The Fantastic Organization – Led by Xavier Gens – Launches at Cannes to Make Sure ‘The Next Generation Has Everything They Need to Keep Screaming’

The Fantastic Organization, a new France-registered nonprofit – dedicated to the promotion, development, and global recognition of fantastic cinema – has made its debut at the Fantastic Pavilion at Cannes.

It will be led by filmmaker Xavier Gens, named president and known for “Frontière(s),” “Hitman,” and “Cold Skin.” 

Other founding members include Alexandre O. Philippe, actor Brontis Jodorowsky, Mónica García Massagué, Piluca Querol, Chris Oosterom, Kier-La Janisse, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, Karim Hussain, David Gregory, Paco Plaza, Mitch Davis, Steff Landau, Jordi Minguell and Pablo Guisa Koestinger, vice president of The Fantastic Organization – and executive director of the Fantastic Pavilion at the Marché du Film.

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The Fantastic Organization, Variety discovered, was founded with “a clear and ambitious mandate: to support the creation, production, distribution, and promotion of artistic and cultural works within the fantastic genre.” 

Other goals?

“To contribute to the advancement of culture and creation in the general interest and to facilitate access to fantastic works and cultural practices for the widest possible audience worldwide.” 

Development of training, education, and knowledge transmission initiatives will be also crucial, in order to “nurture the next generation of fantastic filmmakers and strengthen the industry’s talent pipeline across all territories.” 

The organization is equally committed to the promotion of European fantastic cinema on the global stage, “fostering cooperation between festivals, cultural institutions, and industry professionals across the continent and beyond.” 

“I feel so honored to be part of The Fantastic Organization. Genre cinema is an international language: it is passion, love and extremity in every possible emotion. It is a scream that says ‘I love you’ to cinema itself,” said Gens. 

“We are here to prove that it has never been more alive. But more than that, we are here to make sure the next generation has everything they need to keep screaming.” 

Pablo Guisa Koestinger noted: “For the last four years, we have been building the Fantastic Pavilion around one clear conviction: Community is key.” 

“We created the most important space in the world for networking and business dedicated to genre cinema, and to ensure the continuity of the filmmaking tradition, we have to care about the next generation of filmmakers and bring them into the industry.” 

According to Jordi Minguell, who will also serve as its strategic director, “in a world shaped by fragmentation and new boundaries, genre cinema remains one of the last truly global languages.” 

“We want to bring together the community that has always pushed the limits of storytelling – from filmmakers to fans – and build a space where new voices, new ideas, and new ways of making films can emerge. For us, diversity and inclusion are not abstract values. They are the engine that keeps genre cinema alive and evolving.”

The Fantastic Organization will be based in Paris, France, and operate as an independent, non-partisan body in service of the global fantastic film community.