Several things happened this year that had never happened before. The whole festival was filmed by Virtue TV. The programme went from a photocopied handout to a glossy piece of memorabilia and the film content stretched and then burst at the seams, until the only complaint about the whole weekend seemed over sleep deprivation! Didn't anyone tell you that you don't *have* to watch *everything*!
| Horror Story Readings with Writers Bloc |
| Book Launch "Inside the Wicker Man" |
| Simon Hunter for Lighthouse |
| Kier-la Janisse for Bird with the Crystal Plumage and Blood and Black Lace |
| Shaky Gonzales for Angel of the Night |
| Allan Brown for Inside the Wicker Man |
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The only downside was that Jean Rollin's deteriorating health meant he was unable to attend, although the producer and cast were on hand to receive the praise heaped on ‘La Fiancee de Dracula'. |
The surprise hits of the fest were the French short ‘Killer of Little Fishes' and the revelation for an audience full of 30 year olds that yes, Landis' classic ‘American Werewolf in London' really is a classic! The National Premieres of ‘Pitch Black' and ‘Scream 3' were late but very welcome additions to what was already a packed programme! |
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Special guests Simon Hunter (Lighthouse) and Shaky Gonzales (Angel of the Night) were both on hand to intro and discuss their films, and maybe the lack of sleep had affected Shaky too, because at 4am, he decided to confess to us all that yes, it's true, your worst fears are confirmed, he really is called Shaky after Shakin' Stevens. |
For me at least, the festival was a real success and, despite being busier than I can ever remember, I had a blast and, in true masochist style, had started planning the 2001 event the week before this one.
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