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(Graphic designed by Steve Kirkham)

The Festival of Fantastic Films 2002
The 13th Annual Convention of the Society of Fantastic Films

The UK's Celebration of a Century of Amazing Cinema

was held August 30th to September 1st, 2002

at the Renaissance Hotel, Deansgate, Manchester, England

New: Photos of the 2002 Festival

Click here for Membership Information for 2002

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Photographs from the 2001 Festival

Progress Report One for the 2002 Festival

Progress Report Two for the 2002 Festival

Progress Report Three for the 2002 Festival

 

Introduction to the Festival

If you are a new visitor to The Festival of Fantastic Films web pages we invite you to climb aboard the greatest weekend a science fiction, fantasy or horror movie fan could ever find on the planet.

Based in MANCHESTER, ENGLAND (just two-and-a-half hours from LONDON by rail-link) we have THREE programme streams containing a terrific range of movie-related events that include Guest Interviews, Discussions, Panels, Special Events, Presentations, Auctions, Artshow and Poster Exhibition, Dealer Room, Themed Dinner, Parties and of course an AMAZING number of movies..... the old and the new run alongside each other throughout the festival.

Please scroll down our pages to get a taste of  this 3-Day UK Movie Convention (now in its thirteenth year) - and hop off on the various links should you want even more in-depth info! But DO COME BACK... we'll be updating frequently throughout the upcoming year!

 

Guests of Honour

John Scott

Composer on a large and varied number of movies including the following
genre titles:-

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1997/I) (mini) TV Series
Witchcraft (1992) (TV)
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984)
Yor, the Hunter from the Future (1982)
Horror Planet (1981)
Final Countdown, The (1980)
People That Time Forgot, The (1977)
Satan's Slave (1976)
Craze (1973)
Doomwatch (1972)
Trog (1970)
Berserk! (1968) (as Patrick John Scott)
Million Eyes of Sumuru, The (1967)
Rocket to the Moon (1967) (as Patrick John Scott)
Study in Terror, A (1965)


Mel Welles

Director, Writer, Actor, Stuntman, Special Effects…etc etc. Mel has
undertaken all manner of crafts in his long career in movies which include:-

As Actor – partial filmography
Wizards of the Lost Kingdom II (1988) .... Caedmon
Invasion Earth: The Aliens Are Here (1987) .... Mr. Davar
Chopping Mall (1986) .... Cook
Wolfen (1981) (voice) .... ESS Voice
Dr. Heckyl and Mr. Hype (1980) .... Dr. Hinkle
Sorella di Satana, La (1966)
... aka Revenge of the Blood Beast (1966)
Little Shop of Horrors, The (1960) .... Gravis Mushnik
High School Confidential! (1958)
Undead, The (1957) .... Smolkin, the gravedigger
27th Day, The (1957) .... Russian Marshal
Hold That Hypnotist (1957) .... Blackbeard
Attack of the Crab Monsters (1957) .... Jules Deveroux
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy (1955) .... Iben

As Director – partial filmography
Figlia di Frankenstein, La (1971)
... aka Lady Frankenstein (1974)
Isla de la muerte, La (1967)
... aka Man Eater of Hydra (1968)

Check these out in full on the Internet Movie Database at www.imdb.com

 

Frederick Smith

Some time ago our good friend Richard Gordon suggested that we invite
Frederick to the Festival and take the opportunity to run the 1963 movie
"Devil Doll" which both were involved in.
Frederick wrote the war novel on which the movie
"633 Squadron" was based (great musical theme also).

 

Udo Kier

We have asked Udo to attend this year's Festival. He has said he
would be delighted, but cannot at the moment give us a definite
commitment as he has much work in the pipeline. He has said
he will contact us nearer the date. Here's hoping.
Udo has had a fantastic career in the genre. He has appeared in
'Mark of the Devil', 'Flesh for Frankenstein', 'Blood for Dracula',
'Suspiria' and of course 'Blade'. More details in our next PR.

