Exploring Fantasia Film Fest’s Science Fiction Showcase 2026 Where Debates Are Sure To Rage

This year’s Science Fiction Showcase 2026 at Fantasia Film Festival is timely, especially as technology comes to head and AI is a topic to be debated.

Science Fiction Showcase 2026
Event runs from July 16 to August 2, 2026. Montreal, Quebec.

At Fantasia Film Fest, the International Science Fiction Showcase 2026 edition shows why they are no strangers to exploring humanity’s relationship with the evolving world. It will be explored on July 19, at the Cinéma du Musée. During this presentation, presented are works from six countries with visioniaries who have tales to tell that examines humanity’s evolving relationship with technology.

From artificial intelligence to social media to virtual reality, these shorts examine the promises and pitfalls of innovation, offering glimpses into futures that may not be as distant as they seem. And perhaps those catching a look into a probable future may want to reconsider why that dystopia future isn’t that far off. Images are provided for those pieces that has my attention as must sees.

Algorithm

Algorithm poster

Evie (Leonie Federle) just broke up with her beau, and as a means to cope, she thinks confiding to an AI Algorithm, is a good idea. Not only is it a p0pular personal assistant, social media manager, and the voice of the smart home hub, but also it may be alive.

Well, that’s the idea. Howeverf, when that ex arrives to maybe mend fences, can Cora (Virginia Hartmann) deal with all the technology that’s around her? I won’t say if this work is one part horror and another part revenge fantasy, but it’ll have plenty of folks curious!

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Fantasia Film Festival at 30 Glorious Years! So What’s Worth Watching? (Part One)

There’s less than a week to get ready for Fantasia Film Festival 2026! Not only is it their pearl jubilee but also there may be cake to find too!

Fantasia Film Festival 2026 poster
Event runs from July 16 to August 2, 2026. Montreal, Quebec.

When I think of Montreal, there are only a few words that pop into mind: Fantasia Film Festival. This year’s celebration promises to be huge because it’s their Pearl anniversary, and I’m sure not everything is being advertised. Some surprises must be in store for those attending this summer celebration of pop culture cinema.

As for what defines my top twenty works to see, this list comes after considering all of the short film programs. Since they also make up part of my overall picks, it felt important to cover them first before narrowing everything down to this final selection. The links go to Fantasia’s webpage, with showtimes and advance ticket purchase options.

Ancestral Beasts

Ancestral Beasts Movie PosterFour years after losing her mother, Elyse (Morgan Holstrom) still hasn’t recovered, and what she now has to face are the shadows of her past. That’s the gist I get from the marketing for this film. Not only is there an Indigenous angle, but also the idea of intergenerational trauma returning from beyond the grave. It may sound like a familiar haunted house tale on paper, but there’s clearly much more going on, including mental illness within local communities. To say more would reveal too much about why this film is a must-see.

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Japan Cuts 2026, Honouring The Best Films From The Land of the Rising Sun

In New York City, Japan Cuts 2026 promises to highlight the best in what contemporary Japanese cinema can offer, and it looks great. What’s offered this year is a teaser before planning begins for their emerald celebration.

Japan Cuts 2026
Runs July 8th to 18th, 2026 at the Japan Society in New York, USA.

Before a certain genre film festival begins in Montreal, some eyes, and many patrons, will descend upon New York for Japan Cuts 2026, an event focused on what makes films from this country special. Not only is the Japan Society working hard to foster closer industry relationships and bring U.S. and Japanese co-productions together, like Toho and Legendary Pictures’ Monsterverse, but it also celebrates contemporary cinema. And this year, Canon became their major corporate sponsor!

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My Life Without The Pokémon GO Grind and It’s Fantastic!

Even on YouTube, there are individuals saying they are stepping away from the Pokémon GO Grind, and after 10 years, will others follow?

Pokemon GO 10th Anniversary and the Pokémon GO GrindFor years, Pokémon Go was both a good and a bad obsession. Like Ash Ketchum, I’d light up whenever something new showed up and I raced to catch the latest pocket monster. However, the Pokémon GO Grind is very real and exhausting; honestly, I didn’t bother playing during the 10th anniversary party that took place last weekend. That’s because there’s nothing exciting about. Not even Gimmighoul holding a 10th Anniversary Coin seemed inspiring.

As for the big one coming up, the Global Fest event where there’s going to be Mega Mewtwo X or Mega Mewtwo Y, sure. However, since I like something to display on my table than on a mobile screen, maybe I’ll just hunt around for a model instead. The reason is not because the came is such a rinse and repeat action, but the release schedule for new ‘mon is so tiny, it makes playing on a regular basis boring.

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Don’t Be Afraid of Fantasia Film Festival On What Short Programs Are On Fire!

One staple of this film festival is their Are You Afraid of Fantasia short film program. It’s big, bad, and looks more promising than ever beforfe!

Afraid of Fantasia Film Festival 2026 poster
Event runs from July 16 to August 2, 2026. Montreal, Quebec.

For some attendees, deciding what to focus on during Fantasia Film Festival 2026 will be tough. That’s especially true with ARE YOU AFRAID OF FANTASIA?, the first of three shorts programs I’m highlighting here. With this particular smorgaboard taking place at the Salle J.A. De Sève on the 17th of July, horror fans and folklore lovers should put this program high on their list.

What follows is a quick summary of what to expect from each short, followed by two other programs worth keeping on your radar. Like the prior article, I’ll highlight the three shorts I’m most excited for with an image.

Broc! (also known as Xi Lan Hua Shi Bian)
(Hong Kong, dir. Wong Chung-Him / Calvin Woo, Canadian Premiere)

In a world inhabited only by zombies, a couple begin transforming into humans after eating broccoli. As their world turns upside down, the question is what kind of absurdist world must they live in now? This work explores the fragile boundaries of identity and human nature, and if it turns out we’re all just vegetables meant to rot, then we’re in trouble.

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Our Ultimate Guide is Here! Spotlighting All The Essential Fantasia Film Festival 2026 Shorts You Can’t Miss

Fantasia Film Festival 2026’s shorts programs reveal a strong thread of folklore, mythology, cultural traditions, and strange discoveries. And in part one of a week long guide, we dive into which works we’re very eager to see:

Fantasia Film Festival 2026 poster
Event runs from July 16 to August 2, 2026. Montreal, Quebec.

In addition to a lot of cake, I believe Fantasia Film Festival 2026 has plenty of other treats in store for those headed to Montreal! Not only is this the festival’s 30th anniversary, but the programmers have pulled out all the stops to make every section feel special. Returning favourites like Hayop Ka! (review link) appear in the retro lineup, while three outstanding documentaries celebrate the craft of filmmaking. And yes, I’m sure plenty of fans will be cheering for The Origins of Ultraman too!

Before I get to my top twenty picks of the festival, I want to shine a spotlight on the various short film programs. While I haven’t had the chance to see every entry yet, I’ll be keeping an eye on YouTube and other streaming platforms to see which shorts become available internationally after the festival. Great discoveries don’t always come through the festival circuit alone. Sometimes they’re quietly waiting to be found online by those willing to dig a little deeper.

Along with a summary of each film, I’ve marked the title that has my attention with an image. Together, these selections reveal one of the biggest trends I noticed this year: folklore, mythology, and cultural traditions are woven throughout many of Fantasia’s short film programs.

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