Belfast International Horror Festival

Dementia 13
2023-10-31 19:00 - 22:00 (Europe/London) | The Sunflower Public House, 65 Union Street, Belfast, BT1 2JG, United Kingdom
Join The Readers in the Rue Morgue Film Club this Halloween Night for a screening of Francis Ford Coppola’s first ever film,! In partnership with The Dark Hedges International Film Festival.

We’re also having a spooky costume contest, with First, Second and Third place prizes up for grabs! Generously donated by local businessesTickets are £5 & all proceeds will go to our chosen charity The People’s Kitchen.

Please note that there is a 25 ticket limit via EventBrite but you can also pay at the door on the night! (exact change encouraged).

The Dark Hedges Horror Movie Quiz
2023-10-30 20:00 - 23:00 | The Sunflower Public House, 65 Union Street, Belfast, BT1 2JG, United Kingdom
The Dark Hedges Film Festival is hosting its first ever Horror Movie Quiz just in time for Halloween.

Come on down to the Sunflower and test your cinematic knowledge through 8 fiendish rounds.

There’ll be spot prizes and goodies up for grabs, with the night compared by local cosplayer Joanne Alexander.

Tickets are £3 each with a maximum of 4 people per team.

Black Narcissus (1947)
2023-10-29 20:15 - 21:30 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
This explosive work about the conflict between the spirit and the flesh is the epitome of the sensuous style of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. A group of nuns – played by some of Britain’s finest actresses, including Deborah Kerr, Kathleen Byron, and Flora Robson – struggle to establish a convent in the Himalayas, while isolation, extreme weather, altitude, and culture clashes all conspire to drive the well-intentioned missionaries mad.

With the help of set designer Alfred Junge and cinematographer Jack Cardiff (both rewarded with Academy Awards), Powell and Pressburger convincingly created a Himalayan convent on a Pinewood soundstage, lending the proceedings a tense, claustrophobic atmosphere

This screening will be Introduced by Victoria Brown. A horror lover, Victoria writes for BanterFlix and FrightClub NI and is the founder of The Readers in the Rue Morgue Horror Book Club and Film Club.

Programmed as part of a season celebrating the work – and influence – of film-makers Powell and Pressburger.

The Invisible Man (1933)
2023-10-29 18:00 - 20:00 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
The Dark Hedges Film Festival is screening James Whale’s The Invisible Man (1933) to celebrate the film’s 90th anniversary.

Based on H.G. Wells novel Whale’s film sees Claude Rains play Jack Griffins, a doctor who accidently stumbles on a potion that can make him invisible.

When he reveals his new ability to his old mentor (Henry Travers) and his fiancée (Gloria Stuart), it’s clear that a side effect of the potion is insanity.

Jack goes on a violent rampage, and the police struggle to hunt him down, unable to see their target, while his mentor and his former partner (William Harrigan) desperately try to devise a plan to capture him.

This screening as part of the classic horror strand of the programme, will be introduced by Victoria Brown.

Ghostwatch
2023-10-28 20:30 - 22:00 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
To mark the passing of Sir Michael Parkinson, The Dark Hedges Film Festival is screening Lesley Manning’s Ghostwatch.

The Beeb received a number of complaints as a TV crew carried out a supposedly real paranormal investigation at the most haunted house in Britain.

The mockumentary shocked a nation when it was screened on BBC one on Halloween night in 1992.

The next ninety minutes would go down in British television history.

Bad Things in the Middle of Nowhere
2023-10-28 18:15 - 19:30 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
A group of criminals lay low in the remote Irish countryside after pulling off an audacious robbery.

As they plan their escape they quickly realise the robbery will be the last thing to go right for them.

Short Film Competition (International Finalists)
2023-10-28 17:30 - 19:30 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
The Dark Hedges Film Festival presents a showcase of the 10 finalists within the international category for this year’s Short Film Competition.

Audience will be able to vote for the Audience Choice award on the night. The Grand Jury prize within the category will be announced at a later date.

There will be a short internal during this event.

Idiot Boy
2023-10-28 16:45 - 18:00 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
The residents of a small, decrepit town come to terms with the disappearance of a young girl. When a young man takes up the search, he discovers some dark secrets in the place he calls home.

Told through a series of vignettes, the residents of Ballymoss find odd and often destructive ways of passing time in a place that seems to have been forgotten.