 

 

Independent Films

In addition to the retrospective film programme that is the backbone of the event, the Festival of Fantastic Films has, within the past few years, become the premiere UK venue for new genre movies. We are pleased to showcase an amazing selection of Independently produced feature length and short films from all over the world. Films that you are unlikely to see anywhere else are screened alongside the new movies from major studios right through the weekend. Each year sees an increase in the number of young and highly creative film-makers, submitting their work into our International Competition and giving members of the Festival a unique opportunity to see a great range of movies. The Festival programme also screens new films outside the competition itself and although it is difficult to announce specific titles in advance, we expect to surprise members of the event with major premieres!

The Festival is also the place to meet with many of the creative people from behind and in front of the cameras. In 1998 we had director Jake West and actress Eileen Daly along with their new film RAZORBLADE SMILE. American director Tyler Tharpe came over from the USA to screen and discuss his horror film THE LAST ROADSTOP and from the UK, Jon Sorensen premiered his science fiction feature ALIEN BLOOD.  In 1999 delightful American director Joei Gharrity came from Los Angeles to screen her short film THE GRAIL and was sucked into the fannish activities and friendliness of the event

Most of the Independent movies screened at the Festival have a substantial budget behind them, whereas other equally creative genre movies are made each year by talented amateurs working on a shoestring. These films are enormously entertaining and often just as thought provoking as their Indie relatives.  The Amateur Contest entries are pre-judged by The Festival Committee with the top rated films going forward to the Festival for the final round. 1998 saw the Award going out of the UK for the first time ever, being won by Florida USA film-maker Shane Hannafey with his science fiction story THE GIFT.

The International Movie Competitions have become a very important section of the Festival of Fantastic Films.

Movie Competition Winners for 2001

We are delighted to detail the results of the 2001 Festival of Fantastic Films'
Independent Film Competition.

Features

Best Independent Feature Film: Don Dohler - Alien Rampage

Runner Up: Christophe Ali & Nicolas Bonilauri - Le Rat

Highly Commended: Andrew Spencer - Dark Eyes


Shorts

Joint Winners:
Andrew Harrison - Encounter at Black Ridge
Alfonso S Suarez - The Tell Tale Heart

Runner Up: Jason Wilcox - Playing Truant

Highly Commended:
Mark Holmes - Harry's Joint
Gili Dolev - Meine Heimatstadt
John Carr - Creepy Crawly
Gary Andrews - Avenging Angel

The judging committee would like it known that they felt that the films were of such high quality that only a few points distinguished the difference between first & those Highly Commended.

The following films were also considered very enjoyable by the judges and were in the committee's opinion worthy of a distinguished mention.

Jim Torres - Sadomannequin
Paula Pollacchi - En Mi Tumba
Philipp Koenig - My Legendary Girlfriend
Chris Hulme - Living Space
Christopher Finn - The Rebel
Ted Mills - Nowhereland
Graham Howie - Upstairs
Duncan MacPherson - Music in my Head
Jamie MacIntyre - Apron Strings
Duncan Rennie - My Girlfriend is a Wizard
Ingrid Odegaard - Solitaire
Lorn Pearson - The Truth is what you make it
Mark Holmes - The Tokugawa Era
Matt Rochester - Control
Octavius Murray - Over The Rainbow

The 2001 FESTIVAL Amateur Film Competition was won by Bryn Jones of Canada for his brilliant 16mm ghost story JESABELLE.

Runner up was Ben Campbell for TIME

Highly Commended: Tamara Maloney for EDEN, Jonathan Ameli for 893 PIKE STREET and David Teale for THE SANDMAN.

The Festival would like to thank all directors and producers who entered films this year. We had a very enjoyable time viewing them - and often a downright scary one!

 

Click here for the Independent Film Competition
rules and entry form

Click here for the Amateur Film Competition entry form

 

Featured Events

Big retrospective Science Fiction and Fantasy
movie programme on 16mm and 35mm.  Films to be announced.

