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The Festival of Fantastic Films 2005
The 16th Annual Convention of the Society of Fantastic Films
was held at the

Day's Hotel, Sackville St., Manchester
(formerly the Manchester Business Center, site of the 2004
Festival, now the Manchester Conference Centre )


2nd - 4th September, 2005

Festival Events

1) Friday Highlights

Interviews:-
Robin Askwith

Films:-
The Eye 2 (Thanks to Tartan Films)
Children of the Stones (Thanks to ITV West)
Horror Hospital
Plus others

2) Saturday highlights

Interviews:-
Tony Tenser
Peter Graham Scott (Prisoner series)
Warwick Davis
Ruggero Deodato

Films:-
The Collingswood Story
Cut And Run (Ruggero Deodato)
Death Run
Skinned Deep (Warwick Davis) (Thanks to Fangoria)
Malevolence
Attack of the Puppet People
Tower of Evil

Fantastic Film Festival Film Fair including autograph signings by the guests.

Ramsey Campbell's Famous Auction

Discussions by:-
Tony Tenser on Tigon & his new book " Beast in the Cellar "
&
Tony Earnshaw on " Night of the Demon "


3) Sunday Highlights

Interviews:-
Susan Gordon
Christopher Neame

Films:-
Ultraman - The Next
Rasputin The Mad Monk (Thanks to Canal Plus)
The Eye - Infinity (Thanks to Tartan Films)
Terror in the Tropics (Thanks to Midnight Marquee)
Frankenstein Vs The Creature From Blood Cove
Legion of the Dead
Jolly Roger's Revenge at Cutters Cove

Film Competition Finalists
(alphabetical order)

The finalists will be shown during the Festival, and the winners will be announced.

Shorts :-

" Der Beste "
" Don't Look In The Attic "
" Las Viandas "

Features :-

" A Year In The Death Of Jack Richards "
" Experiment "
" The Naked Monster "

 

Thanks to Calum Waddell for his huge assistance and involvement in the completion of the programme.

Thanks to Steve Green, Michael J Simpson, Wayne Kinsey & Bill Burns for their assistance and involvement in the completion of the programme.

 

IN MEMORIAM

The committee and fans at the Festival of Fantastic Films were so sorry to hear of the passing away of our great friend Mel Welles recently.

 Mel, who was 81, visited us in Manchester a couple of years ago and was such a delightful guest we were asked to re-invite him, which we had planned to do next year.
 
With such a depth of work Mel will be forever remembered and quite rightly so.  He was a terrific man and a wonderful guest, and will be sadly missed

Meeting Notice

The Society of Fantastic Films, organizer of the Festival, also has regular meetings in Manchester city centre. Held at the Unicorn Hotel, High Street, on the last Friday of each month, the meetings feature movie showings and lively discussions in a convivial atmosphere.
For more information, email
[email protected].

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 sixteenth 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!

Special Guest Star

Ruggero Deodato
(Director / Actor / Assistant Director)
Cannibal Holocaust, The House on the Edge of the Park,
Phantom of Death, Straight To Hell, Body Count

Guests of Honour for 2005

Warwick Davis
(Actor)
Willow,  Leprechaun (several), Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy,
Harry Potter Series, Star Wars
(several)

Robin Askwith
(Actor)
If, Horror Hospital, Tower of Evil, The Flesh and Blood Show,
The Asylum, Cool it Carol, Confessions of a: Window Cleaner,
Pop Performer, Driving Instructor,
& Holiday Camp

Richard Gordon
(Producer)
Corridors of Blood, Devil Doll, Inseminoid, Horror Hospital,
Tower of Evil, Island of Terror, Fiend Without A Face

Susan Gordon
Daughter of Bert I Gordon
(Actress)
Picture Mommy Dead, Tormented,
The Five Pennies (With Danny Kaye),
Attack of the Puppet People

Christopher Neame
(Producer / Writer / Production Manager)
Frankenstein & The Monster From Hell,
Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed,
Fear in the Night, Blood From The Mummy's Tomb,
Demons Of The Mind, Zeta One (TV)

Peter Graham Scott
(Producer / Director / Writer)
The Prisoner (TV), Children Of The Stones (TV), Tales Of Mystery (TV),
Captain Clegg , Brighton Rock , The Headless Ghost.

Tony Tenser
(Producer)
Witchfinder General,  Curse of the Crimson Altar,
Blood Beast Terror,  Creeping Flesh,  Doomwatch,
  Blood on Satan's Skin, Repulsion, The Sorcerers.  

Guest Notes

John Forbes Robertson has confirmed that he will be
unable to attend due to other commitments.

