Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vince Vaughn, Dario Argento, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Edgar Wright, Tommy Wiseau and Paul Williams headline a star studded roster of guests and a slate featuring 23 West Coast Premieres including BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, and BEST F(R)IENDS.
Los Angeles, CA – Thursday, September 7, 2017 – Beyond Fest, the highest-attended genre film festival in the US, is excited to announce its full slate of 2017 programming featuring 32 events and 23 West Coast premieres of cinematic excess. Co-presented by Shudder, Beyond Fest returns to Hollywood’s famed Egyptian Theatre for 12 days of movies, music and mayhem spanning Friday, September 29th – Tuesday, October 10th to generate funds for the nonprofit 501c3 American Cinematheque.
With a diverse slate that includes films from all corners of the globe Beyond Fest is proud to open with BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99 with director S.Craig Zahler returning with Vince Vaughn and Udo Kier in person, while closing night honors are bestowed upon Yorgos Lanthimos’ ferociously-twisted follow-up to THE LOBSTER, THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER. Other hotly-anticipated titles making their debuts include the World Premiere of Justin MacGregor’s BEST F(R)IENDS with Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero reunited and in person, Joe Lynch’s blissfully violent MAYHEM, and, courtesy of Amazon Prime Video, a very special theatrical premiere of JEAN-CLAUDE VAN JOHNSON with the Muscles from Brussels himself, Jean-Claude Van Damme, in person with the show’s cast and creators.
“While the two worst manbaby haircuts on the planet prepared for nuclear destruction, we prepped cinematic armageddon,” said Beyond Fest Co-Founder, Christian Parkes. “We’re immigrants and we saw DR. STRANGELOVE – we know how this ends – but at least we get to watch some great films with our heroes and friends and go out with a real bang.”
The most beloved genre films are highlighted with a series of special event screenings throughout the festival. Arnold Schwarzenegger takes center stage for an explosive 30th anniversary one-two punch of PREDATOR and THE RUNNING MAN. The Master, Dario Argento, will be in attendance to celebrate the 40th anniversary of SUSPIRIA with screenings of Synapse Film’s 4K restoration AND the recently unearthed 35mm print. ‘Car Chases, Collisions & Conversation: An Evening with Edgar Wright and Walter Hill’ covers four decades of filmmaking and the interrelated nature of the pulsating smash BABY DRIVER and the seminal THE DRIVER in one epic night. Musical maestro, Paul Williams, will share stories from behind the mask of PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE. Mick Garris and Masters of Horror preside over a reverential tribute to two of the greats – George A. Romero and Tobe Hooper – with a double bill featuring the West Coast premiere of MOMA and Film Foundation’s NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD 4K digital restoration and TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE. And the theatrical premiere of NAPOLEON DYNAMITE BOOTLEG EDITION pairs a totally gonzo WTF double bill with HOWARD THE DUCK on 70mm with Lea Thompson in person.
Beyond Fest welcomes the return of genre streaming platform Shudder as its co-presenting sponsor, a partnership that provides 14 screenings (11 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 including Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s triumphant return BEFORE WE VANISH, home invasion thrill ride BETTER WATCH OUT, the critically acclaimed Canadian zombie shocker LES AFFAMES (THE HUNGRY), Marc Meyers’ searing portrait of a serial-killer-in-the-making, MY FRIEND DAHMER, Alexandre O. Phillippe’s revelatory PSYCHO shower scene doc 78/52, and Ted Geoghegan’s sophomore scalper, MOHAWK.
For Cinematic Void’s sidebar they have enlisted the help of like minds as they venture further into the unknown with a series of special screenings. Author and academic Kier-La Janisse will be present for Jean Rollin’s THE GRAPES OF DEATH and the release of the book, Lost Girls: The Phantasmagorical Cinema of Jean Rollin, published by Spectacular Optical, of which she is Editor-in-Chief. Friday Night Frights are co-presenting the west coast premiere of the 4K restoration of the thoroughly bugnuts RAWHEAD REX and the Death Waltz Records record release of HELLRAISER on 35mm. And filmmakers Amy Holden Jones and Deborah Brock will be present for a double bill of anniversary screenings of their films THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE and SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II.
Tickets go on sale starting noon (PST) on Friday, September 8th on Fandango. See below for the full lineup of Beyond Fest 2017.
EGYPTIAN THEATRE
BABY DRIVER
Director: Edgar Wright
Country: USA
Runtime: 102 min.
Year: 2017
GUESTS: Edgar Wright & Walter Hill in Person
BAD BLACK (free screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Isaac Nawibana
Country: Uganda
Runtime: 60 minutes / Year: 2016
BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM
Directors: Bruce Timm, Eric Radomski
Country: USA
Runtime: 76 min.
Year: 1993
GUESTS: Andrea Romano plus voice actors TBA in Person
BEST F(R)IENDS
World Premiere
Director: Justin MacGregor
Country: USA
Runtime: 95 min.
