LEGEND, THE ASSASSIN, BONE TOMAHAWK, YAKUZA APOCALYPSE, THE INVITATION and THE MIND’S EYE join Bruce Campbell, Edgar Wright, Al Pacino, Brett Ratner, Henry Rollins, Shepard Fairey, Fabio Frizzi, Die Antwoord’s Ninja and The Meltdown’s Jonah & Kumail for a slate featuring 16 West Coast Premieres, iconic repertory titles, and live musical performances!

Los Angeles, CA – Thursday, September 3, 2015 – Beyond Fest, the highest attended genre film festival in the US, is excited to announce its full slate of 2015 programming featuring 25 events of mind-bending, movie madness. Presented by Shudder, Beyond Fest returns to Hollywood’s famed Egyptian Theatre for 11 days of movies, music and mayhem spanning Thursday, October 1st – Monday, October 12th 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 present 16 West Coast premieres including Brian Hegeland’s masterful LEGEND as opening night film and Hsiao-hsien Hou’s breathtaking martial arts ballet THE ASSASSIN, to close. Other hotly-anticipated titles include Kurt Russell’s existential western shocker BONE TOMAHAWK, Miike Takeshi’s gloriously outrageous YAKUZA APOCALYPSE and Karyn Kusama’s terrifying thriller THE INVITATION.

“We’re just relieved that a film institution as revered as the American Cinematheque let us come back,” said Beyond Fest Co-Founder, Christian Parkes. “Last year, guests were whipped, they vomited and snorted snuff en masse, it was bedlam. With this lineup I’m proud to say it’s going to be even bigger.”

The legend Bruce Campbell takes center stage with Edgar Wright for an EVIL DEAD double bill for the ages featuring both films projected on glorious 35mm. Tickets will be made available to purchase on Saturday, September 5th at noon PST, however, the most die-hard Deadites will be rewarded early as 25 pairs of tickets will be gifted free to those sporting an EVIL DEAD tattoo. Maintaining the theme and commemorating the night Studio City Tattoo will be on-site providing free EVIL DEAD tattoos for the most hardcore fans.

Two wildly different anniversary screenings celebrate two wildly iconic films with Al Pacino sitting in conversation with Brett Ratner for the 40th anniversary of DOG DAY AFTERNOON, while The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail host an epic 30th anniversary reunion screening of BETTER OFF DEAD with director Savage Steve Holland, Curtis Armstrong, Diane Franklin and more.

Once again, music features prominently in Beyond Fest’s charter with some of the most influential and innovative artists participating. Die Antwoord’s Ninja will be joined by friends as he hosts a rare 35mm screening of ERASERHEAD for ‘A Night of Zef Absurdia.’ Punk icon Henry Rollins is celebrated with the West Coast premiere of his existential cannibal shocker HE NEVER DIED. Post screening, Rollins will be joined by director Jason Krawczyk in a wide ranging conversation moderated by agent provocateur Shepard Fairey.

Legendary composer Fabio Frizzi is performing in Los Angeles for the first time in his illustrious 40 year career. Complete with his 8-piece orchestra, the Maestro will perform FRIZZI 2 FULCI LIVE: his magnificent musical-opus highlighting his work with Lucio Fulci. FRIZZI 2 FULCI LIVE will also feature a rare screening of the Fulci’s gothic masterpiece THE BEYOND uncut, uncensored and in scope on 35mm.

The original 1925 version of Lon Chaney’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA gets the live score treatment courtesy of his grandson Ron Chaney who is screening the masterpiece on 16mm. The 1925 score has remained in possession of the Chaney family since the film’s release and will be performed for one of the first times in 90 years. Ron Chaney will be in attendance to discuss the impact of Chaney’s work.

Premiering live, synth superstar Steve Moore will perform his score to horror wunderkind Joe Begos’ THE MIND’S EYE before the telekinetic shocker receives its hometown throwdown premiere. Moore’s performance will be complemented by the release of a limited 7” courtesy of Death Waltz Records, produced exclusively for the screening.

“Music has been an integral part of Beyond Fest from the very beginning,” said Spencer Hickman, Mondo / Death Waltz Recording Co. Label Head. “The first show we ever booked was Goblin and we’re incredibly proud to build on that foundation with this phenomenal and unique line up.”

Celebrating LA filmmaking remains a priority for Beyond Fest with Karyn Kusama receiving this year’s ‘LA Spotlight’ for her shocking thriller, THE INVITATION. As part of her Spotlight screening, Kusama selected Philip Kaufman’s INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS to accompany her film citing its malevolent corresponding elements and themes.

Beyond Fest welcomes the horror streaming platform Shudder as its Presenting Sponsor, a partnership that provides 10 screenings (9 West Coast premieres) absolutely free to film fans. Every night, the 100-seat ‘Shudder Theatre’ will feature a brand new film selected from across the world including a demented Mads Mikkelsen’s in Anders Thomas Jensen’s unbelievably black comedy, MEN AND CHICKEN, manga favorite / insanely-mental-live-action-madness of ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM, the hyper-violent remake of Mario Bava’s Euro-crime nasty, RABID DOGS, the creepy debut shocker from Oz Perkins, FEBRUARY, Majid Al Ansari’s electrifying cat and mouse thriller, RATTLE THE CAGE (ZINZANA) and the over-the-top martial arts sequel, SPL 2.

