Fantastic Fest is celebrating its 20th anniversary with films from around the world. This year’s lineup features 45 World Premieres, 15 International and North American Premieres, and 12 U.S. Premieres. If you have attended Fantastic Fest before, like I have, you know what great cinema, events, and filmmaking talent have come to Austin with the films featured. I have my favorite memories from the past, and today, September 17th, was a day that jogged my memory for sure.
A local theater is offering films from the past during September. I had the opportunity to view Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth (original title: El laberinto del fauno), and it stirred my memories of 2006 when it had a special screening at the festival. Fantastic Fest was relatively new, and I was thrilled to be invited to the screening at the festival. I was hooked on both the filmmaker and the festival from then on.
I also found online links to memories of Fantastic Fest, when Robert Rodriguez’s film, Machete Kills [2013], opened the festival. The stars walked on the red carpet on September 19th at the Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline Theater. I recall seeing the filmmaker, Danny Trejo, Marco Zaror, among many from the cast and crew, as well as the opening night party featuring music by the all-female group Mariachi las Coronelas from the Austin/San Antonio area. It was a night to remember.
Narco Cultura is a documentary that screened at the 2013 Fantastic Fest, which was informative and impressive. I understand it opened theatrically after the festival.
E. L. Katz’s directorial debut, Cheap Thrills, left great memories at the festival when the filmmakers, cast, and crew were in attendance. How can we not remember Pat Healy as Craig Daniels in that film?
Seeing John Wick and Keanu Reeves in person is a highlight of 2014.
This year’s 20th anniversary will be celebrated at the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar in Austin, TX, from September 18th to 25th, 2025. There is something to be said for attending a film festival for almost 20 years (me), and it remains exciting and something to look forward to each September. More information at Fantasticfest.com
Source: Fantastic Fest, IMDb, photo credit: Liz Lopez of 2012 Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar exterior