with Q&A by director Kim NguyenVampire Girl vs Frankenstein GirlYattermanYesterdayCirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, with Q&A by stars John C. Reilly, Chris Massoglia, and Josh HutchersonThe Men Who Stare at GoatsThe Imaginarium of Dr. ParnassusA Serious ManA retrospective of the films of Jess Franco in support of his lifetime achievement award:
SuccubusVenus in FursFemale Vampire (aka The Bare-Breasted Countess)Eugenie: Story of Her Journey Into PerversionNext Wave Award, for excellence by an up-and-coming new filmmaker
Best Feature: Down Terrace (Ben Wheatley)Best Director: Yang Ik-june (Breathless)Best Screenplay: Robin Hill, Ben Wheatley (Down Terrace)Best Actor: Hwang Jung-min (Private Eye)Best Actress: Shera Bechard (Sweet Karma)Horror Jury Award, for excellence in the Horror genre
Best Horror Feature: Human Centipede (Tom Six)Best Horror Director: Kerry Prior (The Revenant)Best Horror Actor: Dieter Laser (Human Centipede)Best Horror Actress: Neve McIntosh (Salvage)Fantastic Fest Jury Award, for excellence outside of the Horror genre
Best Fantastic Feature: Mandrill (Ernesto Diaz-Espinoza)Best Fantastic Director: Kim Nguyen (Truffe)Best Fantastic Screenplay: Tamio Hayashi adapted from Kotaro Isaka (Fish Story)Best Fantastic Actor: Marko Zaror (Mandrill)Best Fantastic Actress: Chiaki Kuriyama (Kamogawa Horumo)Horror Shorts Award
Best Horror Short – "Full Employment" (Thomas Oberlies, Matthias Vogel)Special Mention – "Excision" (Richard Bates, Jr.)Fantastic Shorts Award
Best Fantastic Short – "Terminus" (Trevor Cawood)Special Jury Award – "Next Floor" (Denis Villeneuve)Animated Shorts Award
Best Animated Short – "I Am So Proud of You" (Don Hertzfeldt)Special Mention – "Alma" (Rodrigo Blaas)Audience Award
Audience Award, Best Feature: A Town Called Panic (Stephane Aubier, Vincent Patar)Audience Award, Honorable Mention: Fish StoryAudience Award, Honorable Mention: BreathlessAudience Award, Honorable Mention: The RevenantAudience Award, Honorable Mention: MerantauWatching Uwe Boll fight Alamo Drafthouse owner Tim League at the Fantastic DebatesChaos Reigns!Brutus and Balzaak Bash party celebrating Gentlemen Broncos opening night partyShooting machine guns100% medically accurate Q&A by director Tom Six after his film Human CentipedeOpening of the HighBall, the official Fantastic Fest party-place/bowling alley/barDouble 3D Dance Party at the HighballThe Future of 3D: Panels and Presentations eventThe Michael Jackson Dance PartySake, Shochu and Karaoke: Meet the Japanese! - party at HighballReturn of the Fantastic Feud (and win by Team USA!)The 2010 festival was held September 23–Sept 30. It was the first year of the Fantastic Arcade, a showcase of independent video games. The presenting sponsors of the 2010 Fantastic Fest were: Dell, AMD, RealD, Ambhar Tequila, FearNet.com, Sony PlayStation and Qriocity.
