FrightFest 2021 films second wave

Film news (UK): Arrow Video FrightFest 2021 announces second wave of films for August Cineworld event

It’s Full Scream ahead as Arrow Video FrightFest 2021 announces its second wave of hugely anticipated Discovery Screen and First Blood titles – a summer collection of provocative, edgy and transgressive entertainment to die for. There are fourteen World and ten European / International premieres amongst the thirty-four films on offer.

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Eleven countries are represented, with titles ranging from Canadian entries BLOODTHIRSTY, Amelia Moses’ simmering LGBQT+ werewolf movie and sinister isolation thriller MOTHERLY to Francesco Erba’s AS IN HEAVEN, SO ON EARTH, a stunning Italian blend of live action and Gothic puppet animation. Then there’s Péter Bergendy’s sumptuous POST MORTEM, an epic Hungarian ghost story, Frida Kempff’s Swedish entry KNOCKING, a breakout Sundance sensation, and Belgium’s latest wildly inventive genre hit is the hallucinogenic HOTEL POSEIDON, a directorial feature debut from Stef Lernus. And from the UK, the cut-throat world of social media influencers is given the terror treatment in the World premiere of Marcus Harben’s FOLLOWERS.

Familiar FrightFest luminaries grace this year’s event. Graham Skipper teams up with NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET franchise icon Lisa Wilcox to star in the world premiere of Mel House’s metaphysical horror MYSTERY SPOT, and after beguiling FrightFest with DRIVEN, director/writers/stars Glenn Payne and Casey Dillard present the World premiere of their new slasher, KILLER CONCEPT. Also welcomed back is Marcel Walz, who continues the terror travails of serial killer thriller BLIND with the UK premiere of PRETTY BOY.

Michael Mongillo, who wowed FrightFest in 2017 with DIANE brings us the World Premiere of intense body snatcher THE CHANGED. This will be an additional main screen presentation, with the leading cast in attendance. The one-take time travel suspense comedy, BEYOND THE INFINITE TWO MINUTES, will now be shown as part of the Discovery stand.

The festival continues to unearth genre gems from South America and this year there are three shining examples from Argentina: Gonzalo Calzada, writer/director of the FrightFest 2018 selection LUCEFERINA, returns with the UK premiere of his astonishing tour de force NOCTURNA: SIDE A – THE GREAT OLD MAN’S NIGHT, and there are European premieres for José María Cicala’s SHADOW OF THE CAT, starring Danny Trejo as you’ve never seen him before and Alejandro Cohen Arazi’s cult hit THE UNBURIED. Plus, from Mexico, comes FORGIVENESS, a surreal, violent and revenge-laden horror thriller by new Mexploitation maestro Alex Kahuam.

The US continues to lead the way with innovating indie genre filmmaking and this year’s Stateside shockers are testament to that. ISOLATION is an incredibly rich anthology of nine chilling tales shot in lockdown, whilst BAD CANDY has been hailed as the best Halloween portmanteau since TRICK ‘R’ TREAT. Then there’s ANTIDOTE, which goes deep inside a horror hospital, Stephen King Simmons’ stunning black-and-white feature debut THE PARKER SESSIONS, which goes beyond our wildest existential nightmares, GREYWOOD’S PLOT, a creature feature send-up for our times and the intense drama TOUCH – the winner of the NYC Independent Film Best Movie and Director awards.

The fearsome fun continues with RED SNOW, a bloodsucking spook-a-blast that puts a stake through the heart of comedy horror, the unique LAGUNA AVE. where metal fetishism goes the full John Waters route, Beau Ballinger’s SHE WATCHES FROM THE WOODS, a chilling walk between supernatural curses and mental health, the disturbing familial psychodrama CAPTIVE and the out of this world NIGHT DRIVE

FrightFest has always championed genre documentaries and this year’s picks are at their engaging best.  WOODLANDS DARK AND DAYS BEWITCHED: A HISTORY OF FOLK HORROR has been attracting much fantasy festival attention and it’s a 3-HOUR PLUS enchantment. Absolutely astonishing also is THE FOUND FOOTAGE PHENOMENON, which tells you everything you need to know about the roots and growth of the shaky-cam genre and POV Cinema. Finally, Paul Hunt and Julie Kauffman’s obsessive THE BRILLIANT TERROR, is a totally absorbing delve into the Grassroots Horror movement.

