Grimmfest, Manchester's esteemed International Festival of Fantastic Film, has officially announced its complete feature film line-up for 2024. This year's festival promises an exhilarating four-day celebration of genre cinema, running from 3rd to 6th October at the Odeon Great Northern in Manchester. With a plethora of premieres and an exciting thematic focus, Grimmfest 2024 is set to be a must-attend event for horror and fantasy enthusiasts.
After a brief hiatus, festival directors Simeon Halligan and Rachel Richardson-Jones return to helm the event, bringing with them a renewed energy and an array of cinematic treats. This year, Grimmfest will explore the darker side of vehicular terror with its FEAR ON FOUR WHEELS strand, launching with the World Premiere of Shudder's BLACK CAB. Directed by Bruce Goodison, this claustrophobic psycho-thriller, starring Nick Frost, promises a harrowing journey into the supernatural.
The festival will also feature the World Premiere of DELIVERY RUN, directed by Joey Palmroos, which pits a desperate delivery driver against a menacing snowplow operator in a deadly game of survival. Another standout in the vehicle-themed strand is the European Premiere of SELF DRIVER, a gritty neo-noir from Michael Pierro that delves into the dangers of a mysterious driving app.
Adding to the vehicular horrors is the UK Premiere of Nick Cheung's PEG O' MY HEART, a surrealist psychodrama that follows a taxi driver tormented by nightmarish visions. The strand concludes with the UK Premiere of BLOOD STAR, a desert noir road movie by Lawrence Jacomelli, where a young Latina woman faces off against a psychopathic sheriff.
Grimmfest 2024 also delves into the eerie world of forest-set horror with its TERROR IN THE TREES strand. Notable films include the UK Premiere of Didier Konings' HERESY, a feminist Folk Horror fable set against a backdrop of oppressive puritanism. Robyn August's satiric slasher KILLHER and Vardan Tozija's post-apocalyptic fairy tale M are also set to make waves in this chilling collection.
A standout entry in this strand is the Northern UK Premiere of Philip W. de Silva's FROM DARKNESS. This visually stunning film is a fusion of Scandi-noir, Swedish mythology, and the supernatural. It follows a gripping narrative where guilt and emotional trauma intertwine with local legends and a treacherous forest landscape, delivering a haunting exploration of the human psyche set against an eerie natural backdrop.
The festival's IN CAMERA strand explores the unsettling power of film and photography. Highlights include the UK Premiere of Stuart Ortiz's STRANGE HARVEST, a True Crime documentary with a Lovecraftian twist, and the International Premiere of SUCCUBUS, an outrageous shocker starring Rosanna Arquette and Ron Perlman.
Grimmfest 2024 continues to push the boundaries of genre cinema with an array of other World and International premieres. Andrew Bell's BLEEDING offers a contemporary and brutal take on vampirism, while Chris Skotchdopole's CRUMB CATCHER provides a darkly comedic exploration of strained relationships. The tense AMSTERDAM ALERT by Loïs Dols de Jong, and Can Evrenol's unflinching revenge thriller SAYARA add further depth to the festival's diverse line-up.
Fans of neo-noir and sci-fi won't want to miss Michael Steiner's EARLY BIRDS and Stimson Snead's TIM TRAVERS & THE TIME TRAVELER'S PARADOX, both of which promise edge-of-your-seat thrills and mind-bending narratives. Additionally, Frederico Zampaglione's THE WELL, a homage to classic Italian horror, will have its English premiere, featuring Lauren Lavera in a gripping lead role.
Rounding out the line-up are Northern UK premieres like DEAD MAIL, a darkly funny thriller, and THE CHILDREN OF THE WICKER MAN, a poignant documentary exploring the legacy of the iconic film.
Grimmfest 2024 is not just about film screenings; it’s a celebration of the genre that brings together filmmakers, actors, and fans for an unforgettable experience. The full screening schedule, along with day passes and individual film tickets, will be available from 19th August. For those eager to secure their spot, full festival passes are on sale now at Grimmfest's official website.
Prepare for a cinematic journey into the dark—Grimmfest 2024 is coming, and it's not to be missed.
