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Fantastic Fest 2025: 20 Years of Genre Cinema & India’s Bold Spotlight in Austin

Fantastic Fest 2025 has officially kicked off in Austin, Texas, celebrating its 20th anniversary with the most ambitious lineup in its history. Running from September 18–25, 2025, the United States’ largest genre film festival is unfolding at the legendary Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar a true paradise for fans of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and action.

And this year, there’s a special reason for Indian audiences to cheer: Fantastic India, a dedicated sidebar celebrating the rise of Indian genre cinema on a global platform

A Festival Two Decades in the Makin

From its beginnings in 2005, Fantastic Fest has built a reputation for bringing the wildest, weirdest, and most groundbreaking films from across the world. Over the years, it has premiered now-iconic titles like John Wick, Smile, Zombieland, Split, and Overlord, while hosting legends like Tim Burton, Keanu Reeves, and the Wachowskis.

The 20th edition doubles down on that legacy:

  • 78 feature films

  • 45 world premieres

  • 15 international/North American premieres

  • 13 U.S. premieres

Festival Director Lisa Dreyer sums it up: “Fantastic Fest is turning 20, and we’re turning the fest into an 8-day celebration of cinematic excellence and excess.”

Big Premieres & Studio Highlights

Opening & Closing Nights

  • Opening Film: Primate (Paramount) – Johannes Roberts directs this horror-survival about friends trapped in a nightmare vacation.

  • Closing Film: Whistle (Shudder) – Corin Hardy’s chilling tale of high schoolers and an ancient Aztec death whistle

Anticipated World Premieres

  • Black Phone 2 – Scott Derrickson returns with Ethan Hawke reprising his terrifying role as The Grabber.

  • Sisu: Road to Revenge – More Nazi-killing madness with Jalmari Helander and Jorma Tommila, joined by Stephen Lang.

  • The Strangers: Chapter 2 (Lionsgate)

  • Vicious starring Dakota Fanning (Paramount)

  • Shelby Oaks by Chris Stuckmann, produced by Mike Flanagan (NEON).

Indie gems include V/H/S/Halloween, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, Dolly, Coyotes, and Haunted Heist

Beyond the Screen: Festival Experience

Fantastic Fest has always been more than movies—it’s an immersive cultural carnival. 2025 features:

  • 20th anniversary “Masters of Horror” panel

  • Opening party by Shudder with Castle Rat performing live

  • Ghoulish Book Fair for literary horror fans

  • Medieval drag show blending camp and genre

  • Secret location closing party

  • Fundraiser for The Transgender Film Center with exclusive merch

A new addition this year is Fantastic Pitches, a $100,000 pitch competition where micro-budget filmmakers present their ideas to global distributors.

Fantastic India: A Dedicated Spotlight

For the first time, Fantastic Fest is giving a major showcase to Indian genre cinema through the Fantastic India program. Curated in collaboration with Indie Meme and Wench Film Festival, it celebrates how Indian filmmakers are rewriting horror, fantasy, and surreal cinema outside Western frameworks.

Program Highlights

  • Demons (2023) – Dir. Adesh Prasad (Tumbbad writer) delivers a queer horror short exploring inner and outer monsters.



  • Moti (2025) – Dir. Yash Saraf. A family dog’s transformation raises questions of identity and belonging.


  • Night of the Bride (2023) – Dir. Virat Pal. A forced marriage spirals into a violent nightmare.


  • Whodunit (2023) – Dir. Aditya Nair. A surreal short reprised from Fantastic Fest 2023’s Short Fuse block.

📍 All Fantastic India films screen on September 21 at 11:20 AM in Theater 8, Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar.

Why It Matters

Indian genre cinema is finally stepping into the global limelight. These films dig into local folklore, political satire, and urban anxieties far from Bollywood’s song-and-dance stereotype. The strong presence of women filmmakers signals a crucial shift in authorship, ensuring new, authentic voices lead the way.

Tickets, Badges & Access

All festival badges Cult Member ($1,495) Superfan ($675) Fan ($545) Second-Half ($275)—are sold out.

For locals and visitors, walk-up tickets at $15 are available 10 minutes before screenings (except major premieres)

The Verdict: Why This Edition Is Special

Fantastic Fest 2025 is not just about celebrating 20 years of blood, sweat, and cinematic screams. It’s about expanding the stage for global genre cinema and for Indians, the dedicated Fantastic India program is a moment of pride.

From the haunting landscapes of Kashmir to the gritty streets of Mumbai, Indian filmmakers are proving they can craft nightmares, fantasies, and thrills that resonate worldwide.

As the festival runs till September 25th, one thing is clear: Fantastic Fest remains the world’s beating heart of genre cinema, and India is now firmly part of that rhythm.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Fantastic Fest 2025 and why is it important? Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., celebrating horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and action. The 2025 edition marks its 20th anniversary with a record number of premieres.

2. What is Fantastic India at Fantastic Fest? It’s a special sidebar dedicated to Indian horror, fantasy, and surreal cinema, spotlighting films rooted in folklore, political satire, and psychological storytelling.

3. Which Indian films are featured in Fantastic India 2025? Highlights include Demons, Landfills of Desire, The Last Ride, Moti, Night of the Bride, and Whodunit.

4. Can non-badge holders attend screenings? Yes, walk-up tickets are available for $15, but availability is limited and excludes major premieres.

5. Why should Indian audiences care about Fantastic Fest? Because it’s one of the rare global stages where Indian genre cinema gets celebrated alongside Hollywood and international heavyweights—opening doors for future collaborations and recognition.

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