Chaos Reigns! For 20 years, Fantastic Fest has been America’s most important genre film event, and the launching pad for countless moviemaking careers. Before the festival begins its big celebrations today, we talked with filmmakers and festival veterans about some of their favorite memories.
Lisa Dreyer, Fantastic Fest Director
In 2021, we had survived Covid and we had out first in-person after Covid. We were going to cancel the fest, then we were going to do it full-on, and then we realized two weeks before that we had to socially distance. It was just crazy, but that festival, the few filmmakers that were able to attend it was so special that they made the effort.
We had this filmmaker, Randolph Zaini, he’s from Indonesia. he had a film called Premen and he’s back with a movie called A Woman Called mother this year. He came all the way from Indonesia during Covid to be there at that festival and Julia Julia Ducournau had just won the Palme D’Or at Cannes and she came out with Titane for that festival.
It was just a very intimate festival, and the people that showed up really bonded. It was a nice, special moment and a reminder that people are always going to be there for Fantastic Fest, and Fantastic Fest is gonna be here for everyone. It really felt like a family that year, and all the stress and chaos planning it was worth it.
I never want to do that again, though.
Ant Timpson, Writer/Director/Producer, The Greasy Strangler, FF ’16; Come to Daddy, FF ’19; Bookworm, FF ’24
Have so many fond experiences of FF from all angles whether being attending as a judge, filmmaker or a punter. Every year has provided memorable moments that are now deeply embedded into my neocortex. Some I can never forget no matter how hard I try.
A fun then brutal helicopter experience springs to mind. Then there are the pedestrian recalls that trigger great experiences to float back up, it can simply be reconnecting with an old friend, to eating something or a talking about a specific film that lead to a highlight montage of fun. And it’s always been about the fun.
The most pleasurable and intimate cinematic encounter was a couple of years back with the world premiere of Birdemic 3 in which a midnight screening saw less than 20 turn up along with the entire cast and director. After we all downed several margaritas it turned into a spontaneous and joyous singalong and laugh-a-thon. Everyone in that cinema knew they experienced one for the ages, we transcended the communal cinema experience and had been jettisoned far into the cosmos
Amy Everson, Actor/Writer, Felt, FF ‘14
It was a pitch-black night, on a desolate road, in the middle of nowhere when a car pulled up and popped open the trunk. I remember the anxiety banging through my chest and the distinct feeling that my partner and I were about to be murdered. Instead, the driver rolled down the window and complimented our matching sequin outfits.
We never found out why he had popped the trunk, but he did give us a ride to the Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar. It was September 18, 2014, the opening night of Fantastic Fest, and the best possible summation of the experience I was about to have: terror in the setup, tenderness in the reveal.
Within minutes, we were thrust into the middle of the dance floor at the Highball. Within an hour, our sequin tops were layered in food fight slop that we foolishly assumed we could just take a peak at. Within the week, I had had more meaningful conversations about the importance of art than ever before in my life.
Time and time again I was left surprised and comforted by the festival. My first movie, Felt – a fictitious, improvised story that chronicled my grappling with trauma through my art and costumes – was showing, but I felt way out of my league. Unpacking my trauma in front of hundreds of strangers seemed, at best, a really, bad idea. How wrong I was.
Of all people, Edgar Wright – literally my favorite comedic director – was the first person to approach me about my performance at the Fantastic Fest Debates. The interviewers who spoke to me engaged me with me on considerate, compassionate levels I was not used to. But what stands out most to me – to this day – are the many incredible people that make up the chaos of the festival. They opened me up, treated me as one of their own, and invited me into the wildest filmgoing experience I have ever had.
There were so many great movies, but one of the most memorable theater experiences was sitting in the front row with my partner and Noah Segan, the three of us all hopped up on caffeine for an early morning screening of The Chickening and laughing like maniacal idiots. Just one of those bizarre, surreal moments of fun and bonding that encapsulates the Fantastic Fest experience.
There are too many amazing people and memories to count; I’m grateful to have shared in the beauty that is Fantastic Fest, and I can’t wait to come back again someday.