Shot on VHS and Hi8 tapes, Idiot Boy is a unique and visceral story of darkness, black comedy and horror.

Short Film Competition (Irish Finalists)
2023-10-28 15:00 - 17:15 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
The Dark Hedges Film Festival presents a showcase of the 10 finalists within the Irish category for this year’s Short Film Competition.

Audience will be able to vote for the Audience Choice award on the night. The Grand Jury prize within the category will be announced at a later date.

There will be a short internal during this event

PARALYSIS
2023-10-28 14:30 - 16:30 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
A woman suffering from sleep paralysis learns her demons may be connected to a family secret.

Bliss Of Evil
2023-10-28 12:45 - 14:15 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
A sound engineer is forced to confront her trauma when she and her girlfriend’s grunge band are trapped in a recording studio by a shadowy killer.

H. P. Lovecraft's The Old Ones
2023-10-28 11:00 - 12:30 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
Director Chad Ferrin returns to the Dark Hedges International Film Festival with his latest feature H.P. Lovecraft’s The Old Ones. Set in 1930, sea captain Russel Marsh saw the light, and for 93 years his body was not his own. Inhabited by a Great Old One, he committed unspeakable acts in the name of the Esoteric Order of Dagon. Now free, he is in search of a way to go back in time to reverse the horrors wrought upon the world. But the cult has other plans and will stop at nothing to destroy him.

The Lost Boys
2023-10-27 20:00 - 23:00 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
Teenage brothers Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim) move with their mother (Dianne Wiest) to a small town in northern California.While the younger Sam meets a pair of kindred spirits in geeky comic-book nerds Edward (Corey Feldman) and Alan (Jamison Newlander), the angst-ridden Michael soon falls for Star (Jami Gertz) — who turns out to be in thrall to David (Kiefer Sutherland), leader of a local gang of vampires. Sam and his new friends must save Michael and Star from the undead.

This screening will be introduced by a member of the Festival’s team.

Short Film Competition: Offical Selection Category
2023-10-25 20:00 - 2023-10-31 23:59 | Dark Hedges Digital Player (Online)
Check out the 20 shorts from submissions from Irish and International filmmakers that have been included within the online ‘Offical Selection’ category of this year’s festival.

shorts are available to watch (£5) online on our digital player until 31 October on The Dark Hedges International Film Festival (vhx.tv)

Evil Dead Double Bill
2023-10-25 19:30 - 23:30 | The Belfast Barge, Lanyon Quay, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 3LG, United Kingdom
Join The Dark Hedges Film Festival for a double-bill of Ash at the Belfast Barge, just in time for Halloween.

They are screening two films within Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead trilogy on Wednesday 25th October.

First up is the director’s follow-up to the iconic original, Evil Dead 2 (1987) as Bruce Campbell’s Ash travels to a secluded cabin in the woods with his girlfriend Linda, only for all hell to break loose when the couple accidently summon a powerful demonic presence.

After a short interval they’ll screen Army of Darkness (1991) as Ash finds himself trapped in 1300 A.D, battling the undead as he tries to return home.

So come on down to the Barge, the venue will have its bar open on the night and anyone who pre-books a ticket will receive a free print designed by local artist Chris Ellis (Ellistration)

Bride of Frankenstein
2022-10-30 14:00 - 15:30 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix at the Strand Arts Centre for a screening off James Whale’s Bride of Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff and Elsa Lanchesteron as part of the Dark Hedges International Film Festival.

After recovering from injuries sustained in the mob attack upon himself and his creation, Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) falls under the control of his former mentor, Dr. Pretorius (Ernest Thesiger), who convinces him to build his monster a mate.

Local writer Victoria Brown will introduce the film with a short presentation about the queer subtext within Whale’s filmmaking

What We Do in the Shadows (In Dreams Are Monsters Season)
2022-10-29 20:00 - 23:00 | The Black Box Belfast, 18-22 Hill Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2LA, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix at the Black Box in Belfast for an Unholy masquerade Ball and a screening of Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s What We Do in the Shadows.

Viago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires struggling with the mundane aspects of modern life, like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.

So when a camera crew decides to follow their day-to-day lives as they prowl the streets of Wellington in New Zealand what’s the worst that could happen?

