The minds behind Monster Fest 2016 out of Melbourne, Australia, have announced that the French horror film Raw will open the festival, which will also feature a screening of Beyond the Gates. Also in today's Highlights: a trailer for Halloweed and a sneak peek of Aliens: Life and Death #1.
Monster Fest 2016 Lineup Announced: Press Release: "Returning this year from November 24-27, Australia’s premier genre film festival Monster Fest is thrilled to announce the Australian premiere of controversial new French horror film RAW as its Official 2016 Opening Night Film.
RAW made its World Premiere in Critics Week at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year where it was awarded the coveted FIPRESCI Award and was lauded by critics and fans alike as the genre sensation of the festival.
RAW is the debut feature of French director Julia Ducournau and tells the story of a young vegetarian who discovers her dark side when she is forced to participate in a carnivorous hazing ritual on her first day at Veterinary school. It’s a coming-of-age tale with a cannibal theme that’ll appeal to genre buffs and cinephiles alike, provided they have strong stomachs!
Earlier this week RAW held its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival and created headlines around the globe when paramedics were called to the cinema to treat three audience members who fainted during its ‘Midnight Madness’ screening.
Monster Pictures is the Australian license holder of RAW and has its release set for March 2017.
Neil Foley, Monster Pictures’ Head of Acquisitions and Executive Producer of Monster Fest, says of RAW “This is absolutely one of the greatest genre films I’ve seen in my time at Monster, it references many of the masters, from Argento to Carpenter to Cronenberg, but remains a completely unique and fresh take on the genre. It’s simultaneously harrowing and beautiful, and is probably our most exciting acquisition to date.”
RAW will Open Monster Fest on November 24th and will be followed by the Opening Night Gala. Tickets will go on sale over the coming weeks and will be announced via the Monster Fest website and associated social media.
Monster Fest is also pleased to announce its second themed sidebar, ‘Frequencies’, which is focused on genre narratives made for or about the small screen. The Frequencies section will be headlined by the World Premiere launch of the new Headpress book, ARE YOU IN THE HOUSE ALONE? A TV MOVIE COMPENDIUM 1964-1999, edited by American television scholar Amanda Reyes who will appear at the festival on a clip-and-tell panel about the history of television movies, with the book’s contributors Lee Gambin, John Harrison and stuntwoman Marneen Fields, followed by a screening of Buzz Kulik’s 1974 telefright, BAD RONALD and co-presented by Melbourne film society Cinemaniacs.
The section will also include the Australian Premiere of Jackson Stewart’s BEYOND THE GATES starring Graham Skipper (THE MIND’S EYE) and Chase Williamson (JOHN DIES AT THE END) as two brothers who find that their father’s disappearance may be connected to a sinister VHS board game. The premiere is presented by Umbrella Entertainment and will be accompanied by a NIGHTMARE VHS Board Game Party in association with Toronto’s Black Museum.
This year’s Monster Symposium series of multimedia lectures also expands on this broadcasting theme with presentations including Jodi McAlister’s DIERDRE HALL IS THE DEVIL about occultism on daytime soaps, Andrew Nette on the long-unavailable Australian horror anthology show THE EVIL TOUCH, Alexandra Heller-Nicholas on Stephen Volk’s influential and hysteria-inducing pseudo-doc GHOSTWATCH, Kier-La Janisse on Nigel Kneale’s prescient 1968 teleplay THE YEAR OF THE SEX OLYMPICS and Andrew Nette and Dean Brandum on the beloved Crawford crime show HOMICIDE, preceding a special screening of the 1964 episode “Witch Hunt”.
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All-access Passes to Monster Fest 2016 are on sale now here: https://www.lidocinemas.com.au/Promotion/Monster-Fest-2016-At-Lido
Tickets for the recently announced Ted Kotcheff masterclass at the Swinburne University Media and Communication Monster Academy are available here: http://www.monsterfest.com.au/events/ted-kotcheff-masterclass/
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Founded in 2011, Monster Fest is a mix of Premieres, international festival favourites, challenging new discoveries and curated repertory sidebars alongside industry-focused events such as panels and masterclasses with renowned international guests, and a special emphasis on supporting emerging Australian genre film talent through the festival and beyond. Monster Fest is mounted with the support of Screen Australia and Film Victoria."
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Check Out the Trailer for Halloweed: Press Release: "Los Angeles, CA (September 19, 2016) - The official release trailer and VOD poster for "Halloweed" are available today, from Screen Media Films, and the DVD release date has been set for November 8th, 2016, announced the filmmaking team of Roberto Rosario, Jr. and Jayson Bernard, who produced the film under their J&R Productions banner.
"Halloweed" is a comedy/stoner/slasher/mystery genre hybrid, starring Simon Rex, Shannon Brown, Jim O'Heir, Michelle Mueller, Jayson Bernard, Ray Wise, Jason Mewes, Deje Dee, Lester Speight, Danny Trejo, and Tom Sizemore, and will be released on all VOD platforms and Cable On Demand by Screen Media Films on October 18th, 2016, as previously announced.
"'Halloweed' is an homage to the slasher horror films I grew up with combined with the fun of buddy comedies and stoner films, with a bit of classic John Waters inspired twisted humor added to the mix," said Bernard. "Roberto and I had been looking for a comedy to produce as our first feature for J&R Productions, and when the project came our way, we knew this was the one," he added.
In "Halloweed," Trent Modine and his goof-ball step brother Joey, try to escape the infamy that comes from having a serial killer, The Candy Corn Killer, for a father (Tom Sizemore). Seeking a new start, they find refuge in the small town of Mooseheart. It does not take long before the besmirched family name catches up to them. Joey, a free-spirited stoner, and Trent, a love-sick pessimist, look like the main suspects after a string of murders, similar to a rash of killings 20 years earlier, coincidentally begins just as they arrive in town. It is a race against time because a slash-happy killer clown on the loose and the bodies are piling up!
"Jayson and I formed J&R Productions in Chicago and moved to California to set up shop when we started production on 'Halloweed,' said Rosario, Jr. "We have the best of both worlds now, with access to the immense pool of talent LA has to offer in front of and behind the camera, plus our longstanding relationships with the talented people in Chicago. We are thrilled that Screen Media Films is getting 'Halloweed' out in such a big way."
Screen Media Films' "Halloweed," from J&R Productions, Summer House Pictures and Two 9 Productions was directed by LazRael Lison and written by Dale Zawada based on a story by Michael Bussan. Rosario executive produced, and Bernard produced the film, along with producers Tatiana Chekhova, Jamie Trent, and Lison.
Punny Short Synopsis: Stoner Trent, son of the Candy Corn Killer, and his best bud move to a small town to escape an evil legacy. But soon after they roll up, everything goes to pot as the bodies pile high and they must weed out suspects to smoke out the killer."
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Aliens: Life and Death #1 Preview Pages and Cover Art: From Dark Horse Comics: "Those who die are the lucky ones.
In the aftermath of the battle with the Engineers, the surviving humans on LV-223 are wounded and scattered—and easy prey for a gathering horde of Aliens!
The Colonial Marines get a taste of what it’s like to be at the bottom of the food chain!
Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Moritat
Colorist: Rain Beredo
Cover Artist: David Palumbo
Genre: Horror, Science-Fiction
Publication Date: September 21, 2016
Format: FC, 32 pages; Miniseries
Price: $3.99"