Joe Lynch, Writer/Director, Wrong Turn 2: Dead End, FF ’07; Everly, FF ’14; Suitable Flesh, FF ’23
Like many of my cinematic colleagues, Fantastic Fest was my first foray into the American “festival circuit”, that hallowed ground so many aspiring filmmakers yearned to be part of growing up in the time of indie fests like Sundance (Redford RIP) being the coolest (coldest?) place to break into the industry. So when my first feature film Wrong Turn 2: Dead End – which was produced by Fox as a direct to video film with no sights on festival wreaths at ALL – was surprisingly accepted, I was elated. Fantastic Fest was connected to the (Aint It) Coolest theater I’d been reading about for almost a decade, the Alamo Drafthouse, and to get the chance to actually EAT a “Royale W/ Cheese” and a beet IN a theater, let alone screen my first film which was a love letter to the horror and splatter films we grew up with in the 80’s, was a heavenly proposition.
One of the things Tim League and the Drafthouse was known for at the time when Fantastic was making an name for themselves as the alternative answer to the festivals was their “gimmicks” coinciding with screenings, fun little stunts and activities that enhanced the screening experience. Since my classy debut film deals with the sensitive subject of cannibalism (alongside mutant incest, but that may have gotten tricky to pull something off) Tim suggested they pass out chunks of BBQ during a pivotal scene when some of the protagonists are also chowing on charred flesh, not realizing they’re inadvertently eating one of their fellow contestants in the “Reality Show gone to hell”. I LOVED the idea and sure enough, midway through the film, the wonderful servers pass around little tapas sized plates of flavorful meat for all to enjoy and when the film reveals they’re eating American Idol contestant Kimberly Caldwell (playing herself) the crowd LOST IT. It was the kind of reaction – cheers, screams, gags – any genre filmmaker pines for and having been so nervous I was pounding free beer and burgers the whole time, it was the kind of validation I was praying for and got in mouthfuls. It was the perfect kind of presentation to a rouge flick like mine that beat the odds and got actual festival consideration thanks to the Leagues and the other programmers who were looking to shake up the system and present movies that needed more love out there at the time. And by golly, they gave us just that and continue to this day, highlighting the best in genre around the world and giving other filmmakers like myself their realized dreams in the form of free BBQ.
Now, after all that food and beer, I had to go up to the mic for the Q&A; overall, the screening went great, everyone cheered at all the right moments and it was a total triumph for this little DTV film that could, but I had accumulated so much pent up gas (I mean, I wasn’t gonna flatulate next to Avatar’s Joel David Moore! He’s a classy dude!) that my stomach was in knots. My moderator was the dear Scott Weinberg who introduced me to the front and for some reason, be it punk rock bravado, my desire to be a comic or just pure terror, I took the mic and proceeded to fart LOUDLY into said mic for what I was told was a good 37 seconds. I mean, this thing was a real ripper; full of body, bass, real power. So THAT was the first thing I officially “said” to the Austin Film community in public after my first US premiere of one of my films: A 37 second air biscuit. (Look it up, the video is out there on YouTube). The crowd was in shock. I was in shock. Scott … well, Scott just smiled. But then the crowd burst into laughter after I burst my beef blast into their equipment and the rest is history for me as an honored member of the Fantastic Alumni. I heard Tim kept the mic in a safe place after as a memento … or just threw it out. Sorry Tim.
I’ve been back to Fantastic Fest multiple times since, twice to premiere new films (Everly in 2014 where I also participated in the Fantastic Debates and got my block almost knocked off, and 2023 with Suitable Flesh) but nothing will beat that first time, in Austin, amongst fellow geeks and future film family, issuing a “shit ghost” into the mic… I felt like I had made it.
Thank you Fantastic Fest, for making my (and so many other) flatulent film dreams come true.
Owen Egerton, Writer/Director, Follow, FF ’15; Whistle FF ’25
Hot damn, so many Fantastic Fest memories over the last two decades! The mayhem, the movies, the missteps, the makeups. One of my fondest memories goes back to 2013. Keanu Reeves screened his directorial debut Man of Tai Chi at the Fest. Since he was here, we suggested he take part in a long-time tradition of the fest – the Fantastic Fest Debates, which I’m lucky enough to emcee. He’d be debating Alamo and Fest Founder Tim League on the merits of Tai Chi as a martial art. Tim argued that Taekwondo was far superior and Keanu defended, of course, Tai Chi. After debating with Keanu, Tim would face off in the boxing ring against celebrated martial artist, actor, and stuntman Tiger Hu Chen, Keanu’s co-star in Man of Tai Chi. This was incredibly brave of Tim. Tiger had Keanu as his cornerman. Tim needed a cornerman as well. Luckily Alex Winter was there. So now we had Bill and Ted coaching from opposite corners.