World premieres
Agnosia, with a Q&A by director Eugenio Mira, veteran of FF 2005.30 Days Of Night: Dark Days, with Q&A by director Ben Ketai, writers Kiele Sanchez and Steve Niles, and stars Diora Baird and Troy RuptashUndocumented, with Q&A by director Chris PeckoverZombie Roadkill with Q&A by director David Green and stars David Dorfman and Thomas Haden ChurchHelldriver, with Q&A by director Yoshihiro NishimuraSharktopus, with Q&A by Roger Corman and Julie CormanTrue Legend, with Q&A by director Yuen Woo-pingTroll Hunter with Q&A by director André ØvredalRed, with Q&A by star Karl UrbanInternational premieres
Norwegian Ninja, with Q&A by director Thomas Cappelen MallingOng Bak 3US premieres
Bedevilled with Q&A by director Jang Chul-sooBunraku, with Q&A by director Guy Moshe and star Josh HartnettCold FishThe Corridor with Q&A by directors Johan Lundborg and Johan Storm and star Emil JohnsenThe Dead, with Q&A by writer/directors Howard and Jonathan FordFatsoFire of ConscienceHatchet 2 with Q&A by director Adam GreenA Horrible Way to Die, with Q&A by director Adam WingardThe Housemaid (2010 version)Julia's EyesKidnapped with Q&A by director Miguel Angel VivasThe Last Circus, with Q&A by director Álex de la IglesiaLegend of the Fist: The Return of Chen ZhenLet Me In with Q&A by director Matt Reeves and stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Elias Koteas and Dylan MinnetteNaan KadavulOutrageRammbock, with Q&A by director Marvin KrenRare Exports: A Christmas TaleRed HillRedlineI Saw the DevilA Somewhat Gentle ManSound of NoiseI Spit on Your GraveStake Land, with Q&A by director Jim Mickle and stars Nick Damici, Connor Paolo and Danielle HarrisStone, with Q&A by director John Curran and star Edward NortonTransferWe Are What We AreTexas premieres
13 Assassins14 BladesBibliothèque PascalCaranchoDrones with Q&A by directors Amber Benson and Adam BuschGallantsGolden SlumberHeartlessHigh LaneIn The Attic with Q&A by director Jiří BartaIp Man 2The Life and Death of a Porno GangThe Man From NowhereMother's Day with Q&A by director Darren Bousman and star Rebecca De MornayMutant Girls SquadNever Let me GoPrimalRed White & BlueRubberSummer WarsThe Violent Kind with Q&A by directors Mitchell Altieri and Phil Flores and producer Don LewisWoochiBuried, with Q&A by star Ryan ReynoldsMachete Maidens UnleashedNerdcore Rising (to kick off Fantastic Arcade)Playing Columbine - played as part of Fantastic ArcadeRichard Garriott: Man on a Mission with guest star Richard GarriottEnter The VoidNightmares - shown as part of Terror TuesdayFor Your Height Only - presented in Foleyvision to commemorate Machete Maidens UnleashedClass of 1984 - to celebrate the debut of the new book by Zack Carlson Destroy All MoviesThe Housemaid (1960 version)X: The Man with X-Ray Eyes - to commemorate the lifetime achievement award for Roger and Julie CormanSnake In Eagle's Shadow - to commemorate the lifetime achievement award for Yuen Wo PingFive Element Ninjas - to commemorate the lifetime achievement award for Yuen Wo PingJoysticks shown for Weird Wednesday to commemorate Destroy All MoviesThe Twilight People - special Weird Wednesday to honor Machete Maidens UnleashedRe-Animator with special guest director Stuart Gordon and star Jeffery CombsFrom Beyond’' with special guest director Stuart Gordon and star Jeffery CombsLive Performances
The Intergalactic Nemesis, a graphic novel radio play by Jason NeulanderNevermore, a stage performance by Jeffrey Combs as Edgar Allan Poe, directed by Stuart GordonIndependence Day, with live commentary by Master Pancake with Bill PullmanSpaceBalls Quote-along, hosted by Bill PullmanThe Dell/AMD Next Wave Award, for excellence by an up-and-coming new filmmaker
Best Feature: We Are What We AreBest Director: Thomas Cappelen Malling (Norwegian Ninja)Best Screenplay: Jorge Michel Grau (We Are What We Are)Best Actor: Mads Ousdal (Norwegian Ninja)Best Actress: Seo Young-hee (Bedevilled)Horror Jury Award, for excellence in the Horror genre
Best Horror Feature: KidnappedBest Horror Director: Miguel Angel Vivas (Kidnapped)Best Horror Screenplay: Simon Barrett (A Horrible Way to Die)Best Horror Actor: A J Bowen (A Horrible Way to Die)Best Horror Actress: Amy Seimetz (A Horrible Way to Die)Fantastic Fest Jury Award, for excellence outside of the Horror genre
Best Fantastic Feature: The Sound of NoiseBest Fantastic Director: Pablo Trapero (Carancho)Best Fantastic Screenplay: Sion Sono and Yoshiki Takahashi (Cold Fish)Best Fantastic Actor: Stellan Skarsgard (A Somewhat Gentle Man)Best Fantastic Actress: Martina Gusman (Carancho)Horror Shorts Award
Best Horror Short – "Legend of Beaver Dam" (Jerome Sable)Special Mention – "Deus Irae" (Pedro Cristiani)Fantastic Shorts Award
Best Fantastic Short – "Sorry... I Love You" (Leticia Dolera)Animated Shorts Award
Best Animated Short – "Teclopolis" (Javier Mrad)Audience Award
Audience Award, Best Feature: Bedevilled (Jang Cheol-soo)Audience Award, Honorable Mention: Ip Man 2Audience Award, Honorable Mention: RubberAudience Award, Honorable Mention: Golden SlumberBoys Choir singing the theme from Let Me In at opening nightTim League boxing Michelle Rodruigez (Girl Fight, Avatar)Bill Pullman, Elijah Wood and The Rza singing karaokeWhole Roasted Cow and 500,000 volts of electricity at the Closing Night Party100 Best Kills party30 Days of Night Flashlight Dance PartyCriterion "Chaos Reigns" Karaoke PartyFantastic Arcade Awards Ceremony/Starcade CompetitionDatapop 4.0 Arcade Closing Night PartyThe FearNet Fantastic Feud (Team USA wins again!)Geeks Who Drink presents The Fantastic Fest Quiz!Nerdeoke!Karaoke Apocalypse with live band!Opening Night Party 80s Dance Party and MC Frontalot LiveThe 2011 Fantastic Fest film festival was held September 22–29, 2011.
