The 2018 installment of the Fantasia International Film Festival is just around the corner.  Here are some of the picks that Solzy at the Movies anticipates.

Following the world premiere at Sundance, Searching has been playing the festival circuit.  I had the opportunity to see the film when it screened during the Chicago Critics Film Festival in May.  It’s a roller coaster of a thriller with another film of its own playing in the emails, etc.  It’s enough that at least two viewings minimum are required!  Aneesh Chaganty directs from a script co-written with Sev Ohanian.  John Cho, Debra Messing, Joseph Lee, and Michelle La star.  Canadian premiere:  Thursday, July 26, 2018.

Another film that premiered at Sundance was Mandy.  Directed by Panos Cosmatos, the film stars Nicholas Cage.  While Cage’s acting alone is a reason to recommend the film, the late Jóhann Jóhannsson provides the score.  What better way than to honor the composer’s memory than by listing to one of his final contributions to cinema?  Canadian premiere: Wednesday, August 1, 2018

There’s a continuing Sundance theme.  I can’t help it that these are films come off as interesting.  Danny McBride, Rosemarie DeWitt, and Luke Wilson star in Jonathan Watson’s feature debut, Arizona.  The black comedy is set during the 2009 housing crisis.  Canadian premiere:  July 31, 2018

Fantasia 2018 will run July 12-August 1, 2018.