It’s not long now till the dark heart of cinema gets it’s grasp on London’s West End. Arrow Video Frightfest runs from Thursday 23rd August through to Monday 27th August, taking place at both Cineworld Leicester Square and The Prince Charles Cinema. Over the weekend the festival will screen a record-number of films, two of which are new additions that have only just been added.
First up is Pimped, director David Barker’s modern transgressive erotic thriller, a Hitchcocktail of elevated suspense and shock in the revered style of Brian De Palma. The second new announcement is that Halloween will screen. No, not the new remake that is in the works, but the original and best. Better yet, this time it’s in full 4K, having been restored beautifully.
In addition to the new films, the festival organisers have also announced this year’s line-up of guests and it’s as comprehensive ever, with near enough every movie represented in some way. See the full press-release below for all the details.
Ahead of single tickets going on sale from Sat 21st July, at Noon, we’re thrilled to announce our current slate of guests, which includes Poldark star Aidan Turner, who will be with his co-star Caitlin Fitzgerald, director Robert Krzykowski and composer Joe Kraemer for THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT.
Leading ladies shine this year. Joining THE RANGER director Jenn Wexler on opening night is The Transfiguration star Chloe Levine. Also delighting audiences are Brittany Allan (It Stains The Sands Red and Jigsaw), attending with director Colin Minihan to support WHAT KEEPS YOU ALIVE. Shauna McDonald joins director Paul Aviary for WHITE CHAMBER, HERETIKS star Hannah Arterton is in the house to support director Paul Hyett, Imitation Girl Lauren Ashley Carter and action heroine Angela Dixon accompany director Tom Paton for BLACK SITE and director Issa Lopez flies over from Mexico with her sensational TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID.
Plus, The First Lady of FrightFest, Barbara Crampton is back!. The beloved Re-Animator legend will be introducing her new movies PUPPET MASTER: THE LITTLEST REICH and DEAD NIGHT. With the former she will be united with Italian composer extraordinaire Fabio Frizzi and with the latter by her Heroes co-star Brea Grant. Also returning is THE CLEANING LADY producer and Goddess of Love star Alexis Kendra.
This year there are more International directors attending than ever before. Acclaimed music video and film director Joseph Kahn (Detention, Torque) joins us for BODIED, RKSS personnel François Simard, Anouk Whissell and Yoann-Karl Whissell will be rocking in for SUMMER OF 84 and UPGRADE director Leigh Whannell, the creator of SAW and INSIDIOUS, will light up FrightFest’s Saturday night.
Also guaranteed to liven up proceedings are THE GOLEM helmers the Paz Brothers, alongside producer Shaked Berenson, CULT OF TERROR director Gustavo Leonel Mendoza, DEMENTIA PART II director Matt Mercer with stars Graham Skipper (SEQUENCE BREAK), Suzanne Voss and Najarra Townsend, HELL IS WHERE THE HOME IS director Orson Oblowitz, MEGA TIME SQUAD director Tim van Dammen, OPEN 24 HOURS director Padraig Reynolds, HAMMER HORROR: THE WARNER BROS. YEARS director and Dr. Who author Marcus Hearn, LIFECHANGER director Justin McConnell, SECRET SANTA director Adam Marcus, SEEDS director Owen Long, THE MOST ASSASSINATED WOMAN IN THE WORLD writer/producer David Murdoch, VIDEOMAN director Kristian A. Söderström, CRYSTAL EYES directors Ezequiel Endelman and Leondro Montejano, and WOLFMAN’S GOT NARDS director Andre Gower (THE MONSTER SQUAD).
Also attending is writer/director Axelle Carolyn (Soulmate, Tales of Halloween), author of THE FRIGHTFEST GUIDE TO GHOST MOVIES, who will be signing copies exclusively at the event.
Homegrown talent will be present in abundance this year. Actor and director Matthew Holness brings us his much-awaited POSSUM, AWAIT FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS will spring director Johnny Kervorkian, his producer Jack Tarling (God’s Own Country) with stars Holly Weston, Sam Gittins, Neerja Naik, Grant Masters and Kris Saddler. And a warm welcome for BOOK OF MONSTERS director Stewart Sparke, CHUCK STEEL: NIGHT OF THE TRAMPIRES director Mike Mort, FRANKENSTEIN’S CREATURE director Sam Ashurst and RAVERS director Bernhard Pucher, who will be attending alongside the cast including Vikings star Georgia Hirst.
The FIRST BLOOD strand goes from strength to strength and all the helmers will be around, supported by their cast and crews. CTRL director Harry Lindley, F.U.B.A.R. director Ben Kent, PERFECT SKIN director Kevin Chicken (with Games of Thrones star Richard Brake) and THE DEVIL’S DOORWAY director Aislinn Clark.
Also present will be writer/director Roxanne Benjamin (XX, SOUTHBOUND, V/H/S), presenting an exclusive screening of FINAL STOP, a must-hear horror short produced by Sennheiser and Soapbox Films. Shot entirely on smart phone, and recorded in full binaural audio using the AMBEO Smart Headset, the film is designed to be watched with headphones (which will be supplied), so audiences can immerse themselves in the story and its terrifying 3D soundscape.
Equally terrifying is GHOST STORIES and we have co-directors/co-writers Andy Nyman and Jeremy Dyson hosting a live commentary on their mega-successful stage show-turned-major movie. Get ready for sly humour, fun facts and plenty of behind-the-scenes secrets!
Established in 2016 to celebrate the work of emerging UK genre talent, FrightFest is proud to team up for the third year running with Screen International to present the ‘Screen Genre Rising Star Award’. This year’s long list salutes the work of Kevin Chicken, director of PERFECT SKIN, actresses Hannah Arterton and Ella Hunt, Aislinn Clarke, director of THE DEVIL’S DOORWAY, Mike Mort, director of CHUCK STEEL: NIGHT OF THE TRAMPIRES, actress/producer Marcia Do Vales and actor Sam Gittins, The short list will be announced prior to the event. Previous winners include Alice Lowe Danny Morgan.
There are still a limited amount of full and day passes available to buy with single tickets going on sale at noon on Saturday 21st July 2018.