“These are some of the best and most provocative films of the year,” said American Cinematheque and Beyond Fest programmer, Grant Moninger. “That we can provide them completely free of charge is very important to us, we’re thankful to Shudder for being a part of our mission to bring great films to the great genre fans of this city.”

See below for the full lineup of newly announced film titles for Beyond Fest 2015.

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BEYOND FEST 2015 PROGRAM
EGYPTIAN THEATRE

THE ASSASSIN
Taiwan, 2015
LA Premiere, 105 min
Director – Hsiao-hsien Hou

BETTER OFF DEAD – 30th Anniversary Reunion Hosted by The Meltdown with Jonah and Kumail
United States, 1985
97 min
Director – Savage Steve Holland
wi. Jonah Ray, Kumail Nanjiani, director Savage Steve Holland + cast in person

THE BEYOND
Uncut, uncensored director’s cut in scope on 35mm
Italy, 1981
35mm, 87 min
Director – Lucio Fulci

BONE TOMAHAWK
United States, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 133 min
Director – S. Craig Zahler
wi. director S. Craig Zahler and actor Matthew Fox in person

DOG DAY AFTERNOON
United States, 2015
35mm, 125 min
Director – Sidney Lumet
wi. actor Al Pacino and director Brett Ratner in person

THE DEVILS
Original US Rare cut on 35mm
England, 1971
35mm, 111 min
Director – Ken Russell
wi. introduction by director Bernard Rose

Ninja Presents ERASERHEAD: A Night of Zef Absurdia
United States, 1977
35mm, 89 min
Director – David Lynch
wi. Ninja and friends in person

THE EVIL DEAD (wi. EVIL DEAD II)
Co-presented with Starz and ASH VS EVIL DEAD
United States, 1983
35mm, 87 min
Director – Sam Raimi
wi. Bruce Campbell and Edgar Wright in person

EVIL DEAD II (wi. THE EVIL DEAD)
Co-presented with Starz and ASH VS EVIL DEAD
United States, 1987
35mm, 84 min
Director – Sam Raimi
wi. Bruce Campbell and Edgar Wright in person

FRIZZI 2 FULCI LIVE (wi. THE BEYOND)
Italy, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 100 min
wi. Fabio Frizzi and 8-piece orchestra performing live

HE NEVER DIED
United States, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 99 min
Director – Jason Krawczyk
wi. director Jason Krawczyk and actor Henry Rollins, moderated by Shepard Fairey in person

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS (wi. THE INVITATION)
United States, 1978
115 min
Director – Philip Kaufman

THE INVITATION (wi. INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS)
United States, 2015
Special Screening, 97 min
Director – Karyn Kusama
wi. director Karyn Kusama, writers Phil Hay, Matt Manfredi and actor Logan Marshall-Green in person

LEGEND
United States, 2015
LA Premiere, 131 min
Director – Brian Hegeland

THE MIND’S EYE
United States, 2015
US Premiere, 87 min
Director – Joe Begos
wi. live performance by Steve Moore before screening
wi. director / writer Joe Begos, editor Josh Ethier and actors Graham Skipper, Noah Segan in person

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
United States, 1925
16mm, 101 min (1925 original release)
Director – Rupert Julian
wi. live score performance of the original 1925 composition
wi. Ron Chaney in person

TOO LATE (free screening)
United States, 2015
35mm, 107 min
Director – Dennis Hauck
wi. director / writer Dennis Hauck in person

YAKUZA APOCALYPSE
Japan, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 115 min
Director – Takashi Miike

SHUDDER THEATRE

ASSASSINATION CLASSROOM (free screening)
Japan, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 110 min
Director – Eiichiro Hasumi

DER BUNKER (free screening)
Germany, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 85 min
Director – Nikias Chryssos

FEBRUARY (free screening)
United States/Canada, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 93 min
Director – Oz Perkins
wi. director / writer Oz Perkins in person

IN SEARCH OF ULTRA SEX (free screening)
France, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 60 min
Directors – Nicolas Charlet and Bruno Lavaine

MEN AND CHICKEN (free screening)
Denmark, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 100 min
Director – Anders Thomas Jensen

RABID DOGS (free screening)
France, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 99 min
Director – Eric Hannezo

SPL 2 (free screening)
China, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 120 min
Director – Pou-Soi Cheang

RATTLE THE CAGE (ZINZANA) (free screening)
United Arab Emirates, Jordan, 2015
West Coast Premiere, 91 min
Director – Majid Al Ansari

Attending the Festival

Tickets for Beyond Fest 2015 are will be made available for purchase through Fandango and the American Cinematheque on 9.3. EVIL DEAD tickets will be available through Brown Paper Tickets on 9.5 at noon.

We are now accepting press credential applications for Beyond Fest 2015. To apply, please send your name and outlet as well as a letter of assignment from your editor or a business card to the FONS PR team at beyondfest [at] fonspr.com for consideration. The deadline to apply for press credentials is Wednesday, September 16th. Please note all applications are subject to approval.

For Beyond Fest Media Inquiries

CONTACT: Brandy Fons
PHONE: (310) 809-8882
E-MAIL: Contact Brandy

For Beyond Fest Requests to Cover Events

CONTACT: Margot Gerber
PHONE: 323.461.2020 ext. 115
E-MAIL: Contact Margot