2009 Archive

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The Festival of Fantastic Films 2009
The 20th Annual Convention of the Society of Fantastic Films

was held at the
Day's Hotel, Sackville St., Manchester
(The Manchester Conference Centre)

Click here for Maps, Directions, Car Parking, etc.

Dates: 16th - 18th October, 2009

Special Notices, October 26th (post-Festival wrap-up):

Click for Festival Film Reviews, 2009 by Gil Lane-Young


Special thanks

The Festival committee would like to offer grateful thanks to the following for their participation in the Festival of Fantastic Films 2009. These movies were shown out of competition for various reasons, but the selection panel feel that any one of the films shown below would not have been out of place in the competition, and indeed had very good chances of recognition.

Famous Monster Directed by Michael MacDonald Canada
The Soldier Directed by Shaun Robert Smith UK
Ironwerkz Directed by Mike Kehoe UK
Resurrecting The Street Walker Directed by Ozgur Uyanik UK
Nightmares in Red, White And Blue Directed by Andrew Monument USA
The Hunt For Gollum Directed by Chris Bouchard UK
Dark And Stormy Night Directed by Larry Blamire USA

Independent Films Competition Awards

The selection committee for the Independent competition would like to offer their congratulations to all participants winners & other competitors on the quality of the entrants into this years competition.

Whilst there always has to be a winner, the committee wish it to be known that the they found it increasingly difficult in some cases to make the choices.

If all future competitors are as good as those who have entered for the competitions over the last few years then we can look forward to some really excellent fare in the future.

Shorts

Winners (tied):
Enchanted Island directed by Noel Kearns (Ireland)
Under My Garden directed by Andrea Lodovichetti (Italy)  

Highly Commended:
Mark Macready and the Archangel Murders directed by Sean Candon (UK)
Babylon 2084 directed by Christian Schleisiek (Germany)

Features

Winner:
Kirk directed by Michael Ferns (UK)

Runner Up:
Lodo directed by Karlos Alastruey (Spain)

Highly Commended:
Evil Angel directed by Richard Dutcher (USA)
Dreamscape directed by Daniel J Fox (UK)


Amateur Films Competition Awards

Winner:
McDonough (Kyle Stephens, USA)

Runner-up:
Home (Francesco Filippi, Italy)

Highly commended:
He Dies at the End (Damian McCarthy, Eire)
La Vie Lamort (Brandyn Boid, USA)
Monster Movie (Stephen Hammond, USA)

This year's judges were Ray Holloway, Tris Thompson and Norman J Warren. The results were announced by special guest Emily Booth.

Update, October 5th:

The line up for the guests during the festival is as follows:  

Friday: Emily Booth
Saturday: Derren Nesbitt / John Carson / Ian McCulloch / Jenny Hanley & Group Discussion  (celebrities in attendance)
Sunday: John Hough & Peter Sasdy

1) Attending this year's festival will be Tom Fallows and Curtis Owen, who have written a book on the genre film director George Romero. They will be in attendance to sell and sign copies of their book.

2) Lost Weekend films are also attending with a selection of their short movies, which we will be mixing with the programme on Saturday.

3) Bookseller Harvey Fenton will be attending with a selection of his wares. If what you want is not available he'll try to get it for you.

4) Also on the literary front, Telos Publishing will be attending with a number of copies of Calum Waddell's new tome "Taboo Breakers". Calum is unable to attend this year as he's getting educated, but if you want your book signed I'm certain they'll get that done for you.  They also have copies of "It Lives Again" by Axelle Carolyn.

5) Entries for the Independent Film competition were as good this year as ever and a number of the excellent films will be shown during the Festival. These are the films that have been selected for final judgement, and the winner will be announced on Sunday:

Features

1) Evil Angel (USA) directed by Richard tcher
2) Kirk (UK)  directed by Michael Ferns
3) Lodo (Spain)  directed by Karlos Alastruey
4) Dreamscape (UK)  directed by  Daniel J Fox

Shorts

1) The Enchanted Island (Eire) directed by Noel Kearns
2) Babylon 2084 (Germany) directed by  Christian Schleisiek
3) Under My Garden (Italy)  directed by Andrea Lodovichetti
4) Mark McCready & The Archangel Murders (UK)  Directed by Ryan McDermott                                    

Amateur Movies

The shortlist for the Amateur Film Competition (Delta Award) may be seen below. The films will be screened during the Saturday morning session.

Confirmed films for the Festival include the UK premier of "Night of the Living Dead 3D", a German movie directly from Sitges & Porto called "Virus Undead", a Japanese splatterfest: "Meatball Machine", and a double bill of Coffin Joe movies: "At Midnight I Will Take Your Soul" and "Embodiment Of Evil".

We also have a great programme for you with all guests listed below having confirmed attendance (subject to last-minute engagements) so it looks a really good weekend. A couple of other old friends, including Stephen Laws (author) have intimated they will come if they can sort out the dates, but these are not yet confirmed.

Richard Gordon and Norman J Warren have agreed to join Ray Harryhausen and Brian Clemens as current Patrons of the Festival. It is our intention to include a number of others when time permits and agreement is secured.