Here’s my favorite memory of the night. Just before the whole night started, Keanu and I were out back. It was the quiet before the storm, just the two of us chatting, and I distinctly remember a look on the man’s beautiful face that read – what the hell am I doing here? What is this festival? Why did I agree to this?
Then came the Debates. It’s hard to describe the Debates. Laughter, yelling, boxing, silliness, and whole lot of passion. A wild, spinning, fête of fandom and freakiness. A circus of cinema and horror and nerd-heart. A no-holds, bombastic celebration of the weird.
Later that night, I shook Keanu’s hand and complemented him on his debate (he was spectacular). And I saw in face a bright, surprised expression that seemed to say: “Now I get it! This is Fantastic Fest.”
Aaron B. Koontz, Producer, Blood Relatives, FF ’22; Shelby Oaks, FF ’25
Oddly enough my 20th anniversary memories take me back to the 10th anniversary where I saw the World Premiere of this tiny little action film. I recall that my preferred selection in that time slot was not given to me, so I was deciding what else to try and consider and that lead me to John Wick.
No one knew anything about the film, and after what was a lackluster premiere the year before with Keanu kicking ass in Man of Tai Chi, it wasn’t high on the priority list.
But then I saw Tim League in the lobby and he mentioned that Keanu was here for it and I figured, what the hell, let’s give this a shot. I sat in the corner of the front row in the main theater next to Tim and over the next 90 minutes I think my head exploded as many times as a Russian mobster did in the film. We literally looked at each other three or four times in awe of WTF we just had witnessed. The crowd was electric, literally standing in applause at the end and then at the Q&A you could feel their energy and excitement knowing they had a bona fide hit on their hands. It’s easily one of the greatest theater experiences of my life.
Macon Blair, Actor/Writer/Director, Green Room, FF ’15; The Toxic Avenger, FF ’23
Fantastic Fest rules. I love showing up not knowing exactly what’s playing and picking a screening at random and discovering something really special. Frankie Freako, Chained For Life, and Strike, Dear Mistress & Cure His Heart come to mind in that way, wonderful gems I lucked into. The re-release of Ken Russell’s The Devils blew the paint off my brain; I’d never seen it before and to this day is one of my favorite movies.
That same year my friend Jeremy Saulnier was showing his third movie, Green Room and that screening was an absolute blast, the theater felt like it was zapped with lightning.
If I have to pick a single favorite Fantastic Fest memory, I’d selfishly say it’s the 2023 World Premiere of The Toxic Avenger. I was nervous as hell. FF was the festival I felt like I’d made the movie for and I just wanted the folks to like it. Lloyd Kaufman introed the show, Elijah Wood and David Yow were there, my family came in from out of town, Jeremy flew in for it, all these special people there to cheer for the movie. I felt very grateful, very lucky. The audience was dynamite. What an great night that was. I love this festival.
Ted Geoghegan, Producer, Graceland, FF ’12; ABCs of Death 2, FF ’14
On September 18, 2014, I celebrated the World Premiere of ABCs of Death 2 with what might still be Fantastic Fest’s largest onstage gathering after a screening. To call it a Q&A would be futile, as there were over thirty directors, producers, actors, and musicians crammed into the front of the cinema, all celebrating their combined victory in completing our insane omnibus.
2012’s original The ABCs of Death, the brainchild of Ant Timpson and Tim League, brought 26 filmmakers together, with each directing their own short segment about mortality based on a random letter of the alphabet they were given. When it came time for a sequel, the duo were kind enough to call upon me to be an Associate Producer, a role I took all-too-seriously for two fellas I held in the highest regard. Not only was I tasked with shepherding several of the shorts to completion, but pulled double duties and ran the competition for the film’s guest director slot – which was ultimately won by Robert Boocheck’s phenomenally funny “M is for Masticate.”
