FUTURE TENSE

In the near future, the world is suffering from the effects of climate change, provoking mass migration and civil unrest across the globe. With this backdrop, a young couple books a romantic time-travel experience, promising to take people back to a pristine world unmarred by the current ravages of overpopulation. When they land, they are greeted by a beautiful, lush landscape, luxury accommodations, and blissful silence. But the trip takes a sharp turn when one of them reveals their true intentions, resulting in a conflict that has higher stakes beyond just the personal.

We are pleased to welcome Jenna Cato Bass back to Fantastic Fest, after having screened her psychological horror film GOOD MADAM in 2021. A subtle science fiction that grapples with timely issues like climate change and wealth inequality through a genre lens, Bass has crafted a film that’s equally entertaining and intelligent. The two leads have incredible chemistry, guiding us through a range of emotions and shifting allegiances throughout the film. FUTURE TENSE doesn’t offer any easy solutions, opting for a continually surprising and thought-provoking journey, in a dystopian future that seems a little too realistic for comfort. (LISA DREYER)