Fantastic Fest 2015 News: FANTASTIC FEST ANNOUNCES PITCH PROJECTS FOR GENRE FILM MARKET

Source: Fantastic Fest/The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema

Austin, TX – Thursday, August 13, 2015 – Fantastic Fest is proud to announce 13 selected pitch projects for the third edition of its international co-production market: Fantastic Market | Mercado Fantastico. The market runs from September 24 through September 26, 2015 in Austin, Texas. Fantastic Fest runs from September 24th to October 1st.
This year’s crop of Fantastic Market projects showcases cutting edge talent from the United States, Latin America and Europe. The projects represent a diverse mix of newcomers and veterans, including people involved in such films as MISS BALA, REDEEMER, OPEN WINDOWS, SHREW’S NEST, ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN, HIGH FIVE and THE INCIDENT. Two projects-DESALMADOS and DEMON DRIVEN-were selected through Fantastic Market’s collaboration with Ventana Sur’s Blood Window genre market.
“Since its inception in 2013, Fantastic Market has helped many filmmakers move their films from concept to reality,” says market director Rodney Perkins. “We are extremely confident in the quality of this year’s projects and we look forward to sharing them with the world.”
Announcements regarding additional Fantastic Market programming will occur in the near future. The 13 pitch projects are as follows.
AMATEURS
Mexico
Director: Santiago Cendejas (PLAN SEXENAL)
Producers: Gerardo Naranjo (MISS BALA, VOY A EXPLOTAR), Vanessa Perez (PARADISE)
Amateurs is a point of view horror film, seen through the lens of a group of amateur pornographers working for a doomsday cult.
BANDIT HEROES (HEROES BANDIDOS)
Chile
Director: Ernesto Díaz Espinoza (REDEEMER, BRING ME THE HEAD OF MACHINE GUN WOMAN, MANDRILL, MIRAGE MAN)
Producer: Diego Moral (REDEEMER)
An angry and out of control young businessman, who wants to rob the ambitious man who killed his father, joins a peculiar band of bank robbers that steals from the rich to give to the poor.
BECOMING AN ACTION HERO
USA / Mexico
Director: Maru Buendia-Senties (First Feature)
Producer: Maru Buendia-Senties
An aging Hollywood B-lister and a prominent Mexican producer battle past failures and personal shortcomings to help a promising young actor become Mexico’s first action hero.
BLOOD TISSUE (TEJIDO CON SANGRE)
Mexico
Director: Fabián Archondo Arce (First Feature)
Producers: Cyntia Navarro, Nicole Maynard Pinto
A cowardly candy salesman must face a Mexican vampire cartel assassin for the love of his own wife.
DEMON DRIVEN (ENDEMONIADOS) – 2015 BLOOD WINDOW SELECTION
Argentina
Director: Ramiro García Bogliano (PENUMBRA, THE ACCURSED)
Producer: Federico Ricaldoni (AGUA, ROOMS FOR TOURISTS)
A group of friends unleash a demon while partying on a wild night, and even though they are totally high and wasted, they have to become improvised exorcists to save their lives.
DESALMADOS – 2015 BLOOD WINDOW SELECTION
Brazil
Co-Directors: Armando Fonseca (UPTAKE FEAR), Raphael Borghi (First Feature)
Producer: Kapel Furman (UPTAKE FEAR, POLVORA NEGRA)
In his fortress, Rex controls strictly the scarce resources of survival, particularly medicines that are left in the world after the global tragedy.
EL GIGANTE
USA / Canada
Director: Gigi Saul Guerrero (First Feature)
Producers: Raynor Shima, Paulina Trujillo
A young woman’s troubled past, sets her out in search for the disappearance of illegal immigrants, until she stumbles upon “la familia”…
KIKEN
Uruguay
Director: Carlos Ameglio (LA CASCARA)
Producers: Mariana Secco (MR. KAPLAN, HIGH FIVE, LA CASCARA)
Can you save your relationship in a mutant-infested town?
PARADISE HILLS (COLINA PARAISO)
Spain
Director/Co-Writer: Alice Waddington (First Feature)
Producer: Yadira Avalos (OPEN WINDOWS)
Co-Writer: Sofía Cuenca (SHREW’S NEST)
In an undefined future, Uma lives in a society obsessed with a social network that connects young women with rich men. Marriages are no longer about love, but about feeding monsters.
THE DUMP (EL VERTEDERO)
Mexico
Co-Directors: Fernando Montes de Oca (First Feature), Xavier Sánchez Mercado (First Feature)
Producers: Isaac Ezban (THE INCIDENT, THE SIMILARS), Miriam Mercado (THE INCIDENT, THE SIMILARS), Amapola Rosillo
A psychotic old man, living in a garbage dump, resorts to animal and human sacrifices, to control an “imaginary” demonic being living below the mountains of waste.
THE TRACE (O RASTRO)
Brazil
Director: João Caetano Feyer (First Feature)
Producers: Malu Miranda (ELITE SQUAD: THE ENEMY WITHIN), André Pereira (THE DOGNAPPER)
One man struggling for answers. One man haunted by the truth. By following THE TRACE, what separates them in life will bring them together in death.
THE WOLF’S BREATH (EL ALIENTO DEL LOBO)
Colombia / Chile
Director: Alfonso Acosta (THE CRACK)
Producer: Carolina Mosquera (THE CRACK)
She doesn’t know why she came back; but they know what it means. It’s the call of the blood…. She is not welcome. The machetes are waiting.
THE YELLOW NIGHT (A NOITE AMARELA)
Brazil
Director: Ramon Porto Mota (First Feature)
Producer: Lara Lima
THE YELLOW NIGHT is a spiritual slasher, a teen movie about fearing the future and disappearance, the unknown, the dark and death.
Fantastic Market is organized by market director Rodney Perkins, market coordinator Jean Anne Lauer and Fantastic Fest director Kristen Bell. CANANA-the Mexican production and distribution outlet helmed by Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Pablo Cruz and Julian Levin-co-produces the market. Cristina Garza, Vice President of Mundial, CANANA’s sales joint venture with IM Global, is sourcing projects from the region.
Access to Fantastic Market is limited to Fantastic Fest badge holders with industry and market credentials. For information about attending Fantastic Fest and Fantastic Market, please visit http://fantasticfest.com/market/industry or contactindustry@fantasticfest.com.
Attend Fantastic Fest 2015
Fantastic Fest 2015 badges are available for purchase here.
Members of the film industry who purchase a badge can apply for a free INDUSTRY upgrade and Fantastic Market access by filling out the form here. Only approved industry will be considered for access to FANTASTIC MARKET.
For the latest developments, visit the Fantastic Fest official site www.fantasticfest.comand follow us on Facebook & Twitter.
We are now accepting press credential applications for Fantastic Fest 2015.  To apply, please send your name and outlet as well as a letter of assignment from your editor or a business card to the FONS PR team at press@fantasticfest.com for consideration.  The deadline to apply for press credentials is Wednesday, September 2nd.  Please note all applications are subject to approval.

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