It's hard to believe another Flashback Weekend is almost upon us, but in just a few days, Chicago’s longest-running horror convention will descend upon the Crowne Plaza O’Hare (5440 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL), where thousands of fans will gather to celebrate everything they love about the genre. Flashback Weekend kicks off on Friday, August 5th and runs through Sunday, August 7th, complete with a star-studded line-up, nightly screenings, Q&A panels, costume contests, and much more.
This writer is pleased to be returning to Flashback Weekend for my sixth year as co-host. Two personal highlights for me at this year’s convention have to be the Scream Reunion Screening and Q&A on Saturday evening, featuring Neve Campbell, Skeet Ulrich, and Matthew Lillard, as well as seeing Don Coscarelli returning to Flashback, this time with Phantasm: Remastered in tow.
Other featured guests at the 2016 Flashback Weekend Horror Convention include Malcolm McDowell, Julian Sands, Meg Foster, Judy Geeson, Andrew Divoff, Robert Kurtzman, Ted Raimi, Rachel True, Jill Marie Jones, Sharni Vinson, Adrienne King, Amy Steel, Chris Durand, Melanie Kinnaman, Tom Morga, Tiffany Helm, Kathleen Kinmont, Bob Elmore, Eugene Clark, John Russo, David DeCoteau, and legendary horror host Svengoolie.
Check out the official press release and full schedule below for more details on what Chicago-area fans can expect at Flashback Weekend:
Press Release: Chicago’s longest running Horror Convention and Film Festival, Flashback Weekend continues its 15-year format of “Horror Convention by Day/Horror Film Fest by Night” with Special Advance Screenings of the eagerly awaited 4K digital restoration of Don Coscarelli’s 1979 Horror Classic PHANTASM. In addition to PHANTASM: REMASTERED in a stunning 4K process and remixed 5.1 stereo sound, introduced in person by Don Coscarelli. Each showing will also include an extended trailer for PHANTASM V: RAVAGER.
“I am very excited to bring PHANTASM: REMASTERED to Flashback Weekend for Special Advance Screenings,” said Don Coscarelli. “Flashback Weekend premiered BUBBA HO-TEP back in 2002, and it seemed natural to bring PHANTASM: REMASTERED to Flashback. Mr. Coscarelli also commented, “And I’ve been to the Carmike Muvico Rosemont Theaters where the PHANTASM: REMASTERED screenings will take place. The theaters are beautiful and the presentation is state of the art. PHANTASM is going to look and sound better than I dreamed of back in 1979!”
Outdoor SCREAM screening of (1996) hosted by Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, & Skeet Ulrich
Flashback Weekend’s Outdoor Film Series presents a 20th anniversary “Drive-In” showing of the 1996 Wes Craven classic SCREAM on a giant outdoor screen on Saturday August 6, 2016. The screening will be hosted by Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard and Skeet Ulrich, featuring an extended discussion with the SCREAM stars.
Svengoolie (Rich Koz) presents ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN live on stage!
Chicago Horror Host legend Svengoolie (Rich Koz) appears live on stage to host “ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN (1948) in a two hour stage show featuring audience participation and many surprises. This will be a rare opportunity for fans to see the Chicago Horror Host legend presenting a film screening live as only Svengoolie (Rich Koz) can.
ASH VS. EVIL DEAD Season One Episode One, featuring a pre-recorded commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, will also screen over the weekend. The showing will be introduced by ASH VS. EVIL DEAD stars Ted Raimi and Jill Marie Jones. Courtesy of Starz / Anchor Bay Entertainment.
FLASHBACK WEEKEND CHICAGO HORROR CONVENTION ALL-STAR GUEST LINE-UP
Additional celebrity guests & events at Flashback Weekend 2016 include Malcolm McDowell, a THE CRAFT reunion, a Rob Zombie’s 31 cast reunion, a huge Final Girls and Slashers gathering, and many more great guests. Convention activities include autograph and photo-op sessions with the celebrities, a huge horror vendor room, Q & A panel discussions, costume contests and more.
Visit www.flashbackweekend.com for the full event schedule or call (847) 647-3124 for updates!
