Bruce Campbell and Edgar Wright will be on hand for a groovy 35mm double bill of The Evil Dead and Evil Dead II at this October's Beyond Fest, held in Los Angeles and presented by Shudder. Other screening highlights include the Kurt Russell-starring Bone Tomahawk, Karyn Kusama's The Invitation, the Henry Rollins-starring He Never Died, and much more.
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA - Thursday, September 3, 2015- Beyond Fest, the highest attended genre film festival in the US, is excited to announce its full slate of 2015 programming featuring 25 events of mind-bending, movie madness. Presented by Shudder, Beyond Fest returns to Hollywood's famed Egyptian Theatre for 11 days of movies, music and mayhem spanning Thursday, October 1st - Monday, October 12th to generate funds for co-presenter, the nonprofit American Cinematheque.
With a diverse slate that includes films from all corners of the globe Beyond Fest is proud to present 18 West Coast premieres including Brian Hegeland's masterful LEGEND as opening night film and Hsiao-hsien Hou's breathtaking martial arts ballet THE ASSASSIN, to close. Other hotly-anticipated titles include Kurt Russell's existential western shocker BONE TOMAHAWK, Miike Takeshi's gloriously outrageous YAKUZA APOCALYPSE and Karyn Kusama's terrifying thriller THE INVITATION.
"We're just relieved that a film institution as revered as the American Cinematheque let us come back," said Beyond Fest Co-Founder, Christian Parkes. "Last year, guests were whipped, they vomited and snorted snuff en masse, it was bedlam. With this lineup I'm proud to say it's going to be even bigger."
The legend Bruce Campbell takes center stage with Edgar Wright for an EVIL DEAD double bill for the ages featuring both films projected on glorious 35mm. Tickets will be made available to purchase on Saturday, September 5th at noon PST, however, the most die-hard Deadites will be rewarded early as 25 pairs of tickets will be gifted free to those sporting an EVIL DEAD tattoo. Maintaining the theme and commemorating the night Studio City Tattoo will be on-site providing free EVIL DEAD tattoos for the most hardcore fans.
Two wildly different anniversary screenings celebrate two wildly iconic films with Al Pacino sitting in conversation with Brett Ratner for the 40th anniversary of DOG DAY AFTERNOON, while The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail host an epic 30th anniversary reunion screening of BETTER OFF DEAD with director Savage Steve Holland, Curtis Armstrong, Diane Franklin and more.
Once again, music features prominently in Beyond Fest's charter with some of the most influential and innovative artists participating. Die Antwoord's Ninja will be joined by friends as he hosts a rare 35mm screening of ERASERHEAD for 'A Night of Zef Absurdia.' Punk icon Henry Rollins is celebrated with the West Coast premiere of his existential cannibal shocker HE NEVER DIED. Post screening, Rollins will be joined by director Jason Krawczyk in a wide ranging conversation moderated by agent provocateur Shepard Fairey. Legendary composer Fabio Frizzi is performing in Los Angeles for the first time in his illustrious 40 year career. Complete with his 8-piece orchestra, the Maestro will perform FRIZZI 2 FULCI LIVE: his magnificent musical-opus highlighting his work with Lucio Fulci. FRIZZI 2 FULCI LIVE will also feature a rare screening of the Fulci's gothic masterpiece THE BEYOND uncut, uncensored and in scope on 35mm. The original 1925 version of Lon Chaney's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA gets the live score treatment courtesy of his grandson Ron Chaney who is screening the masterpiece on 16mm. The 1925 score has remained in possession of the Chaney family since the film's release and will be performed for one of the first times in 90 years. Ron Chaney will be in attendance to discuss the impact of Cheney's work. Premiering live, synth superstar Steve Moore will perform his score to horror wunderkind Joe Begos' THE MIND'S EYE before the telekinetic shocker receives its hometown throwdown premiere. Moore's performance will be complemented by the release of a limited 7" courtesy of Death Waltz Records, produced exclusively for the screening.
"Music has been an integral part of Beyond Fest from the very beginning," said Spencer Hickman, Mondo / Death Waltz Recording Co. Label Head. "The first show we ever booked was Goblin and we're incredibly proud to build on that foundation with this phenomenal and unique line up."
Celebrating LA filmmaking remains a priority for Beyond Fest with Karyn Kusama receiving this year's 'LA Spotlight' for her shocking thriller, THE INVITATION. As part of her Spotlight screening, Kusama selected Philip Kaufman's INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS to accompany her film citing its malevolent corresponding elements and themes. LA represents en masse with SOUTHBOUND, a wild and insanely gory reinvention of the horror anthology model from the team behind the V/H/S series. SOUTHBOUND is co-presented with fellow LA-conspirators, Spectrefest, and features a live performance by I Speak Machine for the premiere of their new short, ZOMBIES 1985.