Brian Johnson has advised us that due to recent
work commitments he regretfully will NOT
now be able to attend the Festival.

Elsewhere, the actor Christopher Neame was listed as a guest
for this year's Festival. As noted above, the Festival's guest this year
is Christopher Neame the producer.

Also Kenny Baker (R2D2) and Peter Wyngarde will not
be able to attend the Festival this year because of commitments
associated with the release of Star Wars Episode III.

Special Events

Festival Opening Ceremony. An introduction to the Festival and its guests.

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

Tony Tenser will speak about his new book "Beasts in the Cellar" and the Tigon DVD collection, and will sign copies.

 Tony Earnshaw will talk about his new book about the film "Night / Curse of the Demon" and sign copies.

2005 Delta Film Award Announced

The winner of the 2005 Delta Film Award for best amateur entry screened at the Festival of Fantastic Films in Manchester was the fantasy The Kingdom of Shadows, directed by British film-maker Ross Shepherd.

Also commended were: Feathers (dir. Sam Rogers, UK), Alexander (dir. Rafa Dengra, Spain), Inside (dir. Brian Philip Davis, UK).

The judges this year were publisher David Kerekes, film director Norman J Warren, author Mike Simpson and award administrator Steve Green.

The Delta is named for the 1960s film-making group whose other fan activities included organising the 1972 Eastercon. Two of its founder members, Harry Nadler and Tony Edwards, later helped set up the Society of Fantastic Films and its annual festival, now in its sixteenth year.

Delta Film Award 2005: Shortlist

The final shortlist has been announced for this year’s Delta Film Award, to be judged and announced on Saturday 3 September, during the sixteenth annual Festival of Fantastic Films.

Incoming award administrator and freelance journalist Steve Green will be joined in the final adjudication by Harvey Fenton, editor of the acclaimed film magazine Flesh and Blood and director of genre publisher FAB Press, freelance journalist Mike Simpson, author of the Douglas Adams biography Hitchhiker, and Norman J Warren, director of Inseminoid and Satan's Slave.

The shortlisted films will be shown in two sections, the first from 11am and the second 12:30pm, with a short break between.

The first section comprises:

Massa Confusa [US, 6”, DVD; dir. Eric Bossick]
A Feast of Friends [ UK , 17”, DVD; dir. John K Webster]
Rise of the Vampire [ UK , 14”, DVD; dir. Steve Darnley]
Alexander [ Spain , 11”, DVD; dir. Rafa Dengrá]
The Kingdom of Shadows [ UK , 18”, DVD; dir. Ross Shepherd]
Can’t Go Back [ UK , 7”, DVD; dir. Chris McAleese]

The second section comprises:

Immortal Coil [ UK , 8”, DVD; dir. Andrew Purtell]
The Chair [ UK , 14”, DVD; dir. Jim Walker]
Feathers [ UK , 12”, DVD, dir. Sam Rogers]
Una Notte Passando Di Ci [ Italy , 5 ”, video; dir. Francesco Velona]
Inside [ UK , 6”, video; dir. Brian Philip Davis]
Bloodline [ UK , 20”, video; dir. Daniel Austin]

News Release - 14 August 2005

Independent Film Competition: Shortlist Announced

The following films have been selected to be in competition for this years independent competition.

The top three movies selected will be shown at the Festival - see notice above.

Independent shorts :-

 Las Viandas - (Spain, 20 mins, Jose-Antonio Bonet)
About Last Night - (UK, 20 mins,  Brett Harvey)
Infinite - (Austria,17mins, Matthias Bauer)
Civic Duty - (USA, 6 Mins, Pil Pilegaard)
Sick And Twisted - (Italy, 23 mins, Consuelo Giorgi)
Der Beste - (Germany, 15 mins, Arne Jysch & Rasmus Borowski)
Don't Look In The Attic - (UK, 30 Mins,  Andrew Harrison)
Retruc - (Spain, 23 mins, Francesc Talavera)
The Rope - (UK, 9 mins,  Philippe Andre)
 
Independent Features
 
Hello Earthlings - (USA, 86 mins, Patrick Ford & Elizabeth Withstandley)
Center For Salvation - (USA, 83 mins, Kevin Slowick)
Swimmer - (UK, 66 mins,  Ash Mahmood)
Cold Harbour - (UK, 104 mins, Martin Child)
After The Apocalypse - (USA, 71 mins, Yasuaki Nakajima )
The Naked Monster - (USA, 100 mins, Ted Newsome)
Bio - Lizard - (UK,  mins, Mark Wong)
A Year in the Death of Jack Richards - (Canada, 85 mins, Benjamin Paquette)
The Box - (UK,  78 mins, Jason Wilcox)
Experiment - (UK/Czech, 95 mins Daniel turner)

IN MEMORIAM

It is with deep regret that we announce the death of festival favourite Gerald Price.  Our thoughts are with his family.

