Joe Dante is a filmmaker that is near and dear to horror fans worldwide, especially those that grew up in the 1980’s. The programmers of the Fantasia International Film Festival also seem to agree (as published in the official press release), as they “…will be presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to adored US genre legend Joe Dante, a man whose inspired filmography has touched generations of cinephiles. From Piranha, The Howling, and the universally-beloved Gremlins films to Innerspace, Explorers, and his bold television work, Dante’s works are electric with witty personality and brim with innovative storytelling and a big-hearted affection for all things film.” Recent recipients of Fantasia’s Lifetime Achievement Award include Guillermo del Toro, Takashi Miike, Ken Russell, Tobe Hooper, Jean Rollin, Andrzej Zulawski, Mamoru Oshii, John Landis, José Mojica Marins, Larry Cohen, and Ray Harryhausen.
In addition to the the Lifetime Achievement Award, the festival will exhibit the World Premiere of Cinelou Films’ anthology Nightmare Cinema featuring segments by Joe Dante, Mick Garris (The Stand), Alejandro Brugués (Juan of the Dead), Ryûhei Kitamura (Versus), and David Slade (30 Days of Night) with a cast that includes Mickey Rourke, Richard Chamberlain, Adam Godley, Belinda Balaski, Elizabeth Reaser, and Annabeth Gish. Dante and many of the other filmmakers that are a part of the film previously directed episodes for Garris’ Masters of Horror anthology series which ran for two seasons from 2005 to 2007 on Showtime.
The screening of Nightmare Cinema and the award presentation will both be a part of Fantasia’s Opening Night Line-up. The Fantasia International Film Festival will also be celebrating its 22nd Anniversary in Montreal this summer, taking place from July 12-August 1.
Horror News Network would like to congratulate Dante on this honor and we also look forward to reviewing Nightmare Cinema in the coming months.
