Romford Horror Film Festival Promises A 4 Day Chill Fest!

You know we enjoy our Horror and a chance to sit with some fellow horrorphiles enjoy our favourite genre too hard to resist. Next month Romford Horror Festival will take a four-day plunge into the heart of cinematic horror.

Just last week, the festival was recognized by Screen Daily as one of the 50 most important festivals in the UK. Making Romford Horror Festival stand as a beacon of terror only four years into existence.

This year the festival will have blood-curdling cinematic odyssey awaiting, featuring 168 feature films and shorts, including eight timeless classic horror masterpieces. The festival, spreading its dark influence across two screens and introducing a third exclusively for spine-tingling talks continues its legacy of premiering global cinematic nightmares, boasting an astounding 33 world premieres that are sure to send shivers down your spine.

The resurrection of fan-favourite segments like “Short, Sharp Shocks” and “Cheap Thrills” is now joined by two electrifying additions: “Student Bodies,” showcasing student films, including seven from New City College, and the unpredictable “Horror Roulette,” a pulsating party where filmmakers unveil short films under 15 minutes to an unsuspecting audience.

While the festival officially commences its reign of terror on Thursday, the true crescendo awaits on Friday, 1st March, featuring a live singer, the suspenseful horror roulette, stylized photo shoots for attendees, and invaluable networking opportunities, complete with dedicated breakout spaces for sinister meetings.

Renowned  Japanese director Kenichi Ugana takes centre stage this year, presenting two gripping films, Visitors – The Complete Edition and Love Will Tear Us Apart. Southend-based TIS Films brings forth Mosaic, with scenes shot at Romford’s Mercury Shopping Centre and along the eerie Southend coast.

The festival casts a malevolent spotlight on a local filmmaker lineup of over 35 films, including titles like Yellow, Sunday Driver, Newsgrid, Punch, and Sour Milk. promising to ensnare the audience in their dark narratives. Devout horror aficionados can rejoice as big-screen showings of acclaimed titles like Possession, The Medusa Touch, The Entity, and Cannibal Apocalypse are set to summon nightmarish visions.

An array of malevolent guests, including the esteemed Cinizia Monreale, (The Beyond) flying in from Rome. Caroline Munro and Pauline Peart, with illustrious careers steeped in Hammer films, Carry On movies, and James Bond, will join for a screening of The Pocket Film Of Superstitions. Graham Cole OBE, infamous as Tony Stamp from The Bill, and indie film enchantress Dani Thompson, alongside various other horror luminaries, will grace the event. Stalls offering Blu- rays, DVDs, cursed jewelry, forbidden art, unholy magazines, sinister books, and ghastly special effects add an extra layer of malevolence to the festival atmosphere.

Following last year’s phenomenal success, with 1000 attendees filling local hotels, organizers anticipate surpassing that number this year. Festival co-director Natalie Bays asserted, “Ticket sales have been exceptionally strong this year, signalling our expectation to exceed last year’s attendance.”

Festival co-director Spencer Hawken expressed unbridled enthusiasm, stating, “We are truly unleashing the darkness this year, doubling the number of films and screens, curating a jam-packed agenda to cater to every horror taste. We want attendees to revel in an outstanding experience that remains accessible; a full festival pass is available for just £36, equating to an unbeatable £9 per day.”

For those opting for a selective festival experience, day passes are available for £15, and individual sessions can be enjoyed at a nominal cost of £3.50 per session, with sales commencing on February 1st. Attendees can also engage in post-screening Q&A sessions with esteemed actors and directors, exploring the depths of their demonic creations.

Tickets and detailed information about the film lineup are available at www.romfordhorrorfestival.com, where you can secure your passage into the abyss.  Taking place between 29th February until 3rd March…