Beyond Fest welcomes the horror streaming platform Shudder as its Presenting Sponsor, a partnership that provides 10 screenings (9 West Coast premieres) absolutely free to film fans. Every night, the 100-seat 'Shudder Theatre' will feature a brand new film selected from across the world including a demented Mads Mikkelsen's in Anders Thomas Jensen's unbelievably black comedy, MEN AND CHICKEN, manga favorite / insanely-mental-live-action-madness of ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM, the hyper-violent remake of Mario Bava's Euro-crime nasty, RABID DOGS, the creepy debut shocker from Oz Perkins, FEBRUARY, Majid Al Ansari's electrifying cat and mouse thriller, ZINZANA and the over-the-top martial arts sequel, SPL 2.
"These are some of the best and most provocative films of the year," said American Cinematheque and Beyond Fest programmer, Grant Moninger. "That we can provide them completely free of charge is very important to us, we're thankful to Shudder for being a part of our mission to bring great films to the great genre fans of this city."
See below for the full lineup of newly announced film titles for Beyond Fest 2015.
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BEYOND FEST 2015 PROGRAM
EGYPTIAN THEATRE
THE ASSASSIN
China, 2015
LA Premiere, 105 min
Director - Hsiao-hsien Hou
BETTER OFF DEAD - 30th Anniversary Reunion Hosted by The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail
United States, 1985
97 min
Director - Savage Steve Holland
wi. Jonah Ray, Kumail Nanjiani, director Savage Steve Holland + cast in person
THE BEYOND
Uncut, uncensored director's cut in scope on 35mm
Italy, 1981
35mm, 87 min
Director - Lucio Fulci
BONE TOMAHAWK
United States, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 133 min
Director - S. Craig Zahler
wi. director S. Craig Zahler and actor Matthew Fox in person
DOG DAY AFTERNOON
United States, 2015
35mm, 125 min
Director - Sidney Lumet
wi. actor Al Pacino and director Brett Ratner in person
THE DEVILS
Original US X-rated cut on 35mm
England, 1971
35mm, 111 min
Director - Ken Russell
wi. introduction by director Bernard Rose
Ninja Presents ERASERHEAD: A Night of Zef Absurdia
United States, 1977
35mm, 89 min
Director - David Lynch
wi. Ninja and friends in person
THE EVIL DEAD (wi. EVIL DEAD II)
Co-presented with Starz and Ash vs. The Evil Dead
United States, 1983
35mm, 87 min
Director - Sam Raimi
wi. Bruce Campbell and Edgar Wright in person
EVIL DEAD II (wi. THE EVIL DEAD)
Co-presented with Starz and Ash vs. The Evil Dead
United States, 1987
35mm, 84 min
Director - Sam Raimi
wi. Bruce Campbell and Edgar Wright in person
FRIZZI 2 FULCI LIVE (wi. THE BEYOND)
Italy, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 100 min
wi. Fabio Frizzi and 8-piece orchestra performing live
HE NEVER DIED
United States, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 99 min
Director - Jason Krawczyk
wi. director Jason Krawczyk and actor Henry Rollins, moderated by Shepard Fairey in person
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (wi. THE INVITATION)
United States, 1978
115 min
Director - Philip Kaufman
THE INVITATION (wi. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS)
United States, 2015
Special Screening, 97 min
Director - Karyn Kusama
wi. director Karyn Kusama, writers Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi and actor Logan Marshall-Green in person
LEGEND
United States, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 131 min
Director - Brian Hegeland
wi. director / writer Brian Hegeland in person
THE MIND'S EYE
United States, 2015
US Premiere, 87 min
Director - Joe Begos
wi. live performance by Steve Moore before screening
wi. director / writer Joe Begos, editor Josh Ethier and actors Graham Skipper, Noah Segan in person
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
United States, 1925
16mm, 101 min (1925 original release)
Director - Rupert Julian
wi. live score performance of the original 1925 composition
wi. Ron Chaney in person
SOUTHBOUND
Co-presented with Spectrefest
United States, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 87 min
Director - Roxanne Benjamin, David Bruckner, Patrick Horvath, Radio Silence
wi. live performance by I Speak Machine before screening
wi. cast and crew in person
TOO LATE (free screening)
United States, 2015
35mm, 107 min
Director - Dennis Hauck
wi. director / writer Dennis Hauck in person
YAKUZA APOCALYPSE
Japan, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 115 min
Director - Takashi Miike
SHUDDER THEATRE
ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM (free screening)
Japan, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 110 min
Director - Eiichiro Hasumi
DER BUNKER (free screening)
Germany, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 85 min
Director - Nikias Chryssos
FEBRUARY (free screening)
United States/Canada, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 93 min
Director - Oz Perkins
wi. director / writer Oz Perkins in person
IN SEARCH OF ULTRA SEX (free screening)
France, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 60 min
Directors - Nicolas Charlet and Bruno Lavaine
MEN AND CHICKEN (free screening)
Denmark, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 100 min
Director - Anders Thomas Jensen
RABID DOGS (free screening)
France, 2015
West Coast Premiere,99 min
Director - Eric Hannezo
SPL 2 (free screening)
China, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 120 min
Director - Pou-Soi Cheang
ZINZANA (free screening)
United Arab Emirates, Jordan, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 91 min
Director - Majid Al Ansari
Attend Beyond Fest:
Tickets for Beyond Fest 2015 are will be made available for purchase through Fandango and the American Cinematheque on 9/3/15. EVIL DEAD tickets will be available through Brown Paper Tickets on 9/5/15 at noon pt.