We would like to make the Auction this year a really special event so please look at what you have and let me know by email if you can provide any items for our president, Ramsey Campbell, to auction.

I'm told that the accommodation is going fast so if you haven't booked please do so soonest - and bring your friends! Rooms are £60 single, £75 double, and hotel booking forms are sent with your tickets to the Festival.
Click here for a membership form you can print and mail.

Gil Lane-Young
Chairman, Festival of Fantastic Films

Further details will be announced when available.

Guests of Honour for 2009
The following guests are expected to appear,
subject to professional commitments.
In alphabetical order:

Emily Booth
Actress / Presenter

Pervirella, Cradle of Fear, Evil Aliens, Inferno, Sacred Flesh,  Event Horizon. Emily is also a presenter on several TV & Satellite channels.

John Carson
Actor

The Night Caller,  The Plague of the Zombies, Man Who Haunted Himself,  Taste The Blood of Dracula,  Doomsday,  Quentin Durward,  Ramsbottom Rides Again,  Intent To Kill,  Lady is a Square, Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter .

Jenny Hanley
Actress

Scars of Dracula, The Flesh & Blood Show, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Tam Lin, Alfie Darling, Percy's Progress.

John Hough
Director

 The Legend of Hell House, Watcher in the Woods, Twins of Evil, Treasure Island, Escape to Witch Mountain, Return to Witch Mountain, Watcher in the Woods, Incubus, Biggles.

Ian McCulloch
Actor

 Zombie Flesh Eaters, It, Where Eagles Dare, Cromwell, Alien Contamination, The Ghoul, & The Survivors ( TV Series ).

Derren Nesbitt
Actor, Writer & Director

Burke & Hare, Not Now Darling, Where Eagles Dare, Innocent Bystanders, Behemoth The Sea Monster, Strongroom & Special Branch ( TV Series ).

Peter Sasdy
Director & Writer

 Hands of the Ripper, Countess Dracula, Doomwatch. Nothing but the Night, Stone Tape, I Don't Want to be Born, Welcome to Blood City.
Also several TV series, including Hammer House of Horror.
Peter will be accompanied by his wife, actress Mia Nadasi, who also appeared in Hammer House of Horror and Supernatural, as well as the movie Scandal

(Note: All guests listed are confirmed as attending - however, it is only fair to be aware that all these are subject to commitments - and the Festival organisers cannot be held responsible for any cancellations. Where this occurs it is policy to try to replace the guest with another; however, that is not always possible)

Film Programme

The Film Programme will include a variety of features and shorts, plus a selection of the Independent and Amateur Film Competition entries.

Introduction to the Festival

If you are a new visitor to The Festival of Fantastic Films web pages we invite you to climb aboard the greatest weekend a science fiction, fantasy or horror movie fan could ever find on the planet.

Based in MANCHESTER, ENGLAND (just two-and-a-half hours from LONDON by rail-link) we have THREE programme streams containing a terrific range of movie-related events that include Guest Interviews, Discussions, Panels, Special Events, Presentations, Auctions, Artshow and Poster Exhibition, Dealer Room, Themed Dinner, Parties and of course an AMAZING number of movies..... the old and the new run alongside each other throughout the festival.

Please scroll down our pages to get a taste of this 3-Day UK Movie Convention (now in its eighteenth year) - and hop off on the various links should you want even more in-depth info! But DO COME BACK... we'll be updating frequently throughout the upcoming year!

Special Events

Festival Opening Ceremony. An introduction to the Festival and its guests.

Q & A sessions with directors and producers of a number of the films we shall be screening throughout the weekend.

Much more.

Featured Events

Big retrospective Science Fiction and Fantasy
movie programme. Films to be announced.

3-D!

CinemaScope!

Discussions, Panels

Film Fair, Auctions

Low-price Convention Bar!

Guest of Honour Signing Sessions

Amateur and Independent Short Film Contests

The Auction

RAMSEY CAMPBELL puts a multitude of movie-related
items under his infamous gavel... and we'll guarantee
he'll keep you amused and penniless!

2008 Independent Film Competition Results

Winner, independent feature:
The Devil's Music (dir. Pat Higgins, UK)

Winner, independent short:
Alicja Wonderland (dir. Martin Gavreau, Poland)


Amateur Film Competition Results 2008

Winner:
Small Things (dir. Matt Bloom, UK)

Highly commended:
Oberschure (dir. Amanda Beggs, USA)

Commended:
Under the Bed (Stephen Hammond, USA)

Schrodinger's Biro (dir. Caroline Eccles, UK)


Independent & Amateur Films

In addition to the retrospective film programme that is the backbone of the event, the Festival of Fantastic Films has, within the past few years, become the premiere UK venue for new genre movies. We are pleased to showcase an amazing selection of Independently produced feature length and short films from all over the world. Films that you are unlikely to see anywhere else are screened alongside the new movies from major studios right through the weekend. Each year sees an increase in the number of young and highly creative film-makers, submitting their work into our International Competition and giving members of the Festival a unique opportunity to see a great range of movies. The Festival programme also screens new films outside the competition itself and although it is difficult to announce specific titles in advance, we expect to surprise members of the event with major premieres!

