Horror Channel FrightFest 2016 will be hosting a six-pack of special master classes, demonstrations and panel discussions providing an exciting and comprehensive snapshot of what’s happening in the horror & fantasy genre today. Hosted by media partner Screen International, there will be a panel discussion on the future of the UK Horror Film Industry, followed by the announcement of the winner of the inaugural ‘Screen International Horror rising star award’ celebrating the work of an emerging genre talent. The nominees are: Alice Lowe, Paul Hyett, The Ford Brothers, Kate Shenton and Shaun Robert Smith, who will all be in attendance.

Plus, there is a ‘Horror Writing Master Class’ with the engaging writer/director James Moran, a ‘Women In Horror’ symposium hosted by Digital Spy’s Rosie Fletcher, an exclusive demonstration, by Special effects maestro Dan Martin and to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF, filmmaker and author Paul Davis, will discuss his new book, a lavish adaptation of his John Landis approved documentary BEWARE THE MOON.

And more movies! For genre scholars who wish to compare it to our world premiere of director Marcel Walz’s remake, we are screening the original H.G. Lewis’ BLOOD FEAST. If you’ve never seen the gore classic on the big screen, now’s the time to do so in a 4K restoration from Arrow.  Also added are two extra major attractions: The FrightFest audience will be the first in the UK to see THE COLLECTOR director Marcus Dunstan’s latest nightmare THE NEIGHBOUR. Starring Josh Stewart (THE COLLECTION) and Alex Essoe (STARRY EYES) this peek into what your next-door neighbour is actually up to in his basement will chill and thrill you to the core. Then there’s the European Premiere of Gregg (DANCE OF THE DEAD) Bishop’s SiREN. Adapted from the ‘Amateur Night’ segment contained in the horror anthology V/H/S, Bishop adds extra layers of terror and surprise to the chilling and thrilling tale of occultist Mr Nyx and his menacing menagerie of hostesses with some unusual talents. Stars Hannah Fierman, Chase Williamson, Justin Welborn, Michael Aaron Milligan and Hayes Mercure.

The 200-plus guest-list this year is as eclectic as ever, with over half the films represented.  For the opening night treat we have MY FATHER DIE star Gary Stretch and director Sean Brosnan, Also in the house are PET director Carles Torrens and star Dominic Monaghan, THEY CALL ME JEEG ROBOT director Gabriele Mainetti, IBIZA UNDEAD director Andy Edwards and cast including TV presenter & DJ Alex Zane, THE CHAMBER director Ben Parker and cast including Rebecca Salt and Johannes Kuhnke, OFFENSIVE director Jon Ford and cast including Lisa Eichhorn, BENAVIDEZ’ CASE director Laura Casabe, THE LOVE WITCH director Anna Biller, BEYOND THE GATES stars Jesse Merlin, Chase Williamson and director Jackson Stewart, BLOOD FEAST director Marcel Walz, BLOOD HUNTERS star Peter Blankenstein and director Tricia Lee, BROKEN stars Morjana Alaoui, Mel Raido, Craig Conway and director Shaun Robert Smith, CROW director Wyndham Price plus cast including Danny Webb, Elen Rhys & Jason Hughes, DOWNHILL star Natalie Burn with director Patricio Valladares, EGOMANIAC stars Nic Lamont, Adam Rhys-Davies, Dan Palmer with director Kate Shenton, ENCLOSURE director Patrick Rea and FOUND FOOTAGE 3D director Steven DeGennaro with stars Scott Weinberg and Scott Allen Perry.

And there’s more… FROM A HOUSE ON WILLOW STREET star Zino Ventura and director Alastair Orr, JOHNNY FRANK GARRETT’S LAST WORD director Simon Rumley, KNUCKLEBONES star Julin Jean and director Mitch Wilson, LET’S BE EVIL stars Isabelle Allen, Liz Morris, Elliot James Langridge and director Martin Owen, LOST SOLACE director Chris Scheuerman, MAN UNDERGROUND co-directors Michael Borowlec and Sam Marine, NIGHT OF SOMETHING STRANGE director Jonathan Straiton, ROAD GAMES director Abner Pastoll, THE REZORT director Steve Barker, THE WINDMILL MASSACRE stars Charlotte Beaumont, Fiona Hampton, Adam Thomas Wright, Tanroh Ishida with director Nick Jongerius.

To celebrate the release of WORST FEARS, a collection of seven nightmares written and produced by legendary genre personality David McGillivray, FrightFest is unveiling his never-before-seen documentary HORROR ICON, directed by Jake West, featuring vintage FrightFest footage that will be included as part of Nucleus Film’s upcoming DVD box-set. McGillivray will be talking to FrightFest’s Alan Jones about his vast career in horror and sexploitation working on such classics as FRIGHTMARE and SATAN’S SLAVE. TERROR director Norman J. Warren will also be attending.

To enhance our inaugural ‘First Blood’ strand we welcome THE CREATURE BELOW stars Anna Dawson, Michaela Longden, Daniel Thrace, Johnny Vivash, David Shackleton, Lyndsey Craine and director Stewart Sparke, CRUEL SUMMER stars Reece Douglas, Natalie Martins, Richard Pawulski and co-directors Phillip Escott and Craig Newman, and from THE UNKINDNESS OF RAVENS star Jamie Scott Gordon and director Lawrie Brewster plus the HOUSE OF SALEM director James Crow with cast and the director of HALLOW’S EVE, Brad Watson.

In addition, we will be welcoming many producers, writers, cinematographers, special/visual effects artists and composers who will also be supporting their screenings.

FrightFest wouldn’t be the same without its ‘added’ attractions and two that can be revealed now are Actress/director/writer Alice Lowe introducing World Premiere exclusive footage from PREVENGE, the revenge saga Alice directed whilst pregnant, and the World Premiere trailer promo for Mike Mort’s NIGHT OF THE TRAMPIRES, the feature film version of the very well received CHUCK STEEL RAGING BALLS OF STEEL JUSTICE. Mike will be attending.

Don’t forget there’s also the launch of ‘The FrightFest Guide to Exploitation’ by Alan Jones and the latest FrightFest Presents titles, the back catalogue of which will be available in the foyer along with merchandise from FrightFest Enterprises and other major retailers. Yet more reasons to embrace the FrightFest universe and community that has been steadily growing since 2000 to become a major force in the genre well-being of Great Britain.

Horror Channel FrightFest runs from 25^th -29^th August 2016 at The Vue Cinema, Shepherds Bush, London W12.

Single tickets go on sale Sat 23 July at noon and, alongside the few remaining Festival and day pass sales are available to buy online:  http://www.frightfest.co.uk/tickets.html

For full programme details amd timetables go to: www.frightfest.co.uk