The 14th Film4 horror extravaganza FrightFest starts on Thursday, 22nd August. Headline films include THE DEAD 2: INDIA and STALLED, with guest appearances from the likes of CURSE OF CHUCKY director Don Mancini. Edd Elliott spoke to organiser and author, Alan Jones, in the run-up to the festival.

Edd Elliott: The festival starts on Thursday. With just a few days to go and all the films and guests announced, is it just a case of the nitty-gritty of organising queues and goodie-bags, or are there more surprises to come?

…swerves, dips and highs unlike anything we’ve experienced…

Alan Jones: Of course, it’s more or less done and dusted now, we just have to put on the best show we can, the one our devoted audience demands. There’s always more surprises, organised by Paul who knows the Film4 FrightFest community love the little extras we always provide, and there’s always something we haven’t thought of that will rear its head. But we’re used to that after 14 years now. It’s interesting, actually, because once 6.30 pm next Thursday comes around, the four of us get on the FrightFest rollercoaster and don’t get off until the Monday night at midnight. During that time we’ve gone through swerves, dips and highs unlike anything we’ve experienced – every Film 4 FrightFest is different – to emerge as elated as the audience will be by the final trio of fantastic movies.

EE: Being in the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, you really couldn’t be much bigger, grander or more central. Is it difficult coordinating a venue of this size or is it just a chance to put on absolutely everything you want to do and screen?

AJ: To be honest, the Empire staff are just so great and completely on board with everything we do, it’s not a chore at all. The Empire gets what we are trying to do, and the staff have told us its their favourite weekend of the year; many make sure their shifts are over that Bank Holiday period. Obviously the filmmakers want to rehearse their prints and we want to stage manage a seamless event. The Empire know that and help in every way. With professionalism on every side, it works like a dream.

… who wouldn’t want Don Mancini, CHUCKY creator, in the house gorging on mussels?

EE: This is FrightFest’s 14th year. What will be new this time out?

AJ: Well, the FrightFest Xtra screenings for a start. For the first time we can put on extra showings of our more popular sold-out titles so no one has to miss out on anything. We have a designated restaurant this year too, Leon de Bruxelles in Cambridge Circus, who recognised the PR value of our event and are offering generous discounts to all patrons. I mean, who wouldn’t want Don Mancini, CHUCKY creator, in the house gorging on mussels? We keep FrightFest constantly evolving so there is always the shock of the new alongside the shocks on screen.

EE: As part of the team behind FrightFest, and having seen it all before, what are you most looking forward to this year?

AJ: I’m looking forward to presenting Michael Cudlitz on stage as he is not only one of my favourite actors (TV’s Southland) but he’s brilliant in DARK TOURIST. I’m dying to see how the fans react to the epic-ness of THE DEAD 2: INDIA. I cannot wait for them to see WE ARE WHAT WE ARE and thrill to the fact that director Jim Mickle has become one of the greatest genre hopes. Really hope the final five minutes of THE LAST DAYS plays as emotionally as I want it to. And I want Evan Katz to feel the Film4 FrightFest love when we show his extraordinary CHEAP THRILLS. So many hopes and desires….

Get involved, feel the love, have a fantastic time…

EE: On the other side of the coin, what would you recommend for a new comer to the festival?

AJ: Don’t be shy. Talk to the people you are sat next to, they may turn out to be your future BFF, your lover, your husband, your wife. Become a part of the community. You love horror fantasy, so do we, therefore you are not an outsider or stranger. We, the organisers, go to great lengths to talk to the audience, we want their feedback, opinions, criticism, whatever they want to tell us. Get involved, feel the love, have a fantastic time and Film4 FrightFest will be everything you ever wanted it to be.

EE: FrightFest is known for great fans and great guests. Which Q&A’s do you expect to be particularly packed this year?

AJ: Don Mancini’s definitely, especially when people have seen CURSE OF CHUCKY which is SCREAM-esque fab. BIG BAD WOLVES will be very interesting as it’s one of the best movies of the year and everyone will want to know more about that one. Ben Wheatley is our Variety Award recipient this year and he’s great value. Let’s hop he talks about his Go Compare commercials! Bobcat Goldthwait is an amazing stand-up comedian, so expect huge laughs there. And our old friend Adam Green of course who is perpetual promotion personified and we love him for it.

Horror fans are the most devoted of audiences. If you thrill/shock them, they will be yours for ever.

EE: The idea of a genre festival isn’t new, but it seems fairly restricted to certain areas – horror, comedy, documentaries. It’s hard to imagine an Ipswich Period Drama Festival, or Bath Rom-Com Fest. Why do you think this is?

AJ: It’s the safe darkness. We are all watching horrifying visions together and we share each other’s fears and emotions. Horror fans are the most devoted of audiences. If you thrill/shock them, they will be yours for ever. And we have no cultural boundaries. Your film is from Argentina and subtitled? No problem. It might not get shown at your local multiplex because that’s considered a drawback. But in Film4 FrightFest World we embrace new voices, new diverse visions. Horror has no boundaries, unlike rom-coms etc.

EE: What do you think makes a particularly successful horror festival? And when this week is all over what will you want to look back on as having been achieved?

AJ: The right films, the right cinema, the right crowd – and no mobile phone use in the auditorium! As long as people have a good time, seeing our snapshot of world horror as it currently stands, that’s our achievement. Film4 FrightFest is important to so many people, they build their holidays around it, drop everything to attend – one person delayed their honeymoon – and in one very humbling moment for us, was buried with their weekend pass. That we affect so many people in positive ways is the real measure of our success level.

EE: A dog isn’t just for Christmas, and FrightFest isn’t just about next week. What other events are you organizing for the rest of the year?

AJ: Hallowe’en is next, and then Film4 FrightFest Glasgow, where we are part of the hugely successful Glasgow Film Festival. Out event early this year was so fantastic, star-packed (Eli Roth, Gemma Arterton, Neil Jordan, Saiorse Ronan) that we now have our work cut out for us next year. But we’re planning to top it already…

EE: Finally, what were your favourite horror films growing up? And is it different seeing horror now when your career surrounds you with it?

AJ: Mario Bava’s BLOOD AND BLACK LACE, Sidney Hayers’ CIRCUS OF HORRORS, Dario Argento’s THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE all left their mark on me. And no, a good horror film when it comes along is cause for celebration always.

FRIGHTFEST 2013 runs from 22 to 26 August at the Empire Cinema, Leicester Square, London.

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