With all of the festival announcements in the last couple days how do you choose between them all? And with each announcement upping the ante Beyond Fest has thrown down the gauntlet with today's unveiling of the festival lineup, events and the guest list. Beyond Fest has thrown it down, hard.
What events would I sell my children for a ticket? How about a 30th anniversary screening of Big Trouble in Little China with Kurt Russell in attendance and moderated by James Gunn? How about another opportunity our west to see RZA and his re-scoring of 32nd Chamber of Shaolin? How about Paul Schrader and the 40th anniversary screening of Taxi Driver? How about the screening of Beyond: The Composer's Cut with the composor Fabio Frizzi re-scoring the pic like with a seven piece orchestra? George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, in 3-D?
Children sold.
There is so much information to make your way through below. And if affording a pass just isn't in the books this year take a look at all the free screenings in the Shudder Theatre too.
Los Angeles, CA - Thursday, September 8, 2016 - Beyond Fest, the highest attended genre film festival in the US, is excited to announce its full slate of 2016 programming featuring 27 events and 23 West Coast premieres of mind-bending movie madness. Presented by Shudder, Beyond Fest returns to Hollywood’s famed Egyptian Theatre for 12 days of movies, music and mayhem spanning Friday, September 30th - Tuesday, October 11th 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 open with movie icon Paul Schrader presenting his new feature DOG EAT DOG and a special 40th anniversary screening of TAXI DRIVER. Other hotly-anticipated titles making their West Coast bows include the hyper-explosive coming-of-age cannibal drama RAW, Ana Lily Amipour’s much-anticipated follow up to her alt-cult debut, A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE, the stunning, sonic desert trip THE BAD BATCH, the terrifying adaptation of M.R Carey’s post-apocalyptic horror THE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTS, and the Mo Brothers’ outrageously hyper-violent action epic, HEADSHOT.“We really wanted to focus on blending the iconic with the emerging this year” said Beyond Fest Co-Founder, Christian Parkes. “To champion brilliantly provocative films like Julia Ducourna’s RAW and Ana Lily Amipour’s THE BAD BATCH whilst celebrating established heroes like Paul Schrader and Kurt Russell is a primary reason for Beyond Fest’s existence.”The most beloved genre films are highlighted with four event screenings over the course of this year’s festival. The legend himself Kurt Russell takes center stage with James Gunn moderating for a very special 30th anniversary screening of BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA projected on glorious 35mm. The “ultimate trip” receives the ultimate treatment as Stanley Kubrick’s existential epic 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY screens in 70mm with a 2001-scored Laserium cosmic laser concert and Q&A featuring the film’s two astronaut leads, Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood. The Tall Man returns with J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot meticulous restoration of Don Coscarelli’s cult classic PHANTASM: REMASTERED. Coscarelli will be joined with members of the original cast before the West Coast premiere of the series’ final entry PHANTASM RAVAGER. In keeping with the restoration theme, producer Richard P. Rubenstein will be on hand to present the U.S. Premiere of DAWN OF THE DEAD 3-D. Romero’s cult nightmare has never looked better and will be the first laser 3-D feature projected at the famed Egyptian Theatre.Once again, music features prominently with two seismic re scores taking center stage. Furiously blurring the lines between music, film and art, Beyond Fest welcomes a new disciple and an old friend with two seismic re scores. Director, producer, actor, Wu Tang Clan founder and the all-together mythic RZA enters the fray with a roundhouse kick for his epic takedown of a martial arts masterpiece. 18 months in the making, RZA: LIVE FROM THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLIN is a mammoth live re scoring of Lau Kar-leung’s Shaw Brothers classic featuring over 40+ tracks culled from RZA’s monumental catalog. Instrumental tracks, beats, samples and vocal tracks amplify the narrative and Gordon Liu’s revelatory performance.Returning to Los Angeles is legendary composer Fabio Frizzi and his seven-piece orchestra to perform THE BEYOND: COMPOSER’S CUT. This bold, new take on Lucio Fulci’s gothic masterpiece features a live re score featuring a completely new composition and will play with all original dialog intact. THE BEYOND: COMPOSER’S CUT will be accompanied by an uncut 35mm screening of GATES OF HELL and a very special secret screening with surprise guests.Celebrating LA filmmaking remains a priority for Beyond Fest with Ti West receiving this year’s ‘LA Spotlight’ for his transformative western, IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE. Beyond Fest alumni West will be joined by cast members Karen Gillan, Taissa Farmiga, Toby Huss, James Ransone, and the film’s four-legged star, Jumpy. LA also represents en masse with a midnight blast of animated anarchy as Chris Prynoski’s NERDLAND also gets its LA premiere. The first feature from Prynoski’s Titmouse Animation Studios is a wild descent into LA’s soul-destroying entertainment industry and will feature director Prynoski, writer Andrew Kevin Walker, actor Patton Oswalt, plus others in