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

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 £70 (UK pounds), or $140 (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!

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

 

Comments or suggestions?
Please post to the Festival Guestbook

Add comment to the Festival Guestbook

View the Festival Guestbook

Movie Competition Winners for 2004

INDEPENDENT FILM COMPETITION RESULTS
Feature Films Title and Director
Best Feature Film - UK LONDON VOODOO - Robert Pratten
Best Feature Film - Foreign TEMPUS FUGIT (Spain) - Enric Folch
Highly Commended FREAK OUT (UK) - Christian James
Highly Commended LOVESICK (UK/Germany) - Wolfgang Buld
Highly Commended CRASH TEST (Australia) - Sam Voutas
Short Films Title and Director
Best Short Film - UK HALF LIFE - Luke Jacobs
Best Short Film - Foreign
Three-way tie
U43 (Germany) - Anna Kuczynski & Wolf Mocikat
THE VISAGE (USA) - Kirk Henderson
E.D.E.N. (Italy) - Fabio Guaglione & Fabio Resinaro
Highly Commended BITCH (UK) Cristina Read
Highly Commended A CAN OF PAINT (USA) - Robi Michael
Highly Commended THE AFFIDAVIT (USA) - Pil Pilegaard
Highly Commended THE SHOE COLLECTOR (UK) - Justin Smith
Highly Commended CASH FLOW (Canada) - Shaun Andrews
Highly Commended TIME & SPACE (UK) - Michael Barnes
Highly Commended THE SELLER (UK) - Matthew Humphreys
Highly Commended THE MEASURE OF MY DAYS - Caradog James
Highly Commended THE CRYPT CLUB (Canada) - Miguel Gallego
Highly Commended IF I COULD ONLY..... (UK) - Marc Wyn Jones
Highly Commended THE HAIRY FAIRY (UK) - Armando Garci
Highly Commended CONCEPTUAL (UK) - Owen Tooth
Highly Commended MONSTER OF 11.05 (UK) - Mark Loughman
Highly Commended TV CONSPIRACY (Italy) - Consuela Giorgi
Highly Commended NATURAL CURES FOR COMMON AILMENTS (UK) - Zoe & Christabel Gingell
Highly Commended DETAINED (Eire) - Jason Tammemagi
Highly Commended RUBBER (Canada) - David Dupont
Highly Commended Y (UK) - Frances Poltera
Commended

POPE LEO ELECTROCUTES AN ELEPHANT (USA) - John Hansen

AMATEUR FILM COMPETITION
Best Amateur Film THE CURSE (UK) - Brett Harvey

Highly Commended DARK VISIONS (UK) - Jackson Sharp
Highly Commended TOO MUCH TIME (Australia) - Damien Kelly
 

We would like to thank all those who entered their work into the various competitions.

If you didn't win, better luck next time; if you did win, we look forward to your entry in 2005.

Independent & Amateur Films

Call for Entries - now closed

Click here for the Independent Film Competition entry form

Note: Although response has been good so far, the Festival needs
more entries for the Independent Film Competition, so the deadline
for submissions has been extended until 15th July 2005.
See the entry form for more details.

Click here for the Amateur Film Competition entry form

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.

Website Special Features

Archives and Reviews of Past Festivals
from 1997 to 2004

Eurocon Award to Concatenation

2004 Festival Photo Album

2003 Festival Photo Album

Harry Nadler Photo Album,
assembled by Tony Edwards

Your help is requested

Email contact information

We would like to have current and prior Festival attendees' email addresses on file so that we can send you news and announcements about the Festival.

Please email Gil ([email protected]) and let us know your preferred email address.

Suggestions for future Guests

We are also looking for suggestions for guests for upcoming Festivals. If there is someone you feel would make a good guest, and you are in personal touch with them, please email Gil and give him their contact information.

 

Festival Guest and Contributor Websites

Harry Nadler Memorial Website

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

John Harden
(writer/director, "Breakfast With The Colonel")

Harry Hamill's artwork for the 1998 Festival

Gil Lane-Young's Festival Page

Festival Information on the Concatenation Website

 

Other Sites of Interest

Matinee Today - Lots of 3D Posters!

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

Concatenation Convention Reviews

3D Movies in North Carolina

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

Science Fiction Conventions Webring

This Science Fiction Conventions Webring site is administered by Bill Burns.

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Last updated: 1 December, 2005
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