Year: 2017
GUESTS: Tommy Wiseau, Greg Sestero and Justin Macgregor in Person
BRAWL IN CELL BLOCK 99
West Coast Premiere
Director: S. Craig Zahler
Country: USA
Runtime: 132 min.
Year: 2017
GUESTS: S. Craig Zahler, Don Johnson, Vince Vaughn and Udo Kier in Person
DOUBLE IMPACT
Director: Sheldon Lettich
Country: USA
Runtime: 110 min.
Year: 1991 / 35mm
GUEST: Jean-Claude Van Damme and Sheldon Lettich in Person
THE DRIVER
Director: Walter Hill
Country: USA
Runtime: 90 min.
Year: 1978 / 35mm
GUESTS: Edgar Wright & Walter Hill in Person
HELLRAISER
Co-presented with Death Waltz Records + Friday Night Frights
Director: Clive Barker
Country: USA
Runtime: 94 min.
Year: 1987 / 35mm
ICHI THE KILLER – Digital Restoration
West Coast Premiere
Director: Takashi Miike
Country: Japan
Runtime: 129 min.
Year: 2001
HOWARD THE DUCK – 70mm
Director: Willard Huyck
Country: USA
Runtime: 110 min.
Year: 1986
GUESTS: Lea Thompson in Person
JEAN-CLAUDE VAN JOHNSON – Episodes 1 & 2
Presented by Amazon
World Premiere
Director: Peter Atencio
Country: USA
Runtime: 60 min.
Year: 2016
GUESTS: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Peter Atencio, Dave Callaham, Kat Foster, Moises Arias.
THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER
West Coast Premiere
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Country: UK, Ireland
Runtime: 109 min.
Year: 2017
MAYHEM
West Coast Premiere
Director: Joe Lynch
Country: USA
Runtime: 86 min.
Year: 2017
GUESTS: Joe Lynch and cast in person
NAPOLEON DYNAMITE – THE BOOTLEGGED EDITION
Theatrical Premiere
Director: Jared Hess
Country: USA
Runtime: 96 min.
Year: 2004
GUESTS: Cast and crew in person
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD – 4K Restoration
West Coast Premiere
Director: George A. Romero
Country: USA
Runtime: 96 min.
Year: 1968
GUESTS: Mick Garris & Masters of Horror in Person
OPERA (aka TERROR AT THE OPERA)
Director: Dario Argento
Country: Italy
Runtime: 100 min.
Year: 1987
GUESTS: Dario Argento in Person
PHANTOM OF THE PARADISE
Co presented with Creature Features
Director: Brian De Palma
Country: USA
Runtime: 92 min.
Year: 1974
GUESTS: Paul Williams in Person
PREDATOR
Director: John McTiernan
Country: USA
Runtime: 107 min.
Year: 1987 / 35mm
GUESTS: Arnold Schwarzenegger in Person
RAWHEAD REX 4K Restoration
Co presented with Cinematic Void and Friday Night Frights
West Coast Premiere
Director: George Pavlou
Country: USA
Runtime: 89 min.
Year: 1986
THE ROOM
Director: Tommy Wiseau
Country: USA
Runtime: 99 min.
Year: 2003
GUESTS: Tommy Wiseau, Greg Sestero and Guests in Person
THE RUNNING MAN
Director: Paul Michael Glaser
Country: USA
Runtime: 101 min.
Year: 1987 / 35mm
GUESTS: Arnold Schwarzenegger in Person
SUSPIRIA – 4K Restoration
LA Premiere
Director: Dario Argento
Country: Italy
Runtime: 100 min.
Year: 1977
GUESTS: Dario Argento, Udo Kier, Barbara Magnolfi in Person
SUSPIRIA – 35mm Italian Cut
LA Premiere
Director: Dario Argento
Country: Italy
Runtime: 98 min.
Year: 1977
GUESTS: Dario Argento and Barbara Magnolfi in Person
THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE
Director: Tobe Hooper
Country: USA
Runtime: 83 min.
Year: 1974
35mm
GUESTS: Mick Garris & Masters of Horror in Person
SHUDDER THEATRE
78/52 (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Alexandre O. Philippe
Country: USA
Runtime: 91 min.
Year: 2017
BEFORE WE VANISH (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Country: Japan
Runtime: 129 min.
Year: 2017
BETTER WATCH OUT (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Chris Peckover
Country: Australia, USA
Runtime: 85 min.
Year: 2016
COLD HELL (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Stefan Ruzowitzky
Country: Austria
Runtime: 92 min.
Year: 2017
THE GRAPES OF DEATH AKA Les Raisins de La Mort (Free Screening)
Director: Jean Rollin
Country: France
Runtime: 90 min.
Year: 1978
HAUNTERS: THE ART OF THE SCARE (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Jon Schnitzer
Country: USA
Runtime: 88 min.
Year: 2017
JAILBREAK (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Jimmy Henderson
Country: Cambodia
Runtime: 92 min.
