Celluloid Screams Horror Film Festival returns to the Showroom Cinema this October, for a hair-raising programme of premieres, previews, and special guests.
From its first edition in 2009 at Showroom, Screams has grown to become one of the most recognised and respected horror film festivals globally, thanks to its high-profile premieres, platforming of independent, groundbreaking filmmakers. This year is no different.
Four jam-packed days explode into life with the UK premiere of Onslaught on Thursday 22nd at 7pm, a pulse-pounding slice of John Carpenter-esque action horror from the makers of You’re Next and The Guest. The latest from A24 films, Adam Wingard’s story sees a rogue squad of engineered super soldiers break loose on an unsuspecting American town.
Larry Fessenden, filmmaker and champion of low-budget, auteur-driven horror for more than four decades, is this year’s Guest of Honour. Each day, catch one of his monster movies - Habit, Depraved and Blackout - before Trauma Or, Monsters All the final entry in the quadrillogy. A writer investigating her town's dark past for a newspaper article stirs up fears about lurking monsters, in this timely story of American paranoia. We’re delighted to host Larry for an extended Q&A after the film, Sunday 25 October at 7.30pm. Another premiere, Blood and Guts, is an intimate profile of horror clan and festival favourites The Adams Family, on Friday 23rd at 2pm. Toby Poser, John Adams, plus their daughters Lulu and Zelda, take us behind the scenes of their homemade horrors (past Screams titles include Where the Devil Roams, Hellbender and Mother of Flies). Toby, John and Lulu join for a post-film Q&A, while their latest, The Glorious Dead, also screens.
As for creepy classics, Screams commemorates the late Sam Neill, with a screening of In The Mouth of Madness on Friday 23rd at 10.30pm. John Carpenter’s tribute to H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King sees a successful author (Neill) question his sanity as the lines between his reality and fiction blur. All the films listed and other feature titles, screen with short films from a hand-picked programme, prepared over the last year.
On Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th, the neighbouring Workstation hosts Celluloid Screams Horror Market. Explore over 20 traders selling a wide range of horror-themed goodies, including art, clothing, handcrafted items, movie merchandise and more.
Individual tickets are almost sold out. Don’t miss a second with a day or weekend pass from the Showroom Cinema website: https://showroomcinema.org.uk/festivals/celluloid-screams-sheffield-horror-film-festival
By Nathan Makalena, Creative Coordinator
Paternoster Row, Sheffield City Centre, Sheffield S1 2BX
Bike racks, nearby tram parking, tram and bus access