attendance.Beyond Fest welcomes the return of genre streaming platform Shudder as its Presenting Sponsor, a partnership that provides 13 screenings (9 West Coast premieres) absolutely free to film fans. Every night, the 90-seat ‘Shudder Theatre’ will feature a brand new film selected from across the world includingEmile Hirsch’s super creepy THE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE, Japanese scare-fest SADAKO VS KAYAKO, Morgan Spurlock’s stomach-churning doc RATS, the revelatory Kubrick doc S IS FOR STANLEY, the hands down craziest film of the year THE DWARVES MUST BE CRAZY and two Cinematic Void double bills featuring a premiere screening of Arrow’s 4K restoration of Romero’s THE CRAZIES paired with MARTIN on 16mm and an American Genre Film Archive fundraiser featuring a 35mm monster mash up of NEON MANIACS and STREET TRASH.If that wasn’t enough, virtual reality engulfs Beyond Fest for the first time with Dark Corner Studios showcasing three of their most terrifying experiences. Led by wunder-director Guy Shelmerdine, guests will be able to watch his breakout VR horror smash CATATONIC, in addition to his new film MULE and Justin Denton’s BURLAP. The Egyptian Theatre will be housing Dark Corner in the hidden reaches of its 90 year old architecture.See below for the full lineup of newly announced film titles for Beyond Fest 2015.BEYOND FEST 2016 PROGRAMEGYPTIAN THEATRE2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY on 70mmUnited States, 196870mm, 161 minDirector - Stanley Kubrickwi. actors Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood in person and Laserium laser concert before screeningTHE BAD BATCHCo-presented with Vice & EtheriaUnited States, 2016West Coast Premiere, 115 minDirector - Ana Lily Amapourwi. director / writer Ana Lily Amipour in personTHE BEYOND: COMPOSER’S CUT (wi. CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD)Italy, 1981West Coast Premiere, 89 minDirector - Lucio Fulciwi. live re score by Fabio Frizzi + seven piece orchestra and special secret screening before performanceBIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA - 30th Anniversary Screening on 35mmUnited States, 198635mm, 99 minDirector - John Carpenterwi. actor Kurt Russell, moderated by James Gunn in personCALL OF HEROES (wi. HEADSHOT)Hong Kong / China, 2016West Coast Premiere, 120 minDirector - Benny ChanCITY OF THE LIVING DEAD (wi. THE BEYOND: COMPOSER’S CUT)United States, 198335mm, 93 minDirector - Lucio FulciDOG EAT DOG (wi. TAXI DRIVER)United States, 2016West Coast Premiere, 93 minDirector - Paul Schraderwi. Paul Schrader in personTHE GIRL WITH ALL THE GIFTSUnited States / United Kingdom, 2016West Coast Premiere, 111 minDirector - Colm McCarthyGEORGE A. ROMERO’S DAWN OF THE DEAD 3-DUnited States / South Korea, 1978 / 2016West Coast Premiere, 127 min, Unrated, U.S. Theatrical CutDirector - George A. Romerowi. producer Richard P. Rubenstein in personHEADSHOT (wi. CALL OF HEROES)Indonesia, 2016West Coast Premiere, 117 minDirectors - The Mo Brothers: Kimo Stamboel and Timo TjahjantoHOLY MOUNTAIN on 35mmMexico / United States, 197335mm, 115 minDirector - Alexandro JodorowskyIN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCEUnited States, 2016West Coast Premiere, 104 minDirector - Ti Westwi. director Ti West and actors Karen Gillan, Taissa Farmiga, Toby Huss, and James Ransone in personNERDLANDUnited States, 2016West Coast Premiere, 85 minDirector - Chris Prynoskiwi. Director Chris Prynoski, writer Andrew Kevin Walker, actor Patton and cast in personPHANTASM: REMASTERED (wi. PHANTASM RAVAGER)4K RestorationUnited States, 1979 / 2016LA Premiere, 96 minDirector - Don Coscarelliwi. director Don Coscarelli and cast in personPHANTASM RAVAGER (wi. PHANTASM: REMASTERED)United States, 2016West Coast Premiere, 87 minDirector - David Hartmanwi. director David Hartman and producer Don Coscarelli in personRAWCo-presented with EtheriaFrance, 2016West Coast Premiere, 95 minDirector - Julia DucournauRZA: LIVE FROM THE 36th CHAMBER OF SHAOLINHong Kong / United States, 1979 / 2016West Coast Premiere, 119 minDirector - Lau Ker-leungfeatures live re score by RZATAXI DRIVER 40th Anniversary Screening (wi. DOG EAT DOG)United States, 1976114 minDirector - Martin Scorsesewi. Paul Schrader in personTHE WOLF MANUnited States, 194171 minDirector - George Waggnerwi. Ron Chaney in personSHUDDER THEATRETHE AUTOPSY OF JANE DOE (Free Screening)United Kingdom, 2016West Coast PremiereDirector - André ØvredalBEYOND THE WALLS (Free Screening)France 2016West Coast PremiereDirector - Hervé HadmarTHE CRAZIES - 4K Restoration (Free Screening)United States 1973US PremiereDirector - George RomeroDOWN UNDER (Free Screening)Australia 2016West Coast PremiereDirector - Abraham Forysthewi. director Abraham Forsythe in personTHE DWARVES MUST BE CRAZY (Free Screening)Thailand 2016West Coast PremiereDirector - Bhin BanloeritMARTIN (Free Screening)16mm, United States 1977Director - George RomeroMONSTER (Free Screening)United States 2016West Coast PremiereDirector - Bryan BertinoNEON MANIACS (Free screening)35mm, United States 1986Director - Joseph MangineRATS (Free screening)United States 2016West Coast PremiereDirector - Morgan SpurlockS IS FOR STANLEY (Free Screening)Italy 2016West Coast PremiereDirector - Alex Infascelliwi. director Alex Infascelli in personSADAKO VS KAYAKO (Free Screening)Japan 2016West Coast PremiereDirector - Kôji ShiraishiSTREET TRASH (free screening)35mm, United States 1985Director - J. Michael MuroTHE VOID (Free Screening)Canada 2016West Coast PremiereDirectors - Jeremy Gillespie and Steven Kostanski