The Arrow Video FrightFest First Blood strand has become a film industry watchword for those in the know wanting to discover the next great genre talent pool from the UK and Ireland. The five titles chosen for 2021, all World premieres, once more show the range of innovation and exciting breadth of the professionalism waiting to burst through into the mainstream. Seb Cox’s ARE WE MONSTERS is a unique werewolf coming-of-age saga, Ian Steele’s BOY #5 is an innovative take on the vampire myth, Leroy Kincaide’s THE LAST RITE is an authentic paranormal rollercoaster ride and Conor Buro’s WHEN THE SCREAMING STARTS is a spirited horror mockumentary. Finally, from Ireland, is Richard Waters’ BRING OUT THE FEAR, which explores a doomed relationship on its final day. Richard is a longtime FrightFest community member and a graduate of the festival’s innovative ‘New Blood’ strand.

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Arrow Video FrightFest, the UK’s biggest horror and fantasy film festival, takes place at the Cineworld Leicester Square from Thurs August 26 – Monday 30 August, 2021.

Festival co-director Paul McEvoy said today: “At Arrow FrightFest this year we are thrilled to be presenting so many incredible new works from the International genre landscape. We’re showcasing a myriad of World Premiere screenings from many new and exciting talents, along with familiar names. The thrills are diverse and sensational, proving that the genre is truly alive, kicking and flourishing in these troubled times. We cannot wait to share the excitement with everyone”.

Passes go on sale on Saturday 24^th July. Single tickets go on sale Thursday 29^th July

Festival pass: £165. Day passes: £35 (Thurs), £60 (Fri & Sat), £50 (Sun & Mon)

Festival and Day Pass holders will be able to buy a discounted Digital pass for £40

Single Tickets: £14.50.

The digital add-on will allow full access to the digital component of the festival that runs from Wednesday 1st to Sunday 5th September.

Stand-alone tickets for the digital component of the 2021 Arrow video FrightFest will be available in August. Prices: £85 for full access and £7.50 for individual films.

Programme details: https://www.frightfest.co.uk

Ticketing details: https://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

PLEASE NOTE: Over the next weeks Arrow Video FrightFest will be revealing the much-loved Short Film Showcases, the special events and the make-up of our Digital event,

FrightFest 2021 – Film Stills (selection)

https://cloutcom.co.uk/picture-gallery/gallery/frightfest-2021-film-stills/

FrightFest 2021 – Film Posters (selection)

https://cloutcom.co.uk/picture-gallery/gallery/frightfest-2021-film-posters/

FrightFest 2021 – Logos and Artwork

https://cloutcom.co.uk/picture-gallery/gallery/frightfest-2021-logos-and-artwork/

www.frightfest.co.uk | FB: /FrightFestreal | Twitter: @frightfest | IG: @frightfestUK

www.arrowfilms.com | FB: /ArrowVideo | Twitter: @ArrowFilmsVideo | IG: @ArrowVideo

#ARROWFRIGHTFEST

Please note that the event is called Arrow Video FrightFest 2021

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Editors notes:

About FrightFest

Dubbed “the Woodstock of Gore” by director Guillermo Del Toro, FrightFest, set up in 2000, has grown in size and stature since its cult roots at the Prince Charles Cinema and today is internationally renowned for discovering exciting and original horror fantasy genre films and for supporting the talent behind them, helping to launch the careers of such directors as Simon Rumley, Christopher Smith, Eli Roth, Neil Marshall and Simon Hunter.

Over the years the festival directors, Greg Day, Alan Jones, Paul McEvoy and Ian Rattray, have developed FrightFest into a brand leader for horror film, expanding its footprint in the UK by hosting special events throughout the year and joining forces with the Glasgow Film Festival, where they run an established three-day event. They have teamed up with FAB Press to publish a series of ‘The FrightFest Guide To…” books and have an exclusive partnership with Signature Entertainment to release films under the festival’s thriving label  ‘FrightFest Presents’. You can catch the documentary FRIGHTFEST: BENEATH THE DARK HEART OF CINEMA on Amazon.

About Arrow Video

Since its inception in the UK in 2009, Arrow Video has grown to become the world’s No. 1

Premium label for the very best physical and digital releases of genre, cult and horror films from around the globe. The label has passionately trailblazed a multi-award-winning slate of releases in deluxe, definitive editions with state-of-the-art restorations, in-depth curation of new and archival extra features, newly commissioned artwork, accompanying booklets and special packaging, available from all major retailers and its own world-class direct-to-consumer website at www.arrowfilms.com.

Expanding into North America in 2015, Arrow Video’s best-in-class Blu-ray, UHD releases and extensive catalogue is complemented by premium digital and on demand services with its Channel ARROW (www.ARROW-Player.com) which shares the same ethos, curating the finest cult films from celebrated filmmakers including John Carpenter, David Cronenberg, George Romero, John Landis and Dario Argento and many more.

Upcoming releases include classic films from the likes of David Lynch, Edgar Wright and Quentin Tarantino, whilst also continuing to acquire and champion New Cult content, including Jill Gevargizian’s The Stylist and Adam Stovall’s A Ghost Waits.