Tag: Short Film

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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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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Beyond Trading Cards: Why Obsession Can Be a Double-Edged Sword

And we have an interview too! When Trading Cards is one of eight shorts as part of the LAAPFF’s Almost Ordinary programming block, they programmers have certainly saved the best for last.

Trading CardsPlaying today at LAAPFF 2026
AMC Atlantic Times Square 14
May 2, 2026 4:00 pm

Radheya Jang’s short film Trading Cards is a work that will have viewers consider the line between ordinary fixation and something far more consuming. Whether that comes from fear, uncertainty, or overthinking a situation, almost everyone faces that need for reassurance at some point in life. What’s explored here is about more than using a thin piece of cardboard to look into the future. Instead, it’s about looking back. Jang’s latest caught my attention because it deals with what may be the greatest compulsion of all: am I okay?

For Jay Jay Jegathesan, who performs the narration, what’s presented in the first few minutes is a look at a kid with a handful of cards. As the writer/director’s father, he had plenty of emotion to draw from. “That creates a different emotional terrain,” he said. “I have watched his inner world take shape across years, and with Trading Cards, I felt I was recognising parts of that landscape in a way that was both beautiful and confronting. Rather than trying to impose emotion onto the words, I found myself returning to real moments, real silences, and the emotional undercurrents that families often understand without ever fully speaking aloud.”

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Little Lucha and The Big Deal is Finally Streaming for that Front Row Experience!

An underdog wrestling tale steps into the spotlight as Little Lucha and The Big Deal begins streaming online. Blending 80s ring theatrics with heartfelt indie storytelling, the short celebrates creative struggle, partnership, and the fight to keep a dream alive.

Little Lucha and the Big Deal FacesFilmmakers Scarlet Moreno and Josh Stifter are stepping back into the ring as their short film, Little Lucha and the Big Deal, is finally available online. My review can be read here, and it’s a fun nostalgic romp to acknowledge the years when wrestling was more than an escape. It’s a way to recognize what goes on behind the ring. This short film that has lots of hear is now streaming exclusively on GeekTyrant.com (and Vimeo). We also have it linked to watch from the comfort of this post too.

Co-directed by and starring this duo, the short is a larger-than-life love letter to 80s era professional wrestling. The story follows aspiring superstar Little Lucha and his partner The Big Deal, two underdog performers chasing glory inside the ring while wrestling with the realities of life beyond the ropes. It’s a tale built on body slams, big dreams, and the emotional toll that comes with refusing to quit.

“Little Lucha and The Big Deal is one of the most heartfelt films I’ve been a part of creating,” said Moreno. “It’s got an ‘art mirrors life’ aspect for me as it’s a story of two people, nearly at the end of their ropes, doing everything in their power to make a dream come true. And what artist or creative doesn’t know that feeling?”

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TheNFB’s Hothouse 15 Shorts Now Streaming: Fresh Voices in Canadian Animation

Experience the creativity of Hothouse 15, the National Film Board of Canada’s program showcasing emerging Canadian animators. Six eclectic shorts, each exploring the theme People Watching, are now streaming worldwide, offering a glimpse at the future of Canadian animation.

National Film Board of Canada logo promoting Hothouse 15 editionThe National Film Board of Canada’s long-running animation program has once again opened its doors to new talent. Beginning today, six shorts from Hothouse 15 are streaming worldwide, showcasing a range of visual styles and stories tied together by this year’s theme: People Watching.

Each filmmaker had just 12 weeks to complete a one-minute piece, and the results are as eclectic as ever. For those unfamiliar, Hothouse was created in 2003 to nurture emerging animators, and it has since launched the careers of over 90 talents. Names like Patrick Doyon (Dimanche), Howie Shia (Marco’s Oriental Noodles), and Eva Cvijanovic (Hedgehog’s Home) all honed their craft here before gaining international recognition.

The NFB Lineup

Get a Grip
Abbey Collings (Boylston, Nova Scotia)

A charming stop-motion short featuring Gus MacDuffin, a puffin who discovers his wings are actually hands—and learns to embrace his uniqueness. The film explores how watching others shapes self-beliefs and identity, all while staying true to oneself. Its gentle story plays out with endearing visuals and subtle humor. A delightful blend of whimsy and introspection.

Stop-motion puffin with hand-like wings in Abbey Collings’ short Get a Grip

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