Year: 2017
LES AFFAMES (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Robin Aubert
Country: Canada
Runtime: 100 min.
Year: 2017
MOHAWK (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Ted Geoghegan
Country: USA
Runtime: 91 min.
Year: 2017
MY FRIEND DAHMER (Free Screening)
Director: Marc Meyers
Country: USA
Runtime: 107 min.
Year: 2017
REVENGE (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Coralie Fargeat
Country: France
Runtime: 108 min
Year: 2017
SEQUENCE BREAK (Free Screening)
West Coast Premiere
Director: Graham Skipper
Country: USA
Runtime: 108 min
Year: 2017
GUESTS: Graham Skipper, Cast and Crew in Person
THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE (Free Screening)
Co-presented by Etheria and Cinematic Void
Director: Amy Holden Jones
Country: USA
Runtime: 77 min.
Year: 1982
GUESTS: Amy Holden Jones in Person
Double Feature with SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II
SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE II
Co-presented by Etheria and Cinematic Void
Director: Deborah Brock
Country: USA
Runtime: 77 min.
Year: 1987
GUESTS: Deborah Brock in Person
Double Feature with THE SLUMBER PARTY MASSACRE
Attend Beyond Fest:
Tickets for Beyond Fest 2017 are will be made available for purchase through Fandango and the American Cinematheque on Friday, September 8th at noon PST.
For the latest developments, visit the Beyond Fest official site www.beyondfest.com and follow us on Facebook & Twitter.
We are now accepting press credential applications for Beyond Fest 2017. To apply, please send your name and outlet as well as a letter of assignment from your editor or a business card to Katrina Wan at katrina@katrinawanpr.com for consideration. The deadline to apply for press credentials is Tuesday, September 19th. Please note all applications are subject to approval.
For Beyond Fest Media Inquiries:
CONTACT: Katrina Wan, Publicist
PHONE: 323-240-9996
E-MAIL: katrina@katrinawanpr.com
For Additional Beyond Fest Requests:
CONTACT: Margot Gerber
PHONE: 323.461.2020 ext. 115
E-MAIL: margot@americancinematheque.com
Egyptian Theatre is located at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, LA 90028
Beyond Fest is the highest attended genre film festival in the U.S. and exists to build the genre community in Los Angeles. Based out of Hollywood’s legendary Egyptian Theatre, Beyond Fest is built in partnership with the American Cinematheque, Meltdown Comics, and Death Waltz Recording Co.Beyond Fest’s mindbending designs courtesy of award-winning design studio La Boca. A not-for-profit entity, Beyond Fest raises funds for the 501C3 non-profit film institution, American Cinematheque. Its favorite film is JAWS.
Established in 1981, the American Cinematheque is a 501C3 non-profit viewer-supported film exhibition and cultural organization dedicated to the celebration of the Moving Picture in all of its forms. The American Cinematheque renovated and reopened (on Dec. 4, 1998) the historic 1922 Hollywood Egyptian Theatre. This includes a state-of-the-art 616-seat theatre housed within Sid Grauman’s first grand movie palace on Hollywood Boulevard. The exotic courtyard is fully restored to its 1922 grandeur. The Egyptian was the home of the very first Hollywood movie premiere in 1922. In January 2005 the American Cinematheque expanded its programming to the 1940 Aero Theatre on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica.
FOUNDED in 2011 by music industry veteran Spencer Hickman, Death Waltz Recording Co. have been at the forefront of the vinyl soundtrack resurgence. Working with directors & composers such as David Lynch, Richard Kelly, John Carpenter, Fabio Frizzi & Steve Moore to produce definitive versions of classic soundtracks to films both old and new. Recently venturing into both digital and CD territory DWRC remain the leading lights of the soundtrack scene . In 2015 DWRC joined Mondo Tees and Hickman now runs both The Mondo Music Label and DWRC.
Located in the heart of Hollywood on Sunset Blvd, Meltdown opened in 1993 and has since become one the most respected comic book stores in the world. Taking a sophisticated approach to merchandise and operations, the 14,000 sq ft giant has garnered a reputation for hosting successful gallery openings, award winning comedy including the Comedy Central’s The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail, live shows and podcasting events in their collaborative space with Nerdist and the NerdMelt Showroom.
Not content with LA Weekly naming us one of the “Top 50 things why LA kicks ass,” Hef’s Playboy Magazine named us a “top 10 store you must visit before you die.” Oh, and “Husbands and Knives,” the 7th episode of The Simpsons’ 19th season… The lead segment is based on us. (Google it.) ‘Nuff Said!
Shudder is a diabolical new premium online video service, serving horror fans with curated worldwide programming ranging from hard-to-find independent fare to cult grindhouse classics to Hollywood blockbusters. Shudder has something for everyone, from the casual fan to the hardcore horror devotee. Backed by AMC Networks, Shudder is curated by horror aficionados with a deep love and respect for the many peculiar varieties and genres of horror.
