Spoilers can’t believe it’s June already.

We’re now even closer to the 28th edition of the 2024 Fantasia International Film Festival. And now we get a second showcase of what the festival has to offer. In this second wave, there’s highlights like Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte’s retelling of THE COUNT OF MONTE-CRISTO, Isaac Ezban’s PÁRVULOS, Kenji Nakamura’s MONONOKE THE MOVIE: THE PHANTOM IN THE RAIN, Alexander J. Farrel’s THE BEAST WITHIN, Vivieno Caldinelli’s SCARED SHITLESS, Niles Atalah’s ANIMALIA PARADOXA, and Veerapatra Jinanavin’s MANTRA WARRIOR: THE LEGEND OF THE EIGHT MOONS.

Opening the festival, will be New Zealand’s filmmaker Ant Timpson’s BOOKWORM. Estranged father Strawn Wise (Elijah Wood) tries to bond with his young daughter Mildred (Nell Fisher), a voracious reader of fantasy and mythology by planning a camping trip. Absurd and comedic adventures will take place. Need not say more, I am there.

Another retelling of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel The Count of Montecristo is always welcome. I’ve dreamed of a big updated adaptation of this work to film. Filmmakers Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte have given it the blockbuster treatment of a production which received quite an ovation at Cannes Film Festival. Now it has its international premiere at Fantasia and it’s time to see what they’ve crafted.

Thailand’s filmmaker Veerapatra Jinanavin and Riff Studio offer us MANTRA WARRIOR: THE LEGEND OF THE EIGHT MOONS. An ancient tale retold with not only a Thai aesthetic but rebooted “as a cyberpunk space opera punctuated with powerhouse mecha battles.” Okey, you got me there, I’m sold. Definitely on my wishlist.

You can read more about the second wave news and other features coming up on the entire press release on the official website.

That will do for now.