The guest list for this years Festival of Fantastic Films, held in Manchester on 20th – 22nd September, is taking shape with announcement of more great genre names.

Held at the Manchester Conference Centre, Sackville Street (300 meters from Piccadilly Station) and in its 24th year, the guests of honour so far (subject to commitments) will be:

Umberto Lenzi, the director famous for popularising cannibal films with The Man From Deep River (aka Deep River Savages, 1972), Eaten Alive! (1980) and Cannibal Ferox (1981) but also classic horror films such as Eyeball (1975), and a film it is hoped he will be introducing in a new HD version, Nightmare City (1980).

Madeline Smith, a welcome return for the lovely star of such films as The Vampire Lovers (1970), Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell (1973) and, of course, comedies such as Up Pompeii (1971).

Shane Rimmer, familiar and much loved character actor, who appeared in Warlords of Atlantis (1978), The People That Time Forgot (1977), Rollerball (1975), Dr Strangelove (1964), several James Bond movies, and, of course, voiced Scott Tracy in Thunderbirds.

Michael Armstrong, writer/director whose credits include Mark of the Devil (1970), The Haunted House of Horror (1969), House of the Long Shadows (1983), and The Black Panther (1977).

Nicholas Ball, actor, best known for the 70s TV series Hazell and his appearance in the classic Hammer House of Horror episode The House That Bled To Death. He will be introducing the new HD version of Lifeforce (1985).

The festival itself is a low-key, friendly affair with attendees rubbing shoulders with the guests in the bar area, and is highly recommended for fans of classic horror and sci-fi. The film programme is usually a mix of the familiar and the obscure, with a separate strand for new independent films. There’s even a film fair and an auction hosted in his inimitable way by writer Ramsey Campbell.

For more information, head to the festival website.

A weekend pass costs only £70; with day membership rates available too.

For the full experience, we recommend booking into the hotel, but this has limited availability, so book now! See you in the bar!

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