I stood on that stage months after shooting my debut feature, surrounded by a swarm of genre iconic filmmakers that I couldn’t muster up the confidence to call my peers, and wondered if I could ever feel as calm and cool as they all seemed, running their victory lap.
I always smile when I recall “L is for Legacy”‘s Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen, whose 17-hour flight from Nigeria was delayed, racing into the theater at top speed just in time to meet his fellow filmmakers onstage. Larry Fessenden, who directed “N is for Nexus” and had recently starred in my film, gave me a big hug onstage and asked, “Isn’t this insane?” Moments later, Fantasia Film Festival’s Mitch Davis, who shared Associate Producer credits with me on the anthology, grabbed me – and with a huge grin – said, “We did it!”
I took a deep, nervous breath and thought, “I guess we did.” After all of the work I’d put into the film, it was somehow the first time I believed I had actually helped shepherd the movie into existence – and it felt incredible. It was also the first and only time I’d ever felt like a momentary part of the “Cool Kid’s Club” a completely fictional group of people that I assume are at every film festival and who I’ve never been able to eke my way into the ranks of.
Since that absolutely gonzo premiere, I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of many films, but the opportunity Ant and Tim gave me that night – to feel like I was a part of something bigger than me – became a core memory, and one that I return to often. There’s a beautiful African adage that says “It takes a village to raise a child”, and I’m forever honored to have been a part of the village responsible for raising ABCs of Death 2.
Toby Poser, Writer/Director/Producer/Actor, The Deeper You Dig, FF ’19; Hellbender, FF ’21; Where The Devil Roams, FF ’23; Mother of Flies, FF ’25
My very first Fantastic Fest was in 2019. Our first horror feature, The Deeper You Dig, had been invited – which was massive – and I flew down solo while my creative partner and husband John took our girl Zelda to soccer tournaments. Our other girl, Lulu, flew in from college to join me in Austin. She was 20 that day, but the next day she turned 21, which meant she could sit and drink a beer with her burger in the Alamo. Our film at Fantastic and a milestone birthday with my sunny girl in cool Austin? What a beautiful thing.
In the Alamo cinema space, new adventures in the shared movie watching experience were percolating like popcorn. Opening night is something I will never forget. Jojo Rabbit was playing and I sat in one of the big rooms where t-shirts were hanging over the chairs. Free tees?! And menus were propped up on tiny desks with a tiny, gentle light and a pencil poking from a hole. Full service grub while gazing at a movie? What fresh madness was this? Being the movie-watching bitch purist that I am, I couldn’t imagine the mix. But then a bubbly dude strolled up in the narrow dipped galley at my feet – ah, there’s method to the madness. Meanwhile the most weird and wonderful videos were playing on the screen as people began populating the room. It was like dropping acid without the drop, my eyes so hungry and my smile a big taffy grin. Then the lights dimmed, the most sensuous milkshake and bodacious fries arrived, and I had found my nirvana. The movie was fun as hell in that big room with happy people, and as the credits rolled the director Taika Waititi himself hopped onstage in his bare feet and he was just sweet bonkers lovable mayhem.
I wore that t-shirt for years, until one of my kids stole it. That’s Fantastic Fest – it keeps you hooked long after the lights come up and the buzz of the Highball quiets. The 20th anniversary in 2025 makes our fourth time attending, and it’s a given that I’ll walk away with more memories. But a rotten punk kid can’t steal those.
Majid Al Ansari, Writer/Director, Zinzana, FF ’15; The Vile, FF ’25
Honestly, I was in pieces. I was young, it was my first film, my brain was shattered, I was sweating the whole time. By the time I stopped sweating, I was on the plane back. Maybe this time it will be easier, but I am that nervous filmmaker. I’m a big self-critic, especially when it’s a premiere. I promised myself on this one. I’m bringing my wife this time, just to push myself to enjoy it. I know she’s there as moral support, and we’re going to have a meltdown halfway through, but it’s just part of the process. I look forward to it.
Fantastic Fest 2025 runs Sept. 18-25, Passes and info at fantasticfest.com.
Find all our news, reviews, and interviews at austinchronicle.com/fantastic-fest.
