Vampire Mockumentary 'I Love Paris' Wins Fantasia Audience Award

The 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival concluded its run by announcing the winners of its audience awards, with Nicky Murphy's vampire mockumentary "I Love Paris" securing the top prize for best international feature. This recognition highlights the film's strong reception among festival attendees, who directly voted for their favorite selections across various categories. The Fantasia International Film Festival, a prominent event in the genre film circuit, typically showcases a diverse range of independent and international cinema, with a particular focus on horror, fantasy, and science fiction. This year's festival spanned from July 16 to August 2, providing a platform for filmmakers to connect with audiences and critics.

In addition to "I Love Paris," other notable audience awards were presented. Masanao Kawajiri's animated feature "Cherry and Virgin" was honored with the award for best animated feature, underscoring the festival's commitment to celebrating animation as a significant cinematic medium. The audience awards at Fantasia are particularly noteworthy as they reflect the direct engagement and preferences of the festival-goers, offering a distinct perspective on film success compared to traditional juried awards. These awards often serve as an indicator of a film's potential for broader audience appeal and commercial viability following its festival run.

The success of "I Love Paris" at Fantasia signifies a notable achievement for director Nicky Murphy and the film's production team. Mockumentaries, a genre that blends documentary-style filmmaking with fictional narratives, often rely on humor and satire to explore their subjects. In this case, the subject is vampires, suggesting a comedic or critical take on vampire lore and tropes. The film's victory in the best international feature category indicates that it resonated with a global audience present at the festival, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers through its storytelling and execution. The Fantasia International Film Festival, held annually in Montreal, Canada, has a long-standing reputation for premiering and championing genre films, making it a crucial launchpad for emerging talent and unique cinematic visions. The festival's programming typically includes a mix of established filmmakers and new voices, fostering a dynamic environment for cinematic discovery. The audience awards, in particular, are a testament to the festival's community-driven approach, empowering viewers to shape the recognition of films they champion. The festival's extensive schedule, encompassing over two weeks, allows for a comprehensive viewing experience for attendees, facilitating robust discussions and passionate voting for their preferred cinematic works. The awards ceremony serves as a culmination of this engagement, celebrating the films that left the most significant impression on the festival's attendees.