AceShowbiz - The Fantasia Film Festival has announced its first lineup for the 2026 edition, headlined by the world premiere of Hot Spot, an AI-themed sci-fi thriller directed by Agnieszka Smoczy?ska. The film stars Noomi Rapace, Andrzej Konopka, and Reika Kirishima in a near-future setting where a private investigator probes a complex murder case.

Focus Features earlier picked up distribution rights to Hot Spot, scheduling its theatrical release for August 21, 2026. The film explores themes around artificial intelligence and societal dynamics through the lens of a suspenseful mystery.

The 30th edition of Fantasia will take place from July 16 to August 2 in Montreal, showcasing several other premieres. Among them is Jenn Wexler’s The Last Temptation of Becky, the third installment in her indie action-thriller franchise Becky. This film features performances by Lulu Wilson, Kate Siegel, and Neil Patrick Harris.

Fantasia will also premiere Kasper Kalle’s queer vampire film No Rest For the Wicked, starring Egor Venned and Pilou Asbæk. Another highlight is Casey Walker’s sci-fi thriller Home Bodies, where twins Emma and Ian Ho portray children raised entirely in isolation by an automated house.

Additional first looks include Harrison Atkins’ Sour Minnows, his second feature with actors David Brown and Chase Williamson; Harrison Houde’s dark comedy Tight Lettuce, featuring Dakota Daulby and Emmanuel Bilodeau; and Tim Riedel’s psychological horror Ancestral Beasts, starring Morgan Holmstrom known for Outlander.

The festival further offers Michael Gabriele’s holiday horror film Unholy Night!, with performances by Marc Bendavid, Shailene Garnett, and Ron Lea. North American premieres will include Makoto Ueda’s debut feature You Are the Film, starring Marika Ito, Kai Inowaki, and Riko Fujitani.

Other notable premieres are Yeom Ji-oh’s horror thriller The Eyes, featuring Shin Min-a; Giddens Ko’s martial arts fantasy Kung Fu from Taiwan, starring Kai Ko, Berant Zhu, and Gingle Wang; and Yusuke Iwasaki’s Anymart, which follows a disillusioned young man played by Shota Sometani facing challenges working with a new convenience store employee played by Erika Karata.

Fantasia remains a key platform for genre films and will continue to reveal more titles as its 2026 festival approaches. The event also includes the juried Cheval Noir competition, which awards prizes to standout films.

With its diverse slate, the 30th Fantasia Film Festival promises a vibrant celebration of sci-fi, horror, and genre cinema, spotlighting emerging talents and innovative storytelling in the film world.