7th FANTASTIC FILMS
WEEKEND 2008
"fantastic indeed" – The Guardian
"stronger than ever … a pulse-racing assortment of horror, sci-fi and fantasy flicks" – Metro
"Fandom’s best-kept secret – a gem tucked away in the black north of England" – Headpress
The Fantastic Films team is already hard at work on the programme for 2008. Read on for the latest news...
100 DAYS AND COUNTING…
There are just 100 days to go until the start of the 7th Fantastic Films Weekend, which runs from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June. The venue, as always, is the National Media Museum (NMeM), based in Bradford, West Yorkshire.
SPECIAL GUESTS
This year the FFW welcomes more Guests of Honour than ever before. Our line-up includes Jenny Agutter, Peter Duffell, Jimmy Sangster, Piers Haggard, Harry Kumel, and our good friend Robert Fuest, who makes a return visit after a hugely enjoyable appearance in 2006. Each guest is connected with a particular screening, so delegates can look forward to An American Werewolf in London, The House That Dripped Blood, Hammer’s Dracula (screened in digital), Blood on Satan’s Claw, Daughters of Darkness and a double-bill of The Abominable Dr. Phibes and Dr. Phibes Rises Again! All guests appear subject to work (and other) commitments.
WIDESCREEN SHOCKERS
Thanks to the ever-growing 70mm archive here at the National Media Museum, the FFW has access to an incredible range of widescreen movies. Our links with the widescreen community means we can also cherry pick from prints held by Universal, Warner Bros and others. We are planning to screen John Carpenter’s The Thing, Peter Hyams’ Outland and Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist. If the strand is well-received it may become a regular fixture of the weekend.
OTHER FILMS
We hope to present a range of established classics alongside newer product from emerging filmmakers, so look out for Georges Franju’s Les Yeux sans visage, Terence Fisher’s Dracula (in digital), a package of classic short films and I Am Legend on the giant IMAX screen. There are also plans to present the Grindhouse double-bill as it was originally intended.
HAMMER MAKE-UP EFFECTS ON SHOW
The National Media Museum holds the archives of Hammer make-up supremos Phil Leakey and Roy Ashton. We hope to present a modest display of some of this unique material during the FFW.
FILM SUBMISSIONS FOR 2008
Filmmakers with new short and feature films that fit the themes of the Fantastic Films Weekend are encouraged to submit their work for consideration. Screeners (preferably on Pal format DVD) should be sent to:
7th Fantastic Films Weekend, Film Department,
National Media Museum, Pictureville, Bradford,
West Yorkshire, BD1 1NQ, England.
All submissions should be accompanied by a full Press pack including contact details, an English language synopsis, cast/crew credits, images and a portrait of the director. Selection will begin towards the end of the year.