October in Manchester may look a little different in the current climate – but rest assured that film jollification is coming back stronger than ever to this great city. Check out our top film picks to enjoy in the lead up to Halloween to feed your cinematic hunger – social-distancing style of course. While all events listed below were confirmed to be going ahead at the time of writing, due to the unpredictable nature of 2020, we recommend double-checking with each individual programmer before booking your tickets. Enjoy!
Begin the Halloween season with a special online edition of Grimmfest 2020, an independent horror and genre film festival that showcases work from new and established filmmakers from around the globe. The festival will be packed with a programme of the best in horror, science fiction, extreme and cult cinema – and this year it also includes an emphasis on female-focused horror as well as its usual promoting of independent voices in horror. There will also be a whole host of exclusive premieres, Q&A’s, seminars and short film programmes.
Manchester’s ever-cherished champion of independent cinema, HOME, is back with newly socially-distanced spaces and cinemas. As well as its usual enticing array of British, world and hidden gem cinema, it is also playing host to the 64th BFI London Film Festival which takes place across the UK this year. Here, you’ll be able to enjoy a selection of the best new cinematic offerings from filmmakers based all across the globe. To explore the full line up as soon as it’s announced, keep a close eye on the HOME website via the link below.
Park N Party are bringing you a socially-distanced, action-packed line-up of Halloween cult classics at EventCity this October. They will be delivering safe, spooky fun to audiences from the comfort of their own cars. This will be a drive-in experience including a mix of family-friendly and adult screenings plus a chilling, drive-through scare tunnel with live performances from actors and more surprises along the way. Top film picks include The Conjuring 2, The Blair Witch Project, The Witch, The Cabin in the Woods, 28 Days Later, The Exorcist, The Lighthouse, The Descent and Monster House.
The Village Screen are back just outside of Manchester this Halloween with their unique screenings in Peak Cavern where they transform the ambient natural wonder of a cave into an awesome, ghostly cinema. They will be screening Beetlejuice, Stephen King’s IT, Addams Family Values, Us and Hocus Pocus. On their website they assure their audiences that all events will be COVID secure and in line with government regulations.
‘We’re living in a golden age of Black horror films’ say the folks at HOME. Just in time for Halloween and coinciding with their usual FilmFear season partnership with FilmFour, HOME brings us a film event which looks at the history of Black horror cinema and the portrayal of Black people within this ever-evolving genre. The panel will consist of Ester Lisk-Carew, Adam Murray and Liz Chege. To find out more, follow the link below.
- Words:
- Ally Davies
- Published on:
- Sat 24 Oct 2020
Sheffield Doc Fest are hosting four weekends of screenings and talks – both physically at the Showroom Cinema and online. Festival themes and strands will include Into the World, Rebellions, Rhyme and Rhythm and Ghosts and Apparitions. Online industry panel sessions include decolonising the industry with Girls in Film, how to get into the industry hosted by BAFTA, sustainable filmmaking and the BBC’s New Northern Talent.