Fantastic Fest has announced the film lineup for its 20th edition, promising an eclectic mix of horror, action, sci-fi, comedy, animation, and otherwise unclassifiable cinema that befits its status as the weirdest stop on the very busy fall festival circuit.
The Alamo Drafthouse-backed festival, which takes place at the theater chain’s original South Lamar location in Austin, will open with the world premiere of “Primate,” Johannes Roberts’ rabid chimp pool party survival saga starring Troy Kotsur. The closing night selection is “Whistle,” the new IFC horror film from “The Nun” director Corin Hardy about a group of teens who accidentally unleash an ancient Aztec curse on their town.
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In the week between opening and closing night, the festival will feature dozens of genre films, including 45 world premieres and films that have played other major festivals. Highlights include the Blumhouse sequel “Black Phone 2,” Paramount’s Dakota Fanning-led “Vicious,” the U.S. premiere of Neon’s “Shelby Oaks,” and the Thai sentient vacuum romance “A Useful Ghost,” one of IndieWire’s favorite films of Cannes. Mark Duplass will also bring Season 2 of “The Creep Tapes” back to Fantastic Fest after premiering the series at the 2024 edition of the festival.
Fantastic Fest’s lineup is never fully complete before the festival begins, as many nights are headlined by Secret Screenings, which are often premieres of major fall releases that are not announced until the screenings begin. Other events include a medieval drag show and a fundraiser for the Transgender Film Center.
One surprising inclusion? The return of the controversial Fantastic Debates, whose troubled and dangerous history IndieWire’s own Alison Foreman reported on extensively in 2024.
Fantastic Fest 2025 takes place from September 18 – 25. Keep reading for the complete lineup, with all film descriptions provided by the festival.
Continue Reading: Fantastic Fest Announces Lineup for 20th Edition: ‘Black Phone 2,’ ‘Vicious,’ ‘Shelby Oaks,’ and More Genre Delights
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