World premieres
Calibre 9 - Q&A with director Jean-Christian Tassy and Producer Axel GuyotThe Human Centipede 2: Full Sequence - (opening night film) - director Tom Six, Producer Ilona Six, and Actors Ashlynn Yennie, Laurence Harvey, Maddi Black, Katherine Templar, and Emma Lock in attendanceManborg - writer/director/producer Steve Kostanski, co-writer/actor Jeremy Gillespie, and actor Adnrea Carr in attendancePenumbraThe Squad - Q&A with director Jaime Osorio MarquezZombie AssInternational premieres
The Devil's BusinessHow to Steal 2 MillionUS premieres
BlindA Boy and His SamuraiBullhead - Q&A with director Michaël R. RoskamBunohanCarre Blanc - Director Jean-Baptiste Léonetti, Producer Benjamin Mamou, and Executive Producer Camille Havard Bourdon in attendanceComic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope - (closing night film) Producer Harry Knowles and stars James Darling and Se Young and Holly Conrad live in personThe Corridor - Director Evan Kelly, Writer Josh MacDonald, Producer Mike Masters, and Producer Craig Cameron live in personThe Day - Producer Guy Danella, Writer Lucas Passmore and Actor Dominic Monaghan live in personExtraterrestrial - Q&A with director Nacho VigalondoHeadhuntersJuan of the Dead - Q&A with Director Alejandro Brugués & Producer Gervasio Iglesias MaciasJulia X - Q&A with Director P.J. Pettiette, Producer Claudie Viguerie, and Actor Kevin SorboKarate-Robo Zaborgar - Q&A with Director Noboru Iguchi and Makeup/FX Supervisor Yoshihiro NishimuraKill Me Please - Q&A with Director Olias BarcoLast Screening - Q&A with actor Pascal CervoLividMichaelNew Kids Turbo - Q&A with actors Huub Smit and Wesley van GaalenRabiesRetreatRevenge: A Love StorySleep Tight - Q&A with director Jaume BalagueróSleepless NightSmugglerSnowman's LandSnowtownTwo Eyes StaringUrban ExplorerYou Said What? - Q&A with Director Patrik Syversen, Producer Kjetil Omberg, Producer Terje Stromstad, and Actor Stig Frode HenriksenYou're Next - Q&A with Writer/Producer Simon Barrett, Producers Keith Calder & Jess Wu, Actors Barbara Crampton, AJ Bowen, Sharni Vinson, & Nick TucciTexas premieres
A Lonely Place to Die - Q&A with Director/Co-Writer Julian Gilbey and Co-Writer/Editor Will GilbeyAngels & Airwaves Presents LOVE - with guest Q&A from Tom DelongeAardvarkBeyond the Black Rainbow - Q&A with Director Panos CosmatosBody Temperature - Q&A with director Takaomi OgataBorderlineBoys On The RunEl InfiernoElite Squad: The Enemy Within - Q&A with director José PadilhaHauntersThe HoldingInvasion of Alien BikiniKlown (Clown) - Q&A with director Mikkel NorgaardKnuckle - Q&A with Director Ian Palmer and James McDonaghLet The Bullets FlyMelancholiaMilocrorze: A Love StoryPolvora Negra - Q&A with director Kapel FurmanThe StokerSummerlandTake ShelterUnderwater LoveWe Need to Talk About KevinSennentuntschi: Curse of the AlpsYakuza WeaponThe Yellow SeaThe Skin I Live In - secret screeningParanormal Activity 3 - secret screeningThe Innkeepers - premiered at SXSW but also was shown at the closing night of Fantastic FestAn American Werewolf in London (1981) - presented by Mondo with special edition poster and appearance by Stan WinstonHouse By the Cemetery Theatrical Premiere of the 2K digitally restored versionZombie Theatrical Premiere of the 2K digitally restored versionComin' At Ya! 3D - with producer Tom Stern and star Tony Anthony in attendanceMovies On Fire: Hong Kong Action ClassicsWar of the Worlds - played as part of the Alamo Kid's ClubVersus - Guest stars Tak Sakaguchi and writer Yudai YamaguchiAudience Award
A Boy And His Samurai (Yoshihiro Nakamura)Runners Up: You're Next, Juan Of The DeadAMD & Dell "Next Wave" Spotlight Competition
Best Picture — BullheadBest Director — Michael R. Roskam (Bullhead)Best Screenplay — Josh MacDonald (The Corridor)Best Actor — Matthias Schoenaerts (Bullhead)Best Actress — Jessica Cole (Aardvark)Special Jury Award for Boldness Of Vision: Beyond The Black RainbowHorror Features
Best Picture — You're NextBest Director — Adam Wingard (You're Next)Best Screenplay — Simon Barrett (You're Next)Best Actor — Sean Harris (A Lonely Place To Die)Best Actress — Sharni Vinson (You're Next)Fantastic Features
Best Picture — Milocrorze: A Love StoryBest Director — Noboru Iguchi (Karate Robo Zaborgar)Best Screenplay — Olafur Egilsson, Grimur Haonarson (Summerland)Best Actor — Julián Villagrán (Extraterrestrial)Best Actress — Sawa Masaki (Underwater Love)Gutbuster Comedy Features
Best Picture – ClownBest Director — Steffen Haars, Flip Van Der Kuil (New Kids Turbo)Best Screenplay — Casper Christensen, Frank Hvam (Clown)Short Fuse: Horror Shorts
Winner: "How To Rid Your Lover Of A Negative Emotion Caused By You" (Nadia Litz)Runner-up: "The Unliving" (Hugo Lilj)Special Jury Award for Outstanding Achievement in Special Effects and General Badassery: "Brutal Relax" (David Muñoz, Rafa Dengrá, Adrián Cardona)Fantastic Shorts
Best Fantastic Short: "Decapoda Shock" (Javier Chillón)Runner-up: "All Men Are Called Robert" (Marc-Henri Boulier)Special Jury Mention for Acting: Robert Picardo ("The Candidate")Drawn and Quartered: Animated Shorts
Best Animated Short: "Last Norwegian Troll" (Pjotr Sapegin)Runner-up: Lazarov ("NIETOV")James Quinn McDonagh versus Tim League at the Fantastic Fest DebatesThe opening night film Human Centipede 2 had an ambulance on standby outside and handed out barf bagsOpening night party in celebration of Human Centipede 2 with live music from The Charles Edward Cheese bandFantastic Feud (Team USA continues win streak over Team International)Fantastic Arcade ran from Sept. 22, 2011 through Sept. 24th, 2011Japan Night: Chaos Reigns Karaoke Party100 Best Kills featuring the best of audience submitted movie deathsKaraoke Apocalypse - karaoke with a live bandFantastic Trivia presented by Geeks Who DrinkFantastic Fest Closing Night Party: Superhero Carnival - featuring Aquaman’s Ocean, The Flash’s Mountain Race Challenge, Batman’s Boxing Battle, Spider-man’s Wall of Webbing, Superman’s House of Flight and carnival foodThe 2012 Fantastic Fest Film Festival took place September 20–27, 2012. This was the last year Fantastic Fest was held at the Highball and South Lamar theater before it was all remodeled.
