ABOUT FRIGHTFEST

FrightFest first hit the scene in August 2000 and right from the start the festival set out its stall with the World Premiere of Ed Gein and UK premieres of Scary Movie, Pitch Black and Audition.  Then based at the world famous London grindhouse cinema The Prince Charles, the annual 4-day festival has grown to become, in the words of Time Out, “the premiere event of the year for horror fans”, in the process helping to launch the careers of directors Christopher Smith (Creep, Severance) and Simon Hunter (Mutant Chronicles) plus hosting many first UK screenings including Shaun of the Dead and Eli Roth’s Hostel.

Always held over the August Bank Holiday weekend, FrightFest has become a hip alternative to the usual Bank Holiday offerings.  The festival attracts predominantly young audiences, many of whom travel from all over the UK and beyond to attend.  Over 85% of the films shown at FrightFest over the years have been World, European or UK premieres.  These have included Scary Movie (1 & 2), Donnie Dark, Dark Water.  Insomnia, One Hour Photo, My Little Eye, Battle Royal, Jeerers Creepers, Brotherhood of the Wolf, The Devil’s Backbone, Texas Chains Massacre 2, Cabin Fever, House of a 1000 Corpses, Bellboy, Switchblade Romance, Old Boy, Land of the Dead, 2001 Maniacs, Night Watch, Seed, Eden Lake, Feakdog, Wolf Creek, Autopsy and Martyrs. 

In 2005, having outgrown it’s spiritual home and attracting sponsors such as Channel 5, Bizarre Magazine, Volkswagen, Activision, The Horror Channel and XFM FrightFest moved to the Odeon West End. In 2009 the festival in moving to The Empire Cinema, one of the largest cinemas in the UK. The festival name was also in demand nationally and FrightFest Presents events have sprung up in Cambridge, Glasgow and Brighton. We also host a Halloween all-nighter at the ICA.

In 2006, the festival was the biggest and most successful yet.  Headline sponsored by Zone Horror, with The Times newspaper on board as a media partner, twenty three films were unspooled in front of sell-out audiences, including the UK premieres of: Pan's Labyrinth, Hatchet, Grimm Love, The Lost, Behind The Mask and The Host.  Guillermo Del Toro was in attendance choosing FrightFest before The London Film Festival for his films UK launch.

In 2007 FILM4 came on board as the headline sponsor, signing a two-year deal, gaining the festival even more profile and rising attendances. Over five days seven world, six European and six UK premieres were screened. FILM 4 returned to sponsor the 2008 edition at which over 15,000 people attended.

In 2009 the festival moved to 150 yards up the road to the Empire CInema at the top end of Leicester Square. Voted on of the ten best cinemas in the world, the massive 1300 seat cinema is an ideal location to watch films as they should be seen on a massive screen with sound to die for.

Now in its 11th year FrightFest has grown to become one of the genre's most vibrant, credible and recognisable brands, with plans for more nation-wide events, a DVD label and online content services.

About the FrightFest organisers

 © London FrightFest Ltd. 2000-2010
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