‘Occupy Cannes’ – Lily-Hayes Kaufman’s Troma Documentary Premieres at Fantasia 2025! [Trailer]

John Squires | 07/03/2025

The final wave of programming for this year’s Fantasia International Film Festival was announced this afternoon, with the fest running from July 17 through August 3, 2025.

Fantasia 2025 will mark the World Premiere of director Lily-Hayes Kaufman’s documentary Occupy Cannes, which will premiere at the festival on July 31, 2025. The documentary shines a spotlight on Troma’s unique approach to the Cannes Film Festival over the years, spotlighting their most recent effort to sell the film Return to Nuke ‘Em High at the event.

Iconic director Lloyd Kaufman and the Troma Team wage a punk-spirited battle championing independent art at Cannes in Occupy Cannes, presented through the lens of Kaufman’s daughters, Director Lily-Hayes Kaufman (Innards, Rare Birds of Fashion), Cinematographer Charlotte Kaufman (The Jinx; The Alabama Solution) and Producer Lisbeth Kaufman.

Lloyd Kaufman and the Troma Team have been a staple of the Cannes Film Festival since 1974. Renowned for guerrilla tactics and provocative artistry to sell films, Troma’s audacious performances spark controversy and curiosity. Occupy Cannes asks: does Kaufman’s defiant stance attract coveted buyers, or ostracize Troma from the industry’s inner circle?

The documentary features performances and appearances by Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier, Best Friends Forever, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes reboot), Zac Amico (Zac Amico’s Morning Zoo), Justin A. Martell (The Last Drive-In with Joe Bob Briggs), Doug Sakmann, Lloyd Kaufman and of course, The Toxic Avenger himself.

Occupy Cannes is presented by Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, a Troma Team Production and Saturday Candy Film. Executive Producers Julie Corman and Roger Corman.

The doc is made possible with support from the New York State Council on the Arts.

Known for a universe of superheroes with a global cult following, NYC-based Troma Entertainment may be the last surviving truly independent film studio. Troma has acquired thousands of films that big studios ignore. Trey Parker, Matt Stone and James Gunn, are Troma proteges, and there are hundreds of other artists who have found a voice with the company.

But, like hundreds of thousands of species on this planet, Troma is at risk of going extinct. After 40 years of selling films at Cannes, this could be their final trip