FAQ
General information
When and how is Fantasia 2021 going to take place?
Following 2021's cutting-edge virtual festival, Fantasia will now take place both virtually and in theatres for select screenings from August 5 to 25! We will continue to work with Festival Scope and Shift72 via their online festival platform, which offers studio-grade DRM and operates according to the Motion Picture Association of America’s security standards. A handful of films will be shown in theatres, at the Imperial and at the Cinéma du Musée.
When and where can I buy this year’s printed program?
Unfortunately, we won’t be producing a printed program guide for the 2021 edition. Film descriptions, schedules, and everything you need to know about the festival is posted on our website.
How to buy tickets
For more information on how to purchase tickets, please click here.
What is the procedure to purchase tickets?
Tickets will go on sale on Friday, July 23 starting at 1PM (EDT). On the Fantasia website (www.fantasiafestival.com), each film has a dedicated page on which you will find a description of the film, a trailer, and a button labeled “Buy Ticket”. For online screenings, clicking this button will redirect you to our streaming platform. Once on the platform, clicking on ‘Buy Ticket’ will open a pop-up prompting you to enter your credit card information. Please note that you must have an account to purchase tickets!
For in-person screenings, you will be taken to the Ticketpro website.
What is the festival passport?
The festival passport allows you access to all of our online screenings on the festival platform. For in-person screenings, you'll have to purchase individual tickets. You can buy the passport on the Ticketpro website until July 23, at which point you'll be able to buy it directly on our streaming platform.
The passport costs 75$, including taxes. Note that it is only available to users residing in Canada. If you are not in Canada during the festival, you will not be able to watch the films.
I have purchased a Festival Passport. How do I access my films?
If you already have an account on our online streaming platform (films.fantasiafestival.com), all the films will be automatically added to your "My Library" tab a few days before the festival begins. Obviously, you won't be able to watch anything until the official start of the festival, August 5th. If you do not have an account on our streaming platform, or if it was created under a different email address than you used to purchase your Passport, you will receive an email prompting you to create a new account. The films will be added to your Library once the account is created and confirmed.
Will ticket prices and packages be the same as for previous editions of the festival?
A brand new feature of this year's fest is the festival passport! Priced at 75$, purchasing it will allow you to any online screening you'd like throughout the festival. Individual tickets for feature films and shorts programs will be priced at 8$ CAD. Shorts programs presented as part of My First Fantasia will be free. Special events, panels and artist talks will be available globally, also for free. More information regarding special events registration will follow shortly!
Several virtual screenings seem to be scheduled for 9AM. What's that about?
These virtual screenings are actually available to watch for a 24-hour period: starting at 9AM on the listed date, until 9AM the next day.
How do I create an account on your new streaming platform?
In order to purchase tickets and watch our films, will need to create an account on the online platform hosted by our video streaming partner, Shift 72. The link to our platform will be posted on our website (www.fantasiafestival.com) as of July 23, 2021. Once on the platform, simply click on the “Create Account” button at the top right to create your account. If you made an account last year, you can simply sign in, instead of creating a new one.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit cards. Payments are done through Stripe. If you experience an issue with payment, we encourage you to contact your bank, or Stripe.
Will there be an unlimited amount of tickets available for each film?
No; ticket numbers will be limited to capacities comparable to that of physical cinema spaces.
How to use the platform
If you're looking troubleshooting or technical info, click here.
How do I watch the films?
Purchasing a film ticket automatically adds it to your Library. When logged into your account on our streaming platform, click on ‘Signed in as (your username)’ at the top right of the screen and select ‘My Library’, where you will find all films for which you’ve purchased tickets.
For films that are streaming at a scheduled hour, we recommend that you start watching the film at the announced start time. These films are available only during a 3 hour window after which they are removed from the platform. This means if you start the film too late, the stream will cut off and you'll miss the end!
Repeat screenings of scheduled films will be available for a 24h window starting at their announced start time, after which they'll be removed from the platform. Again, if you wait too long to start the film, you might miss the end!
If a short film is bundled with a scheduled feature, you can watch the short at any time during the festival.
When a film has multiple screenings, be careful to choose the right screening date and time you wish to attend. Tickets to a screening cannot be exchanged for a different screening of the same film.
Note that on-demand titles will be accessible at any time during the festival, from August 5 to 25, 2021. Once you have started watching a film (pressed Play), you will have 30 hours to finish it.
For a full list of which titles are on-demand or streaming live, please view our schedule at https://2021.fantasiafestival.com/uploads/FT20-Schedule-EN-F.pdf
I have purchased a Festival Passport. How do I access my films?
If you already have an account on our online streaming platform (films.fantasiafestival.com), all the films will be automatically added to your "My Library" tab a few days before the festival begins. Obviously, you won't be able to watch anything until the official start of the festival, August 5th. If you do not have an account on our streaming platform, or if it was created under a different email address than you used to purchase your Passport, you will receive an email prompting you to create a new account. The films will be added to your Library once the account is created and confirmed.
If I miss the live premiere of a film, will I be able to stream it later?
If a film is only playing once, then no, unfortunately. Scheduled screenings are available on the platform only for 3 hours, after which they are removed from the platform. We recommend you start at the announced start time, otherwise the stream could cut off and you might miss the end!
How can I watch the short films presented with a feature?
Short films presented with a feature will be available in what we call a ‘Bundle’. When you purchase a bundle, you will find both the feature and the short in your library. Scheduled feature films screening must be watched at a specific date and time, while short films will be available throughout the festival.
Will I be able to watch the films on my TV screen?
Yes. You can cast the films from your computer, mobile phone or tablet to your TV screen using Apple TV or Chromecast devices. You can also use a simple HDMI cable to plug your TV screen into your computer. You can find more information on compatibility here.
Will the films be available with closed captioning, video description and/or other accessibility options?
The potential availability of these options will vary title-by-title, dependent on what’s been made available to us.
Will I be able to watch from anywhere in the world?
All films will be geo-blocked to Canadian audiences and only accessible from within the country. Unfortunately, we can’t make new films available across the world without potentially hurting their future distribution and exhibition options, which is a key concern to us!
Are there apps for smartphones?
Press and Industry
Will press from outside of Canada be granted access to the films?
Absolutely. Press will need to be approved by the filmmakers or associated company, done on a per-film basis, and facilitated by our Press Relations office. To apply for a press accreditation please fill in the form on this page!
Will Industry members from outside of Canada be granted access to the films? How about the cast and crew of selected international films?
Filmmakers of selected international films are invited to the Festival and will be given access to our Press and Industry platform.