This year Abertoir – The International Horror Festival Of Wales – celebrates its 13th year, a fitting year for a horror festival to be celebrating.
Held annually in Aberystwyth Arts Centre, located on its university campus, this year festival celebrates the slasher genre. Snuggle down at Camp Abertoir for six days (starting on the 13th, obviously) of preview screenings, classic horrors aplenty, and a splattering of guests and Q&As.
Starting with Sleepaway Camp, the programme continues with cult classics of the genre – Slumber Party Massacre, Bloody Moon and My Bloody Valentine. At the time of writing, the new titles announced are Japanese horror-comedy One Cut Of The Dead; Cam, co-created by former camgirl Isa Mazzei about an adult performer who finds her videos taking on a life of their own; Abrakadabra, a Giallo homage; and Summer Of ‘84, continuing the 80s nostalgia trip with a mix of Stranger Things and The Burbs.
Of course one of the most famous slasher films is Friday The 13th, and the festival has secured its director and producer, Sean S. Cunningham, as the guest of honour. As well the film’s screening, Cunningham will be taking part in an in-depth conversation about his career and sharing his filmmaking secrets in an exclusive workshop.
Throughout the years Abertoir has received a phenomenal response to their annual short film competition. Shown over the festival the films will be in competition for two prizes – The Abertoir Prize and as part of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation the Méliès D’Argent; the winners will go forward to a final lineup at one of the major European festivals for the prestigious Méliès D’Or Award for the Best European Fantastic Short Film.
The normal extra trappings of a film festival are all still present here, but this year sees the introduction of live theatre to Abertoir. The final night hosts Rob Kemp’s The Elvis Dead where the comedian reimagines Sam Raimi’s classic Evil Dead 2 through the songs of Elvis Presley. The king of rock’n’roll and the king of gore – what better way to round off Abertoir for another year? CHRIS WILLIAMS
Abertoir Horror Festival, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Tue 13-Sun 18 Nov. Tickets: £60 (full pass). Info: www.abertoir.co.uk