World premieres
The ABCs of DeathThe American Scream - Q&A with Director Michael Paul Stephenson, producer Lindsay Stephenson and haunters Manny Souza and Victor Bariteau and familyBestiesBlack OutBring Me the Head of the Machine Gun Woman - Q&A with director Ernesto DiazThe Collection - Q&A with actress Emma FitzpatrickThe Conspiracy - Q&A with Director Christopher MacBride, producer Lee Kim, actor/producer Aaron Poole, cinematographer Ian Anderson, and actor Jim GilbertDanger 5The Exorcist in the 21st CenturyFrankenweenie - (opening night film) - Q&A with Tim Burton and voice actors Winona Ryder and Martin LandauThe Greatest Movie Ever Rolled - Q&A with Director Ryan Polito, star Doug Benson, producer Sharon Everitt, and cinematographer Will DeloneyHellfjordPlan CRed Dawn - (closing night film) - Q&A with stars Josh Peck and Adrianne Palicki, director Dan Bradley, and producers Tripp Vinson and Beau FlynnTebana Sankichi: Snot RocketsUniversal Soldier: Day of Reckoning - Q&A with actor Scott Adkins and Mariah BonnerInternational premieres
Two Rabbits (Dois Coehilos)US premieres
Aftershock - Q&A with director Nicolás López and actor/producer Eli RothAmerican Mary - Q&A with the Soska Sisters and actress Tristan RiskAntiviralBerberian Sound StudioCockneys vs. Zombies - Q&A with director Matthias Hoene and writer James MoranCombat GirlsCome Out and PlayCrave - Q&A with director Charles de Lauzirika and actor Josh LawsonDead Sushi - Q&A with director Noboru Iguchi, producer Mana Fukui, and actress Rina TakedaDom - A Russian FamilyErrors of the Human Body - Q&A with actor Michael Eklund, director Jennifer Phang, Actor/Co-Producer Jacqueline Kim, and Technical Director Jon DestoppeleireEverybody In Our FamilyFuck Up - Q&A with director Oystein Karlsen, producer Anders Tangen, Cinematographer Pal Bugge Haagenrud, and actor Jon OigardenHengeHere Comes the Devil - Q&A with director Adrián García Bogliano, Producer Andrea Quiroz Hernandez, and Actor Francisco BarreiroHoly MotorsI Declare War - Q&A with director Rob Wilson and producer Lewin WebbLa Memoria del Muerto (Memory of the Dead) - Q&A with director Javier Diment, and writer Martin BloussonLee's AdventureLooper - Q&A with director Rian JohnsonMy Amityville Horror - Q&A with director Eric Walter and Producers Andrea Adams and Christine IronsNew Kids Nitro - Q&A with directors Steffen Haars and Flip van der Kuil as well as actors Huub Smit and Wesley van GaalenOutrage BeyondPusherTai Chi 0Tower Block - Q&A with director Ronnie ThompsonVanishing WavesVegetarian CannibalThe Warped ForestYoung Gun in the TimeTexas premieres
Cold BloodedCold Steel - Q&A with director David WuDredd - Q&A with writer/director Alex Garland, actress Olivia Thirlby, and actor Karl UrbanThe Final Member - Q&A with directors Jonah Bekhor and Zach MathFlickerGraceland - Q&A with director Ron Morales and producer Rebecca LundgrenHailThe History of Future Folk - Q&A with Producer/Co-Director Jeremy Kipp Walker, Writer/Co-Director John Mitchell, and Actors Nil d-Aulaire and Jay KlaitzThe Kings of PigsNo Rest for the WickedParis By NightRoom 237TapedUnit 7VulgariaWrongAustin premieres
