Now in its 11th year, the London-based FrightFest is set to horrify audiences again when it returns to the Empire Leicester Square this coming Bank Holiday weekend.

The festival, sponsored by Film4, will kick off with horror sequel Hatchet II, starring Tony Todd, on Aug 26. Adam Green’s film is one of eight world premieres screening at the festival; others include Steve Lawson’s Dead Cert, starring Danny Dyer and Jason Flemyng, and Jonathan Glendening’s 13 Hrs, starring Tom Felton.

FrightFest will also host the UK premieres of Srdjan Spasojevic’s controversial A Serbian Film, Robert Lieberman’s The Tortured and Daniel Stamm’s The Last Exorcism, which will close the festival on Aug 30. The European premiere of I Spit On Your Grave, the remake of one of themost iconic video nasties of the 1970s, is also set to take place on Aug 28.

Gareth Edwards’ award-winning and hot international-selling debut feature Monsters, Cherry Tree Lane from Paul Andrew Williams, and Patrick Hughes’ Red Lane, starring Ryan Kwanten, will also all have preview screenings at the festival.

As well as the films showing on the main Empire screen, there will also be a programme running in the Discovery screen including the UK premieres of Kyle Newman’s Fanboys, starring Jay Baruchel and Kristen Bell, and Agnieszka Wojtowicz-Vosloo’s After.Life, starring Liam Neeson and Christina Ricci.

The festival will also host a 45-minute on stage Q&A with Tobe Hooper, taking place in the main Empire screen. The Q&A marks the first appearance of the legendary director in the UK for 18 years and will be preceded by a double bill of his debut feature Eggshells and his most famous feature The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Other events happening over the weekend include the FrightFest Quiz From Hell hosted by Andy Nyman, a short film showcase highlighting works from directors from mainland Europe and USA, as well as from the UK, and a panel discussion will follow the screening of Jake West’s documentary Video Nasties: Moral Panic, Censorship and Videotape.

FrightFest have also announced that they will be hosting their annual all-nighter on Oct 30 at the Empire. For more information, visit www.frightfest.co.uk.

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