Frightfest announces 2015 opening and closing films
The 16th edition of Film4 FrightFest kicks off in skin-crawling fashion with the European premiere of David Keating’s blood-freezing rural nightmare Cherry Tree, starring Anna Walton (Hellboy 2, Soulmate) and rising star Naomi Battrick (Down Dog, Waterloo Road)
Keating, who directed the acclaimed Wake Wood for the revamped Hammer label, offers another provocative and compelling twist on the pagan cult chiller, in which a young girl, Faith (Naomi Battrick), in an attempt to save her father’s life, makes a fateful pact with Sissy Young (Anna Walton) head of a sinister black magic coven. FrightFest’s first Irish event-opener, Cherry Tree, is a Fantastic Films & House of Netherhorror Production, produced by John McDonnell & Brendan McCarthy.
Closing Film4 FrightFest is the European premiere of the stunning anthology Tales of Halloween, a celebration of the spooky October holiday. Ten tales of terror unfold in a sleepy American suburb on All Hallows Eve as ghouls, imps, aliens, goblins, demons, axe murderers and serial killers roam the witching hour. This anthology of power nightmares is directed by the cream of the scream industry crop: Neil Marshall, Darren Lynn Bousman, Axelle Carolyn, Adam Gierasch, Lucky McKee, Dave Parker, Paul Solet, Ryan Schifrin, John Skipp and Mike Mendez.
Tales of Halloween is created by Axelle Carolyn and produced by Patrick Ewald, Shaked Berenson, Mike Mendez and Axelle Carolyn. Alan Jones said today:
We have never opened with an Irish production before. So we figured it was about time to put a sharp focus on all the sterling work the Irish Film Board has done to promote the genre. Over the years we have premiered DEAD MEAT, ISOLATION, DOROTHY MILLS, DARK TOUCH and THE CANAL, and CHERRY TREE follows in their fine tradition offering storytelling excellence, great production values and terrific casting, slathered with that appealing Emerald Isle quirkiness. The choice for our Closing night film was a no-brainer, Not only is TALES OF HALLOWEEN an absolutely terrific celebration of the October holiday, it also represents a potted history of FrightFest’s shining past due to much of the talent involved both on screen and behind it being our special guests over the last fifteen years. So sit back and enjoy!”
The Frightfest 2015 guest line-up will be announced later but both films will be represented by cast and crew. The full Frightfest 2016 line up will be announced on Thursday July 2nd, along with ticket booking details. This year’s event takes place at the Vue Cinema, Leicester Sqare between Thursday Aug 27th and Monday August 31st.
Festival and day pass sales will go on sale Sat July 4 at 10.00am and will only be available online. Single tickets will go on sale on July 25. A festival pass will cost £185. Day passes are: Thursday £30, Friday & Saturday £60, Sunday & Monday £50. Single tickets will be £13.25.