Doomsday BookCloud Atlas - (secret screening)Sightseers - (secret screening)Sinister - premiered at SXSW then had a special screening at Fantastic FestParanormal Activity 4 - work in progress print - Q&A with actress Katie Featherston and co-director Henry JoostThe Entity (1982) Repertory Screening as part of the House of Psychotic Women seriesThe Mafu Cage (1978) Repertory Screening as part of the House of Psychotic Women seriesMiami Connection (1987) - Q&A with actor/producer Grandmaster YK and actors Joe Diamond, Maurice Smith, Angelo Jannotti, and Vince HirschSecret Ceremony (1968) Repertory Screening as part of the House of Psychotic Women seriesThe Shining (1980) - played simultaneously back and forth over each otherWake in Fright (1971)'Audience Award
I Declare War (dir. Robert Wilson & Jason Lapeyre)AMD "Next Wave" Spotlight Competition
Best Picture: Flicker (dir. Patrik Eklund)Best Director: Charles de Lauzirika (Crave)Best Screenplay: Max Porcelijn (Plan C)Best Actor: Michael Eklund (Errors of the Human Body)Best Actress: Alina Levshin (Combat Girls)Fantastic Features
Best Picture: Vanishing Waves (dir. Kristina Buozyte)Best Director: Kristina Buozyte (Vanishing Waves)Best Screenplay: Bruno Samper, Kristina Buozyte (Vanishing Waves)Best Actor: Rene Bitorajac (Vegetarian Cannibal)Best Actress: Jurga Jutaite (Vanishing Waves)Horror Features
Best Picture: Here Comes the Devil (dir. Adrián García Bogliano)Best Screenplay: Adrián García Bogliano (Here Comes the Devil)Best Director: Adrián García Bogliano (Here Comes the Devil)Special mention: Hajime Ohata (Henge)Best Actor: Francisco Barreiro (Here Comes the Devil)Best Actress: Laura Caro (Here Comes the Devil)Special mention: Katherine Isabel (American Mary)Gutbuster Comedy Features
Best Picture: New Kids Nitro (dir. Steffen Haars & Flip Van der Kuil)Best Director: Dario Russo (Danger 5)Best Screenplay: John Mitchell (The History of Future Folk)Best Actor: Chapman To (Vulgaria)Best Actress: Rina Takeda (Dead Sushi)Documentary Features
Best Picture: The American Scream (dir. Michael Stephenson)Best Director: Rodney Ascher (Room 237)Short Fuse: Horror Shorts
Winner: "At The Formal" (Andrew Kavanagh, Australia)Runner-up: "The Sleepover" (Chris Cullari, USA)Fantastic Shorts
Winner: "Record/Play" (Jesse Atlas, USA)Runner-up: "Love" (Kaveh Nabatian, Canada)Drawn and Quartered: Animated Shorts
Winner: "Bendito Machine IV" (Jossie Malis, Spain)Runner-up: "Tram" (Michaela Pavlátová, Czech Republic)Front of Drafthouse Lamar painted up for Frankenweenie world premiereSpecial Frankenweenie screening for dogs and their ownersChaos Reigns Karaoke Party with reunited Dragon Sound at the HighballOpening night Monsters Ball where attendees were encouraged to wear their favorite silver screen monster costume"The American Scream" Homemade Haunted HouseDatapop party celebrating 8-Bit music and culture for Fantastic Arcade"Hellfjord" Norwegian PartyTim League fighting YK Kim at the Fantastic DebatesClosing night party was Red Dawn themed. The Austin American Legion was decorated as a maximum-security prison with free prison tattoos and head shavingFantastic Feud (Team International first victory over Team USA)The 2013 festival was hosted for the first time at the brand new Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline location from September 19–26.
