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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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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Free RPG Day 2026: The Dice, Minis and Quickstarts I Want Most

Free RPG Day 2026 returns with exclusive dice, miniatures, folk horror, cosmic dread, and beginner-friendly tabletop adventures worth hunting down.

Free RPG Day logoFree RPG Day is almost here, and it remains one of my favourite events of the year. I always look forward to picking up Quickstart rules that introduce players to new TTRPG worlds, and as always, I always pay attention to the hardware offered. Whether that is with dice, custom notebooks or miniatures, they turn the day into an adventure itself!

Not every item is simply available to grab. Participating stores set their own limits, and some may require a small purchase or participation in an in-store event. That is only fair, especially when it helps discourage unswarthy individuals from scooping up everything. For die-hards, though, spending the day at the store is part of the ritual. Many retailers host one-shots, giving curious newcomers a chance to try a game before committing to a full rulebook.

As for what’s noteworthy is what Marvel Comics is offering, a Secret Wars Expansion Preview for the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game. It includes a Battleworld adventure, an original map, and a glimpse at what the full tabletop experience will offer. I played TSR’s take on Secret Wars years ago, and a lot has changed in the lore since the Jim Shooter era. It was a fun time, and for the latest, I’m definitely wanting to check. As for what’s ahead, the following items are what I am most eager to find.

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Island FanCon 2026 Convention Report: Still Working It Out

Island FanCon returned to Langford for its third year, and the question of what it wants to be is still being answered. Here’s what worked, what didn’t, and why The Viking Group’s shadow looms over all of it.

Island Fancon 2026As Island FanCon enters its third year, it faces an uphill climb. Managing expectations will be tough. What exactly is it trying to be? The identity introduced from the get-go is obvious: help the City of Langford grow. When this event is sponsored by The Viking Group, that detail is hard to miss. And this year, they’re the first thing everyone spots when entering the arena.

When this event is one of the few gatherings still existing for Greater Victoria, geeks are noticing. As for comparing it alongside larger regional conventions in the Lower Mainland, anyone attempting to do so doesn’t really understand the difference between fan-run and corporate.

When this event’s cousins, Metro Con and Northern Fan Con, share the same vibe, expectations need to be lowered accordingly. And as the Island show is still shaping its identity, patience is required. Some attendees come looking for something similar to Fan Expo Vancouver, and honestly, that’s not what Island Fan Con is about. It’s not a full-scale show, and it was never meant to spotlight every geek operation in the municipality.

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Annecy 2026: Top Ten Picks on What To Look Out For

From steampunk anime and folk fantasy to surreal satire, musical odysseys, and unsettling horror from around the world, Annecy 2026 promises to have a bit of everything for fans of animation. That includes previews on upcoming streaming series.

annecy 2026Every year, the Annecy International Animation Film Festival offers a fantastic glimpse into what’ll be headed to theatres, streaming or television soon. While not everything will be made available for other regions, especially with European made works, I’m always holding out hope. At Annecy 2026, this year’s selections have me excited. From steampunk alternate histories and existential animated satire to folk fantasy and deeply personal musical odysseys. Several projects also continue the growing trend of international co-productions blending artistic traditions from Europe and Asia in ways that feel genuinely fresh.

Here are some of the standout titles currently catching our attention.

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