Vampire Mockumentary ‘I Love Paris’ Takes Top Honors at 2026 Fantasia Film Festival Audience Awards

The vampire mockumentary "I Love Paris" has secured the top audience award for best international feature at the 2026 Fantasia International Film Festival. The film, directed by Nicky Murphy, resonated strongly with festivalgoers, earning it this prestigious recognition. This marks a significant achievement for the independent production within the competitive landscape of the renowned genre film festival.

Fantasia, known for showcasing a diverse range of genre cinema, celebrated its audience award winners following a week of screenings and industry events. The audience awards are particularly noteworthy as they reflect direct viewer engagement and preference, offering a distinct measure of a film's impact. In addition to "I Love Paris," the festival also recognized Masanao Kawajiri's animated feature "Cherry and Virgin" with its own audience award in the animated category.

The success of "I Love Paris" at Fantasia highlights the enduring appeal of the mockumentary format and its application to established genre tropes, such as vampirism. Murphy's film appears to have successfully blended humor and horror elements to capture the imagination of the festival's discerning audience. The win suggests strong potential for the film's future distribution and critical reception.

The 2026 edition of the Fantasia International Film Festival concluded with these audience-driven accolades, providing a clear indication of films that have connected with viewers. The recognition for "I Love Paris" positions it as a notable entry among the festival's celebrated selections, underscoring the power of audience appreciation in shaping a film's trajectory.