World premieres
CoherenceDetective DownsGoldberg and EisenbergGrand PianoGreatful DeadLFOMachete Kills - (opening night)Ninja: Shadow of a TearRagnarokSeptic ManNorth American premieres
ChanthalyThe CongressA Field in EnglandJourney to the West: Conquering the DemonsKid's PoliceMaruyama the Middle SchoolerMirage MenMiss ZombieMonsoon ShootoutNothing Bad Can HappenOur Heroes Died TonightPatrickShe WolfThe Zero TheoremUS premieres
AfflictedAlmost HumanBlue RuinBorgmanCommando - A One Man ArmyConfession of MurderThe FakeGatchamanLove EternalMan of Tai ChiMoebiusMood IndigoOn The JobProxyR100Rigor MortisThe Sacrament"Sleep Clinic"The Strange Colour of Your Body's TearsVic + Flo Saw a BearWe Gotta Get Out of This PlaceWhy Don't You Play in Hell?Witching & BitchingWolfTexas premieres
Big Bad WolvesThe DirtiesEscape from TomorrowFatalHalleyHentai Kamen: Forbidden Super HeroJodorowsky's DuneMetallica Through the NeverNarco CulturaNightbreed - The Cabal CutNorthwestThe Resurrection of a BastardO'ApostoloWe Are What We AreAustin premieres
EegaTales from the Organ TradeCheap Thrills - special encore presentationThe Green Inferno - (secret screening)Gravity - (secret screening)Child of God - (secret screening)The Rundown - a movie interruption from Doug BensonAll the Boys Love Mandy LaneTimecrimes - special screening with Mondo poster and vinyl of soundtrack with director Nacho VigalondoThe DevilsAudience Award
Best Documentary: Jodorowsky’s Dune (director Frank Pavich)Best Narrative Feature: Blue Ruin (director Jeremy Saulnier)"Next Wave" Spotlight
Best Picture: The Dirties (director Matt Johnson)Best Director: Oren Carmi (Goldberg and Eisenberg)Best Screenplay: James Ward Byrkit (Coherence)Best Actor: Yorick van Wageningen (The Resurrection Of A Bastard)Best Actress: Swantje Kohlhof (Nothing Bad Can Happen)Fantastic Features
Best Picture: The Congress (director Ari Folman)Best Director: David Perrault (Our Heroes Died Tonight)Best Screenplay: Ari Folman (The Congress)Best Actor: Svein André Hofsø Myhre (Detective Downs)Best Actress: Robin Wright (The Congress)Horror Features
Best Picture: Afflicted (directors Derek Lee and Clif Prowse)Best Director: Derek Lee and Clif Prowse (Afflicted)Best Screenplay: Derek Lee and Clif Prowse (Afflicted)Best Actor: Jason David Brown (Septic Man)Best Actress: Julia Garner (We Are What We Are)Gutbuster Comedy Features
Best Picture: Why Don’t You Play In Hell (director Sion Sono)Best Director: Sion Sono (Why Don’t You Play In Hell)Best Screenplay: Kankurô Kudô (Maruyama The Middle Schooler)Best Actor: Fuku Suzuki (Kid’s Police)Best Actress: Qi Shu (Journey To the West: Conquering The Demon)Documentary Features
Best Picture: Jodorowsky’s Dune (director Frank Pavich)Best Director: Shaul Schwarz (Narco Cultura)Short Fuse: Horror Shorts'
Winner: Remember Me (director Jean-François Asselin)Runner-up: Perfect Drug (director Toon Aerts)Fantastic Shorts
Winner: Beasts In The Real World (director Sol Friedman)Runner-up: My Pain Is Worse Than Your Pain (director Adam Hall)Drawn and Quartered: Animated Shorts
Winner: The Sad House (director Sofia Catalina Carrillo Ramírez)Runner-up: Kick-Heart (director Masaaki Yuasa)Fantastic Arcade
