Abertoir Horror Festival Announces Fifth Birthday Schedule

Wales’ National Horror Festival, Abertoir has announced its 2010 line up.

The festival which runs between Wednesday 10 – Sunday 14 November at Aberystwyth Arts Centre will show more than twenty films, including UK premieres, cult screenings and classics from around the world, as well as a whole host of special guests, talks, masterclasses, live music and theatre events. Enthusiastic fans will flock to the seaside town for a programme that is guaranteed to be scary, creepy and quirky!

Festival Director Gareth Bailey is excited to welcome Abertoir festival-goers this November:
“As Abertoir turns five years old, the team has worked tirelessly to put together a fantastic line up of films from around the world – from genre-defining classics, to the latest offerings in horror, we’re looking forward to meeting new festival-goers and welcoming old friends.”

Legendary band The Damned will provide music on the Friday evening, supported by Abertoir favourites Zombina and the Skeletones. On the Saturday evening, Robert Lloyd Parry presents his acclaimed one-man show with a creepy candle lit telling of two ghost stories by M R James in A Warning to the Curious. The ever-popular Mystery Grindhouse screening returns for another year this time with a hilariously sarcastic commentary provided by Nicko and Joe’s Bad Film Club. As always the festival will feature a classic silent horror film, this year The Cat and the Canary, with live piano accompaniment by Paul Shallcross playing a score especially commissioned by Abertoir. Wicker Man director Robin Hardy (who helped to launch the festival five years ago) also returns to discuss and show scenes from his brand new film The Wicker Tree. Director Nicholas David Lean presents an exclusive horror film making masterclass, while while occult expert Gavin Baddeley will be giving a tongue-in-cheek talk on vampire hunting.

Big screen highlights include the world premiere of British psychological horror Siren, as well as UK premieres of Exorcismus, Fired and Wake. Classics include Hammer Horror’s Countess Dracula and William Castle’s The House on Haunted Hill while the rest of the lineup features a terrific selection of brand new films from across the globe. All of which, except for the classics, will be the first time screened in Wales.

Abertoir’s short film competition celebrates its third year, and this year offers entrants the exciting prospect of having their films considered alongside winning short films exhibited at film festivals across Europe. Now a member of theEuropean Fantastic Film Festivals Federation, Abertoir is delighted to be awarding the winning short film a nomination for the Méliès d’Or decided each year at the Sitges International Fantastic Film Festival.

Festival passes are just £47.50 and get festival-goers free entry to all films and special events. Individual tickets for screenings and events are also on sale. To book, telephone the Box Office on 01970 62 32 32 or visit www.abertoir.co.uk.