Imagine Film Festival

Imagine is the largest film festival for Fantastic Film in the Netherlands, featuring the best in fantasy, horror, science fiction, and everything in between. In 2026, Imagine Fantastic Film Festival dives into Ghost in the Feed, a thematic program exploring the fears and fascinations that arise as soon as a new media technology makes its appearance. A second thematic program focuses on magical realism in Latin American cinema, including the Mexican classic Macario. Furthermore, there are, of course, the latest fantastic films. Program Ghost in the Feed – 5 eras, 5 films The thematic program Ghost in the Feed takes shape with films that each embody a phase of media history: History of the Occult (radio and television), Videodrome (the VHS era), We're All Going to the World's Fair (the early internet), Red Rooms (infinite feeds), and Ghost in the Shell (the dissolution of reality). All films are accompanied by an extensive introduction or post-screening discussion. Magical realism in Latin American cinema – Macario 4K restored The Mexican classic Macario (Roberto Gavaldón, 1960) is being shown in the Netherlands for the first time in a 4K restoration. In collaboration with the Mexican Embassy, there will be a special screening on Día de los Muertes (Day of the Dead, November 1). Macario takes the audience to a world where dream, death, and reality intertwine and is a key film in the program of magical realist films from Latin America. World premiere: PH1SHed_ by Thijs Meuwese The Dutch cyber thriller PH1SHed_ by Thijs Meuwese has its world premiere at Imagine. The new film by the director of Kill Mode and Psychonaut is based on real hacker practices and, with its international cast, reflects today's Amsterdam. PH1SHed_ was made entirely independently. Donnie Darko – 4K restored Donnie Darko has become one of the great cult classics of the 21st century, but above all, it remains a film about a world where reality and imagination are becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish. In the new 4K restoration, Richard Kelly's dark teenage journey returns to the big screen. Kelly was only 26 when he made the film and was still studying at film school, yet he managed to secure big names like Drew Barrymore and Patrick Swayze for his surreal dream flight. And, of course, Donnie Darko marked Jake Gyllenhaal's major breakthrough. Imagine is the first to screen the brand-new 4K restoration. Please note: the times mentioned are the timeframe within which the entire festival takes place; check the website for the individual start times of the films.