Best In Show and Audience Choice: Samurai Gunn (developed by Teknopants)Danger Gods!: The True Daredevils of Hollywood Legend - live stunt showFantastic Arcade Panels and TournamentsFantastic Fest Opening Night Party: MACHETE DON’T STOPFantastic Fest presents Doug Loves MoviesChaos Reigns!!! Karaoke PartyThe Fantastic Debates Presented By Man of Tai ChiCards Against Humanity Happy HourFantastic Arcade: VideoHeroeS Tournament and Arcade AwardsYou Guys Like Tequila?: The Fantastic Arcade After PartyNerd Rap ThrowdownFantastic Feud (win by Team USA)Fantastic Trivia presented by Geeks Who DrinkMetal Meltdown with Karaoke Apocalypse - live band karaokeFantastic Fest Closing Night PartyThe 2014 festival returned to the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar location from September 18–25 for the 10 year anniversary
World premieres
The ABCs of Death 2Danger 5 (Season Two)Relocos Y RepasadosHorseheadDios LocalWyrmwoodThe Absent OneDwarves KingdomFeltI Am HereI Am TrashPurgatoryRedeemerEverlyFrom the DarkFuture Shock! The Story of 2000ADThe HiveMy Life Directed by Nicolas Winding RefnConfetti of the Mind: The Short Films of Nacho VigolandoNorth American premieres
Whispers Behind the WallEl IncidenteNaturaleza Muerte (Still Life)TombvilleTommyAs Seen by the RestFree FallNecrophobia 3DRealitiWastelander Panda:ExileDarkness by DayLost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. MoreauNymphomaniac (Director’s Cut)US premieres
AlleluiaBro’s Before Ho’sThe Man in the Orange JacketNorwayTuskV/H/S:ViralThe Creeping GardenThe EditorElectric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon FilmsForce MajeureNightcrawlerOver Your Dead BodySpringThe Tale of Princess KaguyaTokyo TribeThe TreatmentAutomataCubThe Duke of BurgundyHaemooHardkor DiscoI Am A Knife With LegsIt FollowsLet Us PreyShrew’s NestThe TribeWaste LandWhen Animals DreamThe World of KanakoTexas premieres
The BabadookCloser to GodJacky In The Kingdom of WomenBlindDead Snow: Red vs. DeadIn Order of DisappearanceNo Man’s LandAustin premieres
Man From RenoHornsKung Fu Elliott - Fantastic Fest premiereJohn Wick - special gala screeningGoodnight Mommy - (secret screening)Miami Connection - a movie interruption from Doug BensonThe Look of Silence - a Drafthouse Alliance special screeningThe Island of Dr. Moreau - Master Pancake screeningBugsy Malone - Kid Power! Book LaunchDeath Wish IIIThe AstrologerNinja III: The DominationThe SoultanglerAudience Award
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (director Isao Takahata)"Next Wave" Spotlight
Best Picture: It Follows (director David Robert Mitchell)Best Director: Miroslav Slaboshpitsky (THE TRIBE)Best Screenplay: David Robert Mitchell (IT FOLLOWS)Best Actor: Lou Taylor Pucci (SPRING)Best Actress: Amy Everson (FELT)Fantastic Features
Best Picture: ALLELUIA (director Fabrice Du Welz)Best Director: Fabrice Du Welz (ALLELUIA)Best Screenplay: Tetsuya Nakashima, Miako Tadano and Nobuhiro Monma (THE WORLD OF KANAKO)Best Actor: Laurent Lucas (ALLELUIA)Best Actress: Lola Dueñas (ALLELUIA)Horror Features
Best Picture: THE BABADOOK (directed Jennifer Kent)Best Screenplay: Jennifer Kent (THE BABADOOK)Best Director: Martín De Salvo (DARKNESS BY DAY)Best Actor: Noah Wiseman (THE BABADOOK)Best Actress: Essie Davis (THE BABADOOK)Gutbuster Comedy Features
Best Picture: DEAD SNOW 2: RED VS DEAD (director by Tommy Wirkola)Best Director: Hans Petter Moland (IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE)Best Screenplay: Vegar Hoel, Stig Frode Henriksen and Tommy Wirkola (DEAD SNOW 2: RED VS DEAD)Best Actor: Pål Sverre Hagen (IN ORDER OF DISAPPEARANCE)Best Actress: Sylvia Hoeks (BROS BEFORE HOS)Documentary Features