Friday, August 5, 2016 - Crowne Plaza
2:00PM - 8:00PM Registration Booth Open
3:00PM – 9:00PM Dealers room open (Ballrooms 2-5)
4:00PM – 9:00PM Celebrity signings (Ballrooms 2-5)
8:10PM - Matthew Lillard & The Mystery Machine Photo-Ops (Ballroom 5)*
*separate ticket from Celeb Photo Ops required
Crowne Plaza Ideation Lounge
4:00PM - 7:40PM Celeb Photo Ops
Crowne Plaza Ballroom 1
8:30PM – 9:15PM “ASH VS EVIL DEAD” Season One – Episode One – Commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell (pre-recorded) - Introduced by Jill Marie Jones & Ted Raimi
Carmike Muvico Rosemont 18 (Located on the north side of the parking garage)
10:00PM - Bloody Disgusting presents “WORLD OF DEATH” episode*
*Ticket for “PHANTASM: REMASTERED” required
10:10PM - “PHANTASM: REMASTERED” 4K restoration introduced by Don Coscarelli
*Separate ticket required. Tickets at www.carmike.com
Saturday, August 6, 2016 – Crowne Plaza
9:30AM – 5:45PM Registration Booth Open
10:00AM - 6:45PM Dealer room (Ballrooms 2-5)
10:00AM – 6:00PM Celebrity signings (Ballrooms 2-5)
2:00PM – 4:00PM Svengoolie autograph signings – Balmoral Room
5:00PM Matthew Lillard & The Mystery Machine Photo-ops (Ballroom 5)*
*separate ticket from Celeb Photo-ops required
Crowne Plaza Ideation Lounge
11:00AM – 4:30PM - Celeb Photo Ops – schedule on next page
Crowne Plaza Ballroom 1
11:00AM – 11:10AM Convention opening remarks
11:10AM – 11:20AM “WORLD OF DEATH” episode
11:20AM – 11:40AM John Russo
11:40AM – 12:00PM Eugene Clark
12:00PM – 12:30PM Ted Raimi and Jill Marie Jones
1:00PM – 2:00PM Krueger Costume Contest
2:00PM – 2:30PM Julian Sands
2:30PM – 3:00PM Adrienne King, Amy Steel, Melanie Kinnaman, Tiffany Helm, Kathleen Kinmont
3:00PM – 3:30PM Rob Zombie’s “31” – Malcolm McDowell, Meg Foster, Judy Geeson, Pancho Moler, David Ury
3:30PM – 4:00PM “WISHMASTER” - Robert Kurtzman & Andrew Divoff
4:20PM – 5:00PM 11th Annual Sinister Visions Costume Contest hosted by Svengoolie
5:15PM – 5:30PM Ron Fitzgerald – Phantasm Themed Dark Magic
5:30PM – 6:00PM Don Coscarelli
6:00PM – MOVIE: “THE CRAFT” (1996) – Introduced by Rachel True
Crowne Plaza Outdoor Courtyard – Giant Screen Outdoor Movie!
8:30PM Giant Screen Outdoor Movie! “SCREAM” (1996) with Q&A and
intro with Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, & Skeet Ulrich*
*Separate ticket required
Carmike Muvico Rosemont 18 (Located on the north side of the parking garage)
11:00PM - Bloody Disgusting presents “WORLD OF DEATH” episode*
*Ticket for “PHANTASM: REMASTERED” required
11:30PM - “PHANTASM: REMASTERED” 4K restoration introduced by Don Coscarelli
*Separate ticket required. Tickets at www.carmike.com
Sunday, August 7, 2016 - Crowne Plaza
10:30AM – 3:00PM Registration Booth Open11:00AM – 4:00PM Dealer room (Ballrooms 2-5)
11:00AM – 4:00PM Celebrity signings (Ballrooms 2-5)
3:35PM Matthew Lillard & The Mystery Machine Photo-ops* (Ballroom 5)
* ticket from Celeb Photo-ops required
Crowne Plaza Ideation Lounge
11:15AM – 3:35PM – Celeb Photo Ops
Crowne Plaza Ballroom 1
11:45AM – 12:00PM Bloody Disgusting presents “WORLD OF DEATH” episode
12:00PM – 12:30PM Sharni Vinson
12:30PM – 1:00PM Rachel True
1:00PM – 1:30PM Slashers – Chris Durand, Bob Elmore, & Tom Morga
2:00PM - Svengoolie (Rich Koz) live on stage emceeing “ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN” (1948) – Audience participation, prizes and surprises!
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
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