The 30th annual Fantasia International Film Festival is set to host the world premiere of the Canadian psychological horror feature Ancestral Beasts. Directed by Métis filmmaker Tim Riedel, the film is a highly anticipated addition to this year’s festival lineup in Montreal.
Ancestral Beasts follows Elyse, a woman struggling with the loss of her mother and mounting personal pressures. After retreating to an isolated cabin, she discovers a dark presence lurking beneath the home’s foundation. The film features an Indigenous-led ensemble cast including Morgan Holmstrom, Darla Contois, Gail Maurice, and Asivak Koostachin. Edmon Rotea, known for his work on Skinamarink, serves as an executive producer on the project.
The inclusion of Ancestral Beasts at Fantasia highlights the festival’s ongoing commitment to showcasing bold, independent genre cinema. Having previously been selected for the Frontières Platform at Cannes’ Marché du Film in 2025, the film arrives with significant momentum. For fans of psychological horror, this premiere offers an early look at a project that blends personal trauma with atmospheric, supernatural tension.
Additional Festival Highlights
Beyond the feature premiere, the festival will showcase several short films and welcome notable talent. Among the attendees is actor and director Jess McLeod, who will be present to promote their roles in Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma and Our Effed Up World. The festival will also feature the Montreal premiere of the short film Lost Wax, directed by Omorose Osagie, and the world premiere of Jo Gaffney’s The Last DIY Show.
Ancestral Beasts is scheduled to screen on July 22 and July 28 at the Salle J.A. De Sève. The festival continues to be a vital hub for genre filmmakers to connect with audiences and industry professionals alike.
Source: Fantasia Festival