So dress to impress as there are prizes for the best-dressed witch or vampire on the night as local cosplayer HedgeScout hosts this ghoulishly fun event

Cosplayer’s Joanne Alexander and Graham Alexander will host our screening

Screening as part of In Dreams Are Monsters: A Season of Horror Films, a UK-wide film season supported by the National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. indreamsaremonsters.co.uk

Irish Ghost Stories
2022-10-29 18:00 - 19:00 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix for a screening of Eugene Mcpeake’s Irish Ghost Stories at the Beanbag cinema as part of the Dark Hedges International Film Festival.

A short anthology of six individual traditionally themed Irish ghost stories.

This film is part of the new cinema strand of the festival’s programme

Feed Me
2022-10-29 16:00 - 18:00 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix for a screening of Adam Leader and Richard Oakes’ Feed Me at the Beanbag cinema as part of the Dark Hedges International Film Festival.

Following the death of his wife, a broken man spirals into an abyss of night tremors and depression and finds himself in the home of a deranged cannibal who convinces him to take his own life in the most horrific way imaginable.

This film is part of the new cinema strand of the festival’s programme

The Creeping
2022-10-29 14:00 - 15:30 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix for a screening of Jamie Hooper’s The Creeping at the Beanbag cinema as part of the Dark Hedges International Film Festival.

Due to a traumatic childhood experience, Anna hasn’t returned home for many years. With her ailing grandmother, Lucy, suffering from worsening symptoms of dementia, Anna moves home to look after her.

Soon after, strange things begin happening. Though benign at first, events soon escalate into a nightmarish fight for life against a malevolent presence.

She discovers the ordeal is linked to a dark family secret, a tragic past that’s haunted Anna her whole life… and Lucy’s fading memories could be the key to solving the mystery and surviving the nightmare.

This film is part of the new cinema strand of the festival’s programme

A Life on the Farm
2022-10-29 12:00 - 13:15 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix for a screening of Oscar Harding’s documentary A Life on the Farm at the Beanbag cinema as part of the Dark Hedges International Film Festival.

When filmmaker Oscar Harding’s grandfather passed away in the rural English county of Somerset, his family inherited an extraordinary videotape – a feature-length home movie from neighbour Charles Carson, which can best be described as “Monty Python meets The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”.

But there’s so much more to the man than his bizarre videos – Charles was an inventor, an outsider artist, and a pioneer of death positivity, to name just a few of the filmmaking farmer’s achievements.

Charles’ life and work are examined by those who knew him best, as well as a whole new generation of fans who have been inspired by the legacy he left behind.

A Life On The Farm is an exploration and celebration of Charles Carson and his movies, rescued from obscurity, which presents a moving and laugh-out-loud document of a time and place in danger of being lost to history.

This film is part of the new cinema strand of the festival’s programme

Fright Night (1985)
2022-10-28 21:15 - 23:00 | Queen’s Film Theatre, 20 University Square, Belfast, Antrim, BT7 1PA, United Kingdom
The Dark Hedges Film Festival presents Tom Holland’s Fright Night as part of their 2022 programme and In Dreams Are Monsters season.

17-year-old Charley Brewster (William Ragsdale) is a fan of both traditional horror films and horror TV series, Fright Night, hosted by former movie vampire hunter Peter Vincent (Roddy McDowall).

One evening, Charley discovers that his new neighbour Jerry Dandrige (Chris Sarandon) is a vampire who’s responsible for the disappearance of several locals. When no one believes him, Charley decides to get the help of washed-up television vampire killer Peter Vincent, to stop Jerry’s killing spree.

A member of the festival’s team will introduce the screening of this cult classic, just in time for Halloween.

Screening as part of In Dreams Are Monsters: A Season of Horror Films, a UK-wide film season supported by the National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network.

Powertool Cheerleaders Vs The Boyband of The Screeching Dead
2022-10-28 19:00 - 21:00 | The Beanbag Cinema, 23, Donegall Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2FF ·, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix for a screening of Pat Higgins Powertool Cheerleaders Vs The Boyband of The Screeching Dead at the Beanbag cinema as part of the Dark Hedges International Film Festival.

A fun, feminist horror comedy musical set in the backdrop of a TV talent competition, all about friendship and pursuing your dreams no matter what – even in the eye of a Zombie apocalypse.

This film is part of the new cