Mayhem Film Festival launches skeleton edition for 2020
Mayhem Film Festival returns in October with a new “skeleton” edition.
Taking place between 15 – 18 October, Skeleton Mayhem will be a condensed festival experience that will retain its dedication to curating the best in horror, sci-fi and cult cinema; a dedication that has driven Mayhem Film Festival’s growth in popularity over the past 15 years, culminating in its highest ever admissions in 2019.
Steven Sheil and Chris Cooke, directors of Mayhem Film Festival said: “We’re really pleased to bring Mayhem back to Broadway Cinema for this year’s edition. The disruption of the pandemic has obviously meant changes in the way we do things, but we’re looking forward to welcoming back our audience to this year’s festival - temporarily slimmed-down from our normal programme - with the plan to be fully fleshed-out again next year.”
Stewart Terry, Director of Marketing and Communications at Broadway Cinema added: “Mayhem is a key part of Broadway’s programme and it would have been really disappointing if we couldn’t have run it in some form this year. We’ve been working closely with the Mayhem team to get to a point where we can present it in a way that is safe for audiences but doesn’t compromise on the experience and quality Mayhemians have come to expect.”
Unfortunately, due to Skeleton Mayhem being a condensed edition, and screen capacity being limited, there will be no passes available for this year's festival and each screening will require an individual cinema ticket. The Mayhem team have recently attended the Cannes' Virtual Market so they can start programming this year's festival ASAP and the first titles will be available soon.
Additionally, Mayhem’s short film submission date has been extended in order to give filmmakers more time to submit their short films to the ever popular shorts programme. Festival director Chris Cooke is keen for filmmakers to submit their shorts: “still beating at the dark heart of the festival is the shorts programme that started the festival originally - we want your shorts now!"
Filmmakers can submit their short film via Film Freeway
Notes to Editor:
Mayhem Film Festival
Mayhem Film Festival is a cutting-edge event bringing you the very best in genre cinema and television. From premieres, new releases and previews to cult classics, breakthrough shorts, midnight movies, masterclasses, live experiments and more - Mayhem offers a unique and exciting viewing experience for audiences across four days.
Past guests and events have included masterclass with Robin Hardy (The Wicker Man), special archive presentations from Mark Gatiss (The League of Gentleman, Sherlock, Doctor Who) and a panel from the cast and creators of hit TV series Being Human. Mayhem has also presented special previews with BAFTA such as Sightseers with special guest Ben Wheatley.
"Mayhem is marked by its bold and transgressive programming... and that makes it one of the best horror festivals around." Starburst Magazine
"Once again, the most enjoyable horror fest of the year... perfect venue, friendly atmosphere and of course great programming." FAB Press.
Broadway Cinema
Screening independent British and World film alongside Hollywood blockbusters and classic cinema retrospectives, Broadway is one of the UK’s leading independent cinemas attracting thousands of visitors each year to its four-screen cinema, Cafébar and meeting, workshop and office spaces.
Broadway’s wider role includes encouraging the development of new talent and supporting learning through programmes such as the BFI Film Academy, and innovation and enterprise for people working in the creative and digital industries with initiatives such Near Now, Broadway’s studio for arts, design and innovation, and the Near Now Fellowship, their artistic and professional development programme.
Broadway is also home to award-winning filmmakers such as Jeanie Finlay (Game of Thrones: The Last Watch, Seahorse: The Dad Who Gave Birth) and Wellington Studios (BAFTA Scotland award-winning Calibre, London to Brighton) who regularly receive international acclaim for their work.
Broadway is also the home of the BFI’s Film Hub Midlands, a key driving force behind film culture in the Midlands that provides training and funding to ensure people in the region watch, make and show films and has also been awarded a BFI Screen Diversity Mark.