The Festival is also the place to meet with many of the creative people from behind and in front of the cameras. In 1998 we had director Jake West and actress Eileen Daly along with their new film RAZORBLADE SMILE. American director Tyler Tharpe came over from the USA to screen and discuss his horror film THE LAST ROADSTOP and from the UK, Jon Sorensen premiered his science fiction feature ALIEN BLOOD. In 1999 delightful American director Joei Gharrity came from Los Angeles to screen her short film THE GRAIL and was sucked into the fannish activities and friendliness of the eventMost of the Independent movies screened at the Festival have a substantial budget behind them, whereas other equally creative genre movies are made each year by talented amateurs working on a shoestring. These films are enormously entertaining and often just as thought provoking as their Indie relatives. The Amateur Contest entries are pre-judged by The Festival Committee with the top rated films going forward to the Festival for the final round. 1998 saw the Award going out of the UK for the first time ever, being won by Florida USA film-maker Shane Hannafey with his science fiction story THE GIFT.

The International Movie Competitions have become a very important section of the Festival of Fantastic Films.

Delta Film Award 2009

The shortlist for this year’s award for the best amateur film screened at the Festival of Fantastic Films was announced on 23 September. Judging will take place on the Saturday morning of the Festival, 17 October.

The Adventures of a Plumber in Outer Space (Jan Manthey, UK)
Claustro Fobia (Juan De Dios Marfil & Jesus Palop, Spain)
Duck Heart Tesla Coil (Tyler Kupferer, USA)
Empire of the Sun (Dora Martinkova & Zuzka Jungmanova, UK)
He Dies At the End (Damian McCarthy, Eire)
Home (Francesco Filippi, Italy)
House Guest (Ben Mitchell, UK)
The Landlord (Emil Hyde, USA)
Lorax (Lee Keeler, USA)
McDonough (Kyle Stephens, USA)
Monster Movie (Stephen Hammond, USA)
The Orion Conspiracy (Seb Janiak, France)
Timescape (David C Noone, UK)
La Vie Lamort (Brandyn Boid, USA)

-- Steve Green

Society Notices

The Society of Fantastic Films, organizer of the Festival, also has regular meetings in Manchester city centre. Held at the Unicorn Hotel, High Street, on the last Friday of each month, the meetings feature movie showings and lively discussions in a convivial atmosphere.
For more information, email
[email protected].

Membership Information

Full Attending Membership is £70 (UK pounds), or $140 (US dollars) which entitles you to Progress Reports, Programme Booklet, Badge, and Attendance to all of the events over the three days of the convention. A single day membership is available for £30 (UK pounds).

Children: Attending Membership £20 up to 12 years of age and £30 up to 16 years of age.

Supporting Membership £30, entitles you to three Progress Reports, Programme Booklet, Badge, and Attendance to any of the events on any SINGLE day of the convention. (Supporting membership can be upgraded to FULL by paying the balance at any time up to the week before the Festival).

Register now by printing the form (click below) and mailing to the Festival address!

Click here for a membership form you can print and mail

Festival e-mail may be sent to Gil Lane-Young: [email protected]

The Society of Fantastic Films is a member of the British Federation of Film Societies

Comments or suggestions?
Please post to the Festival Guestbook

Add comment to the Festival Guestbook

View the Festival Guestbook

Website Special Features

Archives and Reviews of Past Festivals
from 1997 to 2008

Eurocon Award to Concatenation

2004 Festival Photo Album

2003 Festival Photo Album

Harry Nadler Photo Album
assembled by Tony Edwards

Festival Movies on DVD

Your help is requested

Email contact information

We would like to have current and prior Festival attendees' email addresses on file so that we can send you news and announcements about the Festival.

Please email Gil ([email protected]) and let us know your preferred email address.

Suggestions for future Guests

We are also looking for suggestions for guests for upcoming Festivals. If there is someone you feel would make a good guest, and you are in personal touch with them, please email Gil and give him their contact information.

Festival Guest and Contributor Websites

Harry Nadler Memorial Website

Widescreen Movies Magazine
a web and print magazine by John Hayes

Janina Faye - The Official Website

Ramsey Campbell - The Official Website

Stephen Laws - The Midnight Man

John Harden
(writer/director, "Breakfast With The Colonel")

Harry Hamill's artwork for the 1998 Festival

Gil Lane-Young's Festival Page

Festival Information on the Concatenation Website

Other Sites of Interest

Sci-Fi London:
The London International Festival
of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film

Monstrous Movie Music
World-Premiere Recordings Of Music From
Classic Science Fiction, Fantasy, And Horror Films!

Film Fan Addict

3DTV - LCD Glasses, 3D Movies, & More!

Concatenation Convention Reviews

3D Movies in North Carolina

HammerWeb - Hammer Films Official Site

Film & TV Connection:
an entertainment industry school with 5,000 students worldwide
who train on-site at major film studios, video production companies,
radio and TV stations, recording studios and record labels.

Virtual Manchester
Virtual Manchester

everything you need to know
about the Festival's home city

Science Fiction Conventions Webring

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