A Night of Horror Film Festival 2011

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5th ANNUAL A NIGHT OF HORROR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

March 11th 2011 04:54

It’s getting to close to one of my favourite times of the year; Sydney’s A Night of Horror International Film Festival! Now in its 5th year and boasting what looks to be the strongest program yet, A Night of Horror is the demon child creation of Dean Bertram and Lisa Mitchell, who, armed with the loyal and talented support of a skeleton crew of horrorphiles, fight arm, tooth and leg, to bring to the big screen as many of the cutting edge, independent, and most interesting horror features and shorts from Australia and abroad, as well as inviting as many of the filmmakers to open up and bleed about their art. It’s one hell of a bloody good time, and a must do for any self-respecting horror movie buff, or horror newbie for that matter.

I have seen numerous movies at A Night of Horror that have become nestled amongst my favourites of the past ten years or so, such as The Broken (2007), The Children (2008), Left Bank (2008), and The Revenant (2008).

A Night of Horror runs from Thursday, March 31st to Friday, April 8th at Dendy cinemas in Newtown, Sydney. But it kicks off each year with a quirky double-bill that screens the Saturday before (March 26th) at the Mu-Meson Archives in Annandale, that nefarious private home theatre hosted by the morbidly droll Jay Katz and his knitting demon lover Miss Death. This year the blood-chilling double bill features the world premiere of the Canadian Skew (2010), likened to Paranormal Activity (2007) on steroids, to be followed by the world premiere of US feature(tte) Ludlow (2010).

Nearly all the features in this year’s main program are having their Australian premieres; with two enjoying international premieres, Midnight Son (2010) and The Afflicted (2011) and one world premiere, #12 (2011). There’s two new Aussie features; The Tunnel (2010), which is the festival Opening Night movie, and The Reef (2010), plus a new one from cult Kiwi director David Blyth, Wound (2010). The strong local support A Night of Horror is known for expands this year into two separate showcases of Aussie shorts. But there are dozens of short films from around the world within the four mini-programs; the festival favourite showcase of Lovecraftian lunacy, a monster mash-up, some zombie mayhem, and a selection of crazy motherfuckers for the seriously twisted (and one of my favourites of the mini-programs).

Apart from the short films showcases and thirteen odd features there is also a free horror screenwriting forum at Surry Hills Library (Thursday, April 7, 9pm) where several up-and-coming Australian filmmakers will discuss the art of writing horror for the screen. And of course there’s the festival awards ceremony and notorious after-party that follows the creepy Closing Night feature Absentia (2011), where the horrorphiles and filmmakers get drunk and cannibalise each other!

Th

ere is much bloodlust in this year’s program. I’m particularly looking forward to an American creature feature called Wilderness (2010), starring Lance Henrickson, #12 promises to be sleazy depravity, plus there’s a 3D screening (the festival’s first!) with Hybrid (2010), every mechanic’s nightmare. And if the Lovecraftian short film mini-program wasn’t enough there’s a riotous-looking feature, The Last Lovecraft: Relic of Cthulhu (2009) as well.

I'm frothing at the mouth!

Dean and Lisa, the generous festival co-directors love to throw goodies into the audience and many of the screenings will have a DVD giveaway preceding the movie, so it pays to brush up on your horror movie trivia!

For complete program details, screening times and additional info visit the A Night of Horror website. And don’t forget to become a festival friend and support the only Australasian horror movie festival the other side of Innsmouth!

Visit Dendy cinemas to purchase online tickets.

Stay tuned for my festival previews!

NB: Read my interview with festival directors Dean and Lisa here
Let A Night of Horror reign until the dawn!

Here's the festival grindhouse-style teaser (cheers Doug!):

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Comments

3 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Two Jews On Film

March 12th 2011 01:52

Two Jews On Film
Two Jews On Bridesmaids Movie Review

would you like to interview the creator of the cult classic films FACES OF DEATH? he's my husband.

Comment by JohnDoe

March 14th 2011 01:41

Film & TV on DVD

Sounds like fun, that I can't have

Some good stuff coming up over here though.

Comment by Bryn

March 14th 2011 01:49

Horrorphile

I don't want to know about the good stuff at your end ... Well, I do actually. You have access to all the wonderful array of North American film festivals and cons. I'm deeply envious. The latest issue of Rue Morgue lists all the year's horror cons and festivals, more than you can shake a witch's stick at!

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