3-D!

CinemaScope!

Discussions, Panels

Film Fair, Auctions

Low-price Convention Bar!

Guest of Honour Signing Sessions

Amateur and Independent Short Film Contests


Film Programme

To be announced

Special Events

FESTIVAL OPENING CEREMONY
A humorous introduction to the Festival with Horror novelist
STEPHEN LAWS and writer, director STEPHEN GALLAGHER,
both of whom will be conducting Guest interviews throughout the weekend.


plus many other Q&A sessions with directors and producers of a number of
the films we shall be screening throughout the weekend.

The Auction

RAMSEY CAMPBELL puts a multitude of movie related items
under his infamous gavel... and we'll guarantee he'll keep you amused and
penniless!

 

Membership Information

Full Attending Membership is £65 (UK pounds), or $100 (US dollars) which entitles you to Progress Reports, Programme Booklet, Badge, and Attendance to all of the events over the three days of the convention. A single day membership is available for £30 (UK pounds).

Children: Attending Membership £20 up to 12 years of age and £30 up to 16 years of age.

Supporting Membership £30, entitles you to three Progress Reports, Programme Booklet, Badge, and Attendance to any of the events on any SINGLE day of the convention. (Supporting membership can be upgraded to FULL by paying the balance at any time up to the week before the Festival).

Register now by printing the form (click below) and mailing to the Festival address!  For your convenience, Visa and MasterCard bookings can be accepted by phone: call [Country code 44] (0)161 707-3747 (call any time but please check the time difference if calling from outside the UK).

Click here for a membership form you can print and mail.

Festival e-mail may be sent to Gil Lane-Young: [email protected]

The Society of Fantastic Films is a member of the British Federation of Film Societies

 

In Memoriam

Harry Nadler

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The Festival Committee very much regrets having to announce the death of Harry Nadler, suddenly, on March 1st 2002.

Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife Marie, and children Lindsay and Steven.

Harry's  funeral was held at 3 pm on Wednesday, 13th March, at Agecroft Crematorium, Salford.

John Hayes reports: "A huge number of people came - not enough seats in the chapel for everyone. Janina came up as did Stephen Gallagher, and Tony Earnshaw came from Pictureville in Bradford, so he had a terrific send off.
"A man with many friends indeed was Harry."

See tributes to Harry on his Movies & Memorabilia website

Archives and Reviews

Festival of Fantastic Films 2001 Archive Website

Festival of Fantastic Films 2000 Archive Website

Festival of Fantastic Films 1999 Archive Website

Highlights of Past Festivals

Jonathan Cowie's 2000 Festival Report

Adele Hartley's 2000 Festival Report

Darrell Buxton's 1999 Festival Report

 

Festival Guest and Contributor Websites

Widescreen Movies Magazine
a new web and print magazine by John Hayes

Janina Faye - The Official Website

Ramsey Campbell - The Official Website

Stephen Laws - The Midnight Man

Festival Artist Harry Hamill's Another World Productions Site
(and click here to see Harry's artwork for the 1998 Festival)

Steve Ellison's Movie Store

Gil Lane-Young's Festival Page

 

Other Sites of Interest

Matinee Today - Lots of 3D Posters!

"The Tingler" - the Horror Films of William Castle

3DTV - LCD Glasses, 3D Movies, & More!

Concatenation Convention Reviews

Stuart Mitchell's Ghoul Britannia Site

3D Movies in North Carolina

The Hammer Films Society

HammerWeb - Hammer Films Official Site

Film & TV Connection:
an entertainment industry school with 5,000 students worldwide
who train on-site at major film studios, video production companies,
radio and TV stations, recording studios and record labels.

 

Virtual Manchester
Virtual Manchester

everything you need to know
about the Festival's home city

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Site created 4 June 1997 by Bill Burns [FTL Design : Long Island : NY : USA].  Last updated 1 October 2002
All pages copyright © 2002 by the Society of Fantastic Films.