Fantasia 2026 Welcomes World Premieres, Rising Talent, and Canadian Genre Films from Pender PR
From a highly anticipated Indigenous psychological horror feature to boundary-pushing shorts and one of Canada’s most exciting emerging actor-filmmakers, Pender PR heads to Fantasia’s 30th anniversary with a standout lineup of world premieres and festival talent.
MONTREAL, QC — July 9, 2026 — As the Fantasia International Film Festival celebrates its milestone 30th anniversary, audiences can expect no shortage of bold storytelling, unforgettable characters, and genre-defying cinema. Because this year, Pender PR arrives at the festival with a dynamic slate of films and talent that reflects exactly what Fantasia has become known for over three decades: fearless creativity, fresh voices, and stories that refuse to be ignored.
Leading the lineup is the world premiere of ANCESTRAL BEASTS, the debut feature from Métis filmmaker Tim Riedel, alongside acclaimed short films LOST WAX and THE LAST DIY SHOW, as well as the festival appearance of award-winning actor, filmmaker, and rising industry force Jess McLeod.
Together, they represent a powerful cross-section of contemporary filmmaking—from psychological horror and surrealist drama to punk-rock zombie mayhem and groundbreaking queer storytelling.
A World Premiere Years in the Making
One of the most anticipated titles in this year’s festival is ANCESTRAL BEASTS, a psychological horror feature from Manitoba-based Métis director Tim Riedel.
The project first gained international attention after being selected for the prestigious Frontières Platform at Cannes’ Marché du Film in 2025 as a proof of concept. Now, it arrives at Fantasia for its world premiere, bringing with it a compelling Indigenous-led cast that includes Morgan Holmstrom (Outlander), Darla Contois (Little Bird), Gail Maurice (Aberdeen), and Asivak Koostachin (Duster), with Skinamarink producer Edmon Rotea attached as executive producer.
Set against the backdrop of grief, isolation, and deteriorating mental health, the film follows Elyse, a woman attempting to recover from the loss of her mother while retreating to an isolated family cabin. What begins as a search for peace quickly unravels into something far darker as an unsettling presence lurking beneath the home begins to make itself known.
Blending psychological tension with deeply personal themes, ANCESTRAL BEASTS marks an exciting debut from a filmmaker already drawing attention within the international genre community. Making its World Premiere as part of the Septentrion Shadows program and will screen on July 22 and July 28 at Salle J.A. De Sève. With director/writer/producer Tim Riedel joined by producers Kayla Foisy and Elena Basford, director of photography Joseph Forte, film crew members Addy Riedel and Raymond Pereux, and publicist Nicola Pender.
More Information: Fantasia Festival – Ancestral Beasts Screening Information
LOST WAX Brings an Award-Winning Story to Montreal
Also joining Fantasia’s lineup is LOST WAX, the acclaimed short film from Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker Omorose Osagie.
Combining live-action filmmaking with 2D animation, the film follows Osas, a craftswoman grappling with grief following the disappearance of a young girl from her apartment complex. As the story unfolds, LOST WAX draws striking connections between personal loss and the historical theft of Benin Kingdom artworks, creating a layered and visually distinctive exploration of memory, identity, and displacement.
Shot in both Nigeria and Vancouver, the short has already built impressive momentum on the festival circuit, screening at Reelworld, Slamdance, Essence Film Festival, GEMfest, and the Saint John’s Women’s Film Festival. Along the way, it earned Outstanding Shorts Producer and Outstanding Cinematography honours at Reelworld, as well as the Jury Prize for Best Animation at the Essence Film Festival in 2025. Making its Montreal Premiere as part of the Septentrion Shadows program, will screen on July 29 and July 31 at Salle J.A. De Sève, with writer and director Omorose Osagie.
More Information:
Fantasia Festival – LOST WAX Screening Information
Watch the LOST WAX Trailer
Punk Rock, Zombies, and a World Premiere
If Fantasia audiences are looking for pure chaos, THE LAST DIY SHOW promises exactly that.
Directed by Jo Gaffney, the short film throws viewers into the middle of a disastrous day that somehow gets even worse when a zombie outbreak erupts during a DIY punk show. Shot on 16mm film, THE LAST DIY SHOW follows photographer Dahlia as she is forced to navigate a collapsing world alongside her friends—and her ex-boyfriend—in a frantic fight for survival.
The project marks a major milestone for Gaffney, who attended Fantasia in 2025 as part of the cast of the feature film Lucid. This year, they return with a world premiere of their own. Making its World Premiere as part of the Shadows of the North / Perilous Ports 2026 program, will screen on July 21 at Salle J.A. De Sève, with director, writer, and executive producer Jo Gaffney joined by producers Damian Moore (Damian Morningstar), Becca McKay, Soph Mazzocchio, and film crew member Kashika Kaushal.
More Information:
Fantasia Festival – THE LAST DIY SHOW Screening Information
Jess McLeod’s Breakout Year Continues at Fantasia
Few Canadian performers have had a year quite like Jess McLeod.
A writer, director, and advocate for authentic representation, McLeod has also established a distinctive creative voice behind the camera. Their acclaimed short film She’s Nonbinary—which they wrote, directed, and starred in—recently premiered at Tribeca, participated in the festival’s Creator’s Market, and screened at both Raindance and Dances With Films, earning recognition for its personal storytelling and powerful perspective.
Audiences recently saw McLeod in Ben Wheatley’s action-comedy Normal alongside Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, Lena Headey, and in AMC’s tech satire series The Audacity, which premiered at SXSW before earning a second season with McLeod promoted to series regular.
From July 17–20, Jess McLeod will be at Fantasia supporting two buzzworthy festival titles: the Canadian debut of Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Alice Maio Mackay’s latest feature, Our Effed Up World.
Celebrating 30 Years of Fantasia
For three decades, Fantasia International Film Festival has served as one of the world’s leading destinations for genre cinema, championing emerging voices and groundbreaking storytelling from around the globe.
This year’s Pender PR roster embodies that spirit, from Indigenous horror and internationally acclaimed shorts to punk-rock zombies and boundary-pushing queer cinema.
As Fantasia celebrates its 30th anniversary, audiences can expect stories that challenge, entertain, unsettle, and inspire in equal measure.