Best Picture: KUNG FU ELLIOT (director Jaret Belliveau)Best Director: Tim Grabham, Jasper Sharp (THE CREEPING GARDEN)Short Fuse: Horror Shorts'
Winner: THE STOMACH directed by Ben SteinerRunner-up: INVADERS directed by Jason KupferFantastic Shorts
Winner: THE VOICE THIEF directed by Adan JodorowskyRunner-up: MY FATHER IS A BIRD (director Boaz Debby) and SOLITUDO (director Alice Lowe)Drawn and Quartered: Animated Shorts
Winner: THE CHAPERONE (director Fraser Munden)Runner-up: DAY 40 (director Sol Friedman)Fantastic Arcade
Best in Show: BANANA CHALICE (developed by Kyle Reimergartin)‘Mercado Fantastico’
Gold Prize: HAVANA VAMPIRE TERRITORY (director Carlos Lechuga) and THE TURNED (director Andrés Rosende)Silver Prize: FIERCE (director Francisco Lorite)Bronze Prize: HURT (director Pablo Proenza)Special Jury Mention for "Keeping the Spirit of the 80's Alive": THE SHADOWDWELLERS (producer Erick Salomon)Jury Award for Work in Progress, and Chemistry Award: FRONDOSO EDEN DEL CORAZON (director Juan Manuel Fodde)Morbido/Latam Consultation Award: EAT ME (director David Michán)Maltin’s Game Tournament hosted by Leonard MaltinThe Meltdown with Jonah and KumailFantastic DebatesNerd Rap ThrowdownOpening Night: 10th Birthday Armageddon (featuring food fight and human piñata)Fantastic Feud (Winner: Team USA)Fantastic ArcadeChaos Reigns! Karaoke PartyMetal Meltdown with Karaoke ApocalypseFantastic Fest ABCs of Closing Night PartyThe 2015 festival returned to the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar location from September 24 – October 1.
World premieres
Bone TomahawkDarlingDirty RomanceGridlockedLa GranjaLazer TeamMan Vs SnakeThe PassingSensoriaThe SimilarsWhat We BecomeZinzanaNorth American premieres
The Brand New TestamentCoz Ov Moni 2Der BunkerIn Search of Ultra SexLovemillaSpeedUS premieres
April and the Extraordinary WorldAssassination ClassroomBaskinThe ClubDemonGerman AngstGreen RoomHigh-RiseThe LobsterLove and PeaceLudoThe Missing GirlOfficeRemake, Remix, Rip-offStand By For Tape Back UpTexas premieres
The Keeping RoomL'affaire SK1The WitchYakuza ApocalypseThe MartianThe InvitationAudience Award
1st Place - Green Room (director Jeremy Saulnier)2nd Place - Liza The Fox Fairy (director Károly Ujj Mészáros)3rd Place - Stand By For Take Back-Up (director Ross Sutherland)"Next Wave" Spotlight
Best Picture: Der Bunker (director Nikias Chryssos)Best Director: Can Evrenol for BASKINFantastic Features
Best Picture: THE CLUBBest Director: Duke Johnson & Charlie Kaufman for ANOMALISAHorror Features
Best Picture: DEMONBest Director: Joe Begos for THE MIND’S EYEComedy Features
Best Picture: THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENTBest Director: Anders Thomas Jensen for MEN & CHICKENDocumentary Features
Best Picture: MAN VS SNAKEBest Director: Heath Cozens for DOGLEGSHorror Shorts'
Best Picture: SISTER HELLBest Director: Ryan Spindell for THE BABYSITTER MURDERSFantastic Shorts
Best Picture: MOVIES IN SPACEBest Director: Jeremy David White for ENHANCEDFantastic Arcade
Best in Show: SECRET LEGEND developed by Andrew ShouldiceAudience Award Winner: SUPER RUSSIAN ROULETTE developed by Andrew ReitanoMercado Fantastico
1st Place: THE DUMP by Fernando Montes de Oca and Xavier Sánchez Mercado2nd Place: PARADISE HILLS by Alice Waddington3rd Place: EL GIGANTE by Gigi Saul GuerreroFANTASTIC BUMPER COMPETITION - Presented by SourceFed Nerd
THE JURY directed by Joe Nicolosi