Events 2020
42nd Street: The Director’s Cut – A Presentation by Gaz Bailey
We’ve all seen those familiar images of garish marquees advertising all night Kung-Fu triple bills and ‘Swedish Documentaries’, and we’ve all heard of the crime and corruption that accompanies the wild west of cinema-going, but what do we really know of 42nd Street? This special talk from festival director Gaz will span the entire history of America’s most notorious street, from barren farmland to the bright lights of Broadway; from gangs and grindhouses to Disney commercialism: 42nd Street has seen it all. We look at the surprising stories, the shocking corruption at the highest levels, the colourful characters and the…
After Party with DJ Dellamorte
Virtually spinning everyone’s favourite horror sounds with some dark deep cuts of his own, DJ Dellamorte will wrap the virtual festival and take us into the Sunday night. The after-party will be a Zoom Meeting. Join however you feel comfortable – if you'd like to share webcam please do, or if you'd prefer to watch along with webcam off, that's good too! There'll be an opportunity to jump into a breakout room with your friends if you wish.
How to be Grotesque & Arabesque: A User’s Guide to Decadence by Gavin Baddeley
Decadence is one of those terms we all know, but it can be hard to pin down. History’s most scandalous cultural movement, it is the heady territory where opposites – like sex and death, beauty and decay, pleasure and despair – meet in a fearsome, fervid embrace. It is also, according to Abertoir veteran Gavin Baddeley, the missing link between the Gothic tradition and full-blooded modern horror. Join Gavin as he initiates us into the sinful philosophical doctrines of Decadence, before exploring the most lurid examples to be found in horror cinema, such as Roger Corman’s legendary Poe adaptations. Gavin…
Nicko and Joe's Bad Film Club
Comedians Nicko and Joe know terrible cinema better than anyone, and we like to drag them here in order to demonstrate some true cinematic shit for you, complete with their own, very special, very silly live commentary. Regulars know what to expect by now – verbal abuse, free sweets and a truly terrible film! This will be film #1..... if you think you can handle some more, join us in the virtual part of the festival for a completely different, and still completely awful, movie nightmare!
Pixels in Peril – A Talk by Kristen McGorry
A brief history of horror games from someone who has wasted most of her life playing (and writing) them. Videogames get the blood pumping in a way even the most terrifying horror film can’t. From the comfort of your own sofa you’re right in the middle of the high-stakes, life and death action. Unloading both barrels into a licker at Umbrella Corp. Running down the corner to see something decidedly inhuman slithering away. A world of mysterious notes to read. Dark corridors to explore. It’s all about you and the choices you make. And spoiler alert, you’re probably (definitely) going…
Roger Corman Live Q&A
LIVE Q&A with ROGER CORMAN, moderated by PETER FULLER & featuring a special introduction by VICTORIA PRICE As early as last year we were honoured to be discussing with Roger Corman the possibility of a celebration here in Aberystwyth of all that is Poe, Price and Corman, to mark the 60th anniversary of the first in that cycle of films. Sadly, worldwide events got the better of those plans, but we are thrilled that Mr. Corman will be joining us, virtually, to celebrate nonetheless. With contributions from long-time Abertoir friend Victoria Price, join journalist Peter Fuller as he delves into…
Silent Horror Shorts With Piano Accompaniment by Paul Shallcross
When we are young we look to the future; when we are old we look to the past. The same might also be true for film festivals, and if at fifteen years of age Abertoir is not yet old it certainly might be approaching venerability. Accordingly, Silent Horror Shorts (SHS) is this year in retrospective mood, its programme consisting of eight films selected from the twenty-five screened here over the past seven years. With tongues firmly in cheeks, the films we’ve selected show how early cinema thrived on the fantastic and the ghoulish (we say horror, we really mean a…
The Abertoir Guide to Terror on the Telly, Horror Hosts & TV Monsters
We control the horizontal...we control the vertical...Abertoir’s long-running festival guide to the good, bad and downright weird continues this year...in digital form. Abertoir contributor Tristan Thompson dips into an A-Z of horror on the telly, exploring TV horror movies, kooky horror hosts and surreal late-night telly terror...tune in and prepare to hide behind the sofa...
The Robin Ince that Dripped Blood – Live
Author and comedian Robin Ince had so much fun with us at the festival last year that he’s decided to keep himself even busier than usual by putting together a brand new online show especially for us this year! The show will be so fresh off the drawing board that it’ll still be dripping blood…