For the latest developments, visit the Beyond Fest official site www.beyondfest.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.
Beyond Fest is the highest attended genre film festival in the U.S. and exists to build the genre community in Los Angeles. Based out of Hollywood's legendary Egyptian Theatre, Beyond Fest is built in partnership with the American Cinematheque, Meltdown Comics, Death Waltz Recording Co. and the Alamo Drafthouse's, Fantastic Fest. A not-for-profit entity, Beyond Fest raises funds for the 501C3 non-profit film institution, American Cinematheque. Its favorite film is JAWS.
Established in 1981, the American Cinematheque is a 501C3 non-profit viewer-supported film exhibition and cultural organization dedicated to the celebration of the Moving Picture in all of its forms. The American Cinematheque renovated and reopened (on Dec. 4, 1998) the historic 1922 Hollywood Egyptian Theatre. This includes a state-of-the-art 616-seat theatre housed within Sid Grauman's first grand movie palace on Hollywood Boulevard. The exotic courtyard is fully restored to its 1922 grandeur. The Egyptian was the home of the very first Hollywood movie premiere in 1922. In January 2005 the American Cinematheque expanded its programming to the 1940 Aero Theatre on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica.
FOUNDED in 2011 by music industry veteran Spencer Hickman, Death Waltz Recording Co. have been at the forefront of the vinyl soundtrack resurgence. Working with directors & composers such as David Lynch, Richard Kelly, John Carpenter, Fabio Frizzi & Steve Moore to produce definitive versions of classic soundtracks to films both old and new. Recently venturing into both digital and CD territory DWRC remain the leading lights of the soundtrack scene . In 2015 DWRC joined Mondo Tees and Hickman now runs both The Mondo Music Label and DWRC.
Located in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Blvd, Meltdown opened in 1993 and has since become one the most respected comic book stores in the world. Taking a sophisticated approach to merchandise and operations, the 14,000 sq ft giant has garnered a reputation for hosting successful gallery openings, award winning comedy including the Comedy Central's The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, live shows and podcasting events in their collaborative space with Nerdist and the NerdMelt Showroom.
Not content with LA Weekly naming us one of the "Top 50 things why LA kicks ass," Hef's Playboy Magazine named us a "top 10 store you must visit before you die." Oh, and "Husbands and Knives," the 7th episode of The Simpsons' 19th season... The lead segment is based on us. (Google it.) 'Nuff Said!
Shudder is a diabolical new premium online video service, serving horror fans with curated worldwide programming ranging from hard-to-find independent fare to cult grindhouse classics to Hollywood blockbusters. Shudder has something for everyone, from the casual fan to the hardcore horror devotee. Backed by AMC Networks, Shudder is curated by horror aficionados with a deep love and respect for the many peculiar varieties and genres of horror.
Fantastic Fest is the largest genre film festival in the U.S., specializing in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, action and just plain fantastic movies from all around the world. In years past the festival has been home to world premieres of JOHN WICK, FRANKENWEENIE, MACHETE KILLS, THERE WILL BE BLOOD, APOCALYPTO, ZOMBIELAND while the guest roster has included such talent as Tim Burton, Andy and Lana Wachowski, Robert Rodriguez, Rian Johnson, Mel Gibson, Bill Murray, Keanu Reeves, Edward Norton, Ryan Reynolds, Paul Rudd, Bill Pullman, Paul Thomas Anderson, Kevin Smith, Jon Favreau, George Romero & Darren Aronofsky. Fantastic Fest is held each year at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin, Texas and was named "America's wildest Film Festival" by The Guardian.
Fons PR, Inc.
Fons PR Inc. is a boutique public relations firm located in Austin, Texas which specializes in film and entertainment clients with a focus on consumer & corporate publicity, digital content strategy, social media and event production. Fons PR was founded in 2010 by Brandy and Ryan Fons who are renowned veterans of the film publicity industry with over 25 years of experience working on both the studio and agency level. The Fonses have also become festival experts with overseeing festival PR and helping with programming and sponsorships for over 5 annual conventions & festivals including Rooster Teeth- RTX Event, Fantastic Fest, MondoCon, Beyond Fest & Dogfish/Alamo Drafthouse Off Centered Film Festival. They are also seasoned publicists working with ComicCon, SXSW and ATX Television Festival with over 13 years handling projects. Fun fact is they are married and met while working together at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, CA before starting their company together in Austin built solely on word-of-mouth business. You can read more about Fons PR in this Forbes article.
SpectreFest is a hand-picked look at the latest and greatest in progressive genre films and forward-thinking music from around the world that challenge our grip on reality. SpectreFest: a place where unexpected elements of the fantastic gather together - offering cold shadows, distant melodies, forgotten memories and new hauntings. SpectreFest: a collaboration between Cinefamily and SpectreVision.
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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