For three decades, the Fantasia International Film Festival has been a home for fearless storytelling, boundary-pushing genre cinema, and emerging creative voices from around the world. As the legendary Montreal festival celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, this year’s lineup continues that tradition with an exciting collection of world premieres, visionary filmmakers, and unforgettable genre experiences.
Among the most anticipated highlights are the world premiere of the psychological horror feature Ancestral Beasts, the festival appearances of acclaimed short films Lost Wax and The Last DIY Show, and the arrival of actor and filmmaker Jess McLeod, whose remarkable year across film and television has positioned them as one of the industry’s most exciting rising talents.
Presented as part of Fantasia’s 2026 programming, these projects represent the festival’s ongoing commitment to championing original stories, diverse perspectives, and artists willing to challenge cinematic expectations.
Ancestral Beasts: Indigenous Horror Takes Center Stage
Leading this year’s lineup is the highly anticipated world premiere of Ancestral Beasts, the debut psychological horror feature from Métis filmmaker Tim Riedel.
Shot in Manitoba, the film brings Indigenous storytelling, psychological tension, and atmospheric horror together in a deeply personal exploration of grief, trauma, and unseen forces.
The story follows Elyse, played by Morgan Holmstrom, four years after the devastating loss of her mother. Struggling emotionally, overwhelmed at work, and unable to find stability, Elyse decides to leave the city and stay at her auntie’s isolated cabin in search of peace.
However, the quiet escape she hopes for quickly becomes something far more unsettling.
After encountering strange disturbances, including evidence of something living beneath the house, Elyse begins to sense a dark presence surrounding her. As her mental health struggles intensify and family conflicts continue, the boundaries between internal pain and external danger become increasingly uncertain.
Rather than relying only on traditional horror elements, Ancestral Beasts uses fear as a way to explore emotional wounds, inherited experiences, and the things people carry with them even when they try to escape.
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A Powerful Indigenous-Led Creative Team
One of the most compelling aspects of Ancestral Beasts is the talent behind and in front of the camera.
The film features an Indigenous-led ensemble including Morgan Holmstrom (Outlander), Darla Contois (Little Bird), Gail Maurice (Aberdeen), and Asivak Koostachin (Duster).
The project also includes executive producer Edmon Rotea, known for his work on the groundbreaking horror phenomenon Skinamarink.
Before its Fantasia premiere, Ancestral Beasts gained industry attention when it was selected for the Frontières Platform at Cannes’ Marché du Film in 2025 as a proof of concept. That recognition helped establish the project as one of the most intriguing new voices in contemporary Canadian horror.
Directed, written, and produced by Tim Riedel, with production from Michif Koonteur in collaboration with Kistikan Pictures, the film continues the growing movement of Indigenous creators reshaping genre filmmaking through culturally specific and emotionally powerful storytelling.
Lost Wax: Memory, Art, and Cultural Identity
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Another standout selection at Fantasia 2026 is Omorose Osagie’s acclaimed short film Lost Wax.
Shot between Vancouver and Nigeria, the surrealist drama combines live-action filmmaking with 2D animation to explore themes of grief, cultural history, and stolen heritage.
The story follows Osas, a craftswoman who becomes emotionally affected after a young girl disappears from her apartment complex. Although Osas only knew the missing child from a distance, the event awakens a deeper connection between personal loss and the historical removal of Benin Kingdom artwork.
Through its unique visual approach, Lost Wax creates a connection between individual grief and collective memory.
The film stars Wumi Tuase, Diana Egwuatu, Eyiyemi Olivia, and Pamilerin Ayodeji.
Director Omorose Osagie, a Nigerian-Canadian filmmaker, has built her artistic voice around themes of isolation, perception, and power. Lost Wax has already appeared at major festivals including Slamdance Film Festival 2026, Galway Film Fleadh 2026, Gender Equity in Media Festival 2026, Reelworld Film Festival 2025, St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival 2025, Accra Indie Film Fest 2026 and Brampton Film Showcase 2026.
The short has also earned significant recognition, including Outstanding Shorts Producer and Cinematographer awards at Reelworld Film Festival’s Outstanding Cinematographer and Outstanding Producer for a Short Film and Gender Equity in Media Festival’s Best Cinematography.
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The Last DIY Show: Punk Rock Meets Zombie Chaos
Adding a burst of high-energy genre entertainment to Fantasia’s lineup is the world premiere of Jo Gaffney’s The Last DIY Show.
Presented as part of Shadows of the North and Perilous Ports 2026, the short film delivers a wild mix of punk culture, personal drama, and zombie horror.
The story follows photographer Dahlia during an already painful breakup. Her difficult day becomes a nightmare when a zombie outbreak interrupts the show she is working at, forcing her to join forces with friends and her ex-boyfriend in a fight for survival.
Shot on 16mm film, The Last DIY Show embraces a raw, underground style inspired by independent music scenes and classic horror filmmaking.
For director Jo Gaffney, Fantasia represents a meaningful return. In 2025, Gaffney attended the festival as part of the cast of Lucid, which had its world premiere that year. Now, they return as a writer, director, and executive producer presenting their own creative vision.
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Jess McLeod Continues a Career-Defining Year
Fantasia 2026 will also welcome actor, writer, and filmmaker Jess McLeod, who will attend the festival from July 17 to July 20.
McLeod arrives following an extraordinary year across television, film, and independent storytelling.
They will appear at Fantasia supporting roles in two major festival titles: Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Alice Maio Mackay’s Our Effed Up World.
The appearances continue a remarkable creative run for McLeod, who recently starred alongside Bob Odenkirk, Henry Winkler, and Lena Headey in Ben Wheatley’s action comedy Normal.
They also appeared in Jonathan Glatzer’s AMC technology satire series The Audacity, which premiered after its SXSW debut. McLeod’s performance led to their promotion to series regular for the show’s second season.
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Celebrating 30 Years of Fearless Cinema
The 30th anniversary edition of Fantasia International Film Festival highlights exactly why the event remains one of the world’s most important showcases for genre cinema.
From the Indigenous psychological horror of Ancestral Beasts to the cultural reflections of Lost Wax, the punk energy of The Last DIY Show, and the rising creative force of Jess McLeod, the 2026 lineup demonstrates the limitless possibilities of independent filmmaking.
These projects prove that genre cinema can be thrilling, emotional, socially relevant, and deeply personal all at once.
As Fantasia enters its fourth decade, it continues to provide a platform for filmmakers who are not only imagining new worlds but reshaping the future of storytelling itself.
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