Film festival season is in full swing, folks. The Venice Film Festival and Fantasia Film Festival have come again, TIFF is in progress, NYFF and Fantastic Fest are fast approaching, and then Berlin. It’s a hectic time in the film industry, even when there are massive strikes shutting down much of the industry. In lieu of major stars appearing and discussing their films, great directors have been making the rounds, and the guest list doesn’t get much better than the upcomingBeyond Fest.
Several legendary directors and many brilliant newcomers will be screening their films and discussing them with audiences at the 11th Beyond Fest, where 55 movies will screen across 15 days. The festival runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 10 in Los Angeles, and tickets will be on sale viaAmerican Cinematequeon Friday, September 15th at 10AM PST.
James Cameron’s Abyss and Other Icons at Beyond Fest
James Cameron will be bringing what appears to be a director’s cut version of his underrated masterpieceThe Abyss, with 30 extra minutes added. This is one of the many holy grails of cinephiles, as the film has been long unavailable in any high quality transfer, and the director’s cut has been discussed in hushed, quasi-mythical tones.
Michael Mann will also be at Beyond Fest, screening and discussing his classic Hannibal Lecter film,Manhunter. Malcolm McDowell will be presenting “the ultimate cut” of his most infamous film (and that’s includingIf…andClockwork Orande),Caligula, and there will be a special screening of the full NC-17 version of David Cronenberg’s twisted masterpiece,Crash.
Legendary horror director, producer, and indie godfather Roger Corman will be in attendance as well; the 97-year-old master will be presenting his classic Vincent Price film,The Raven.
Aside from the many special screenings of classics in restored and extended versions, Beyond Fest will of course host numerous new films and mroe recent directors. The highly anticipated sci-fi film from Gareth Edwards,The Creator, will screen, along with other upcoming sci-fi delights like the Peter Dinklage-starring remake ofThe Toxic Avenger, andZach Clark’s brilliantly offbeat film,The Becomers. Also screening — Nicolas Cage’s new A24 film,Dream Scenario; Andrew Haigh’s eagerly awaitedAll of Us Strangers; and a wonderful variety of international films likeThe Funeral, Omen, Vincent Must Die, and Mayhem!
Related:TIFF 2023: Most Exciting Movies Premiering at the Festival This Year
Horror is also spotlighted at Beyond Fest and represented in numerous excellent films— the downright bonkersSuitable Flesh,When Evil Lurks, V/H/S/85, Totally Killer, It’s a Wonderful Knife,and many more. there are also special screenings ofPacific Rim(with Guillermo del Toro to discuss afterward) andIron Giant(with Brad Bird in attendance), along with glorious 4k restorations of 1973’sThe Wicker Man(in a “Final Cut,” with original star Britt Ekland),Cemetery Man, and The Raid.
You can find the full list of films coming to this year’s Beyond Fest below, and can learn more at theBeyond Fest website here.
Regency Village Theatre
The Abyss: Special Edition
Special Screening
Director: James Cameron
Country: United States
Runtime: 171 minutes
GUESTS: With Director James Cameron In Attendance
Aero Theatre Presented by NEON
THE CREATOR
Director: Gareth Edwards
Runtime: 133 minutes
West Coast Premiere
Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Country: India
Runtime: 106 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Nikhil Nagesh Bhat in attendance
THE ROYAL HOTEL
Director: Kitty Green
Runtime: 91 minutes
CRASH - NC-17 Cut
Director: David Cronenberg
Runtime: 100 minutes
GUESTS: With virtual intro by podcaster Karina Longworth
Director: Michael Mann
Runtime: 120 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Michael Mann in attendance
CALIGULA: THE ULTIMATE CUT
Principal Photography: Tinto Brass
Country: United States, Italy
Runtime: 173 minutes
GUESTS: With actor Malcolm McDowell and archivist/author Thomas Negovan, moderated by critic/historian Stephen Farber
ROCK’N’ROLL HIGH SCHOOL
Director: Allan Arkush, Joe Dante
Runtime: 93 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Allan Arkush in attendance
GRAND THEFT AUTO
Director: Ron Howard
Runtime: 84 minutes
Director: Joe Dante
Runtime: 94 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Joe Dante in attendance
Director: Roger Corman
Runtime: 86 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Roger Corman in attendance
THE TOXIC AVENGER
Director: Macon Blair
Runtime: 102 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Macon Blair in attendance
WHEN EVIL LURKS
Director: Demián Rugna
Country: Argentina
Runtime: 99 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Demián Rugna in attendance
Director: David Bruckner, Gigi Saul Guerrero, Natasha Kermani, Mike Nelson, & Scott Derrickson
Runtime: 110 minutes
GUESTS: With Directors Scott Derrickson, David Bruckner, Natasha Kermani, Gigi Saul Guerrero in attendance
ADAM CHAPLIN
Extended version - Theatrical Premiere
Director(s): Emanuele De Santi, Giulio De Santi
Country: Italy
ANATOMY OF A FALL
Director: Justine Triet
Country: France
Runtime: 151 minutes
Director: Garth Davis
Country: Australia
TOTALLY KILLER
Director: Nahnatchka Khan
GUESTS: With Director Nahnatchka Khan in attendance
SUITABLE FLESH
Director: Joe Lynch
GUESTS: With Director Joe Lynch in attendance
CEMETERY MAN
4K Restoration - World Premiere
Director: Michele Soavi
Runtime: 105 minutes
ALL OF US STRANGERS
Director: Andrew Haigh
Country: United Kingdom
TRUE ROMANCE
Special Screening - Hosted by Rucking Fotten
Director: Tony Scott
IRON GIANT
Director: Brad Bird
GUESTS: With Director Brad Bird in attendance
PACIFIC RIM
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Runtime: 131 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Guillermo Del Toro in attendance
THE RAID: REDEMPTION
4K Restoration - North American Premiere
Director: Gareth Evans
Country: Indonesia
Runtime: 101 minutes
FINAL DESTINATION
Director: James Wong
Runtime: 98 minutes
GUESTS: With Jeffrey Reddick in attendance
WELCOME SPACE BROTHERS
World Premiere
Director: Jodi Wille
Runtime: 101
GUESTS: Director Jodi Wille with moderator Daniel Noah and special Unarian guests in attendance
IT’S A WONDERFUL KNIFE
Director: Tyler MacIntyre
Runtime: 90 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Tyle MacIntyre in attendance
THE WICKER MAN
Director: Robin Hardy
Runtime: 96 minutes
GUESTS: With Actor Britt Ekland in attendance
THE CHURCH
DREAM SCENARIO
Director: Kristoffer Borgli
Neon Theatre at Los Feliz 3
SPOOKTACULAR!
Director: Quinn Monahan
GUESTS: With director Quinn Monahan, Linda Blair and Kane Hodder, Spencer Charnas and Spooky World founder David Bertolino in attendance.
MANCUNIAN MAN: THE LEGENDARY LIFE OF CLIFF TWEMLOW
Director: Jake West
Runtime: 124 minutes
GUESTS: With Director Jake West and actor John Saint Ryan in attendance
ENTER THE CLONES OF BRUCE
Director: David Gregory
GUESTS: Director David Gregory and producer/expert Michael Worth in attendance
HISTORY OF EVIL
Director: Bo Mirosseni
TO FIRE YOU COME AT LAST
North American Premiere
Director: Sean Hogan
Runtime: 46 minutes
GUESTS: Director Sean Hogan in Attendance
RAGING GRACE
Director: Paris Zarcilla
Director: Amanda Kramer
Runtime: 95 minutes
GUESTS: Director Amanda Kramer in attendance
U.S. Premiere
Director: BALOJI
Country: Belgium, Netherlands, The Democratic Republic Of The Congo, France, South Africa
THE FUNERAL
Director: Orcun Behram
Country: Turkey
Director: Sam H. Freeman, Ng Choon Ping
HOSTILE DIMENSIONS
Director: Graham Hughes
Runtime: 80 minutes
GUESTS: Director Graham Hughes in attendance
Director: Gregg Araki
Country: United States, France
Runtime: 78 minutes
GUESTS: Director Gregg Araki in attendance
ALL YOU NEED IS DEATH
Director: Paul Duane
Country: Ireland
New Restoration - World Premiere
Director: Maurice Deveraux
THE CASSANDRA CAT
4K Restoration - US Premiere
Director: Vojtěch Jasný
Country: Poland
Director: Xavier Gens
NIGHT OF THE HUNTED
Director: Franck Khalfoun
Guests: Director Franck Khalfoun in attendance
VINCENT MUST DIE
US Premiere
Director: Stéphan Castang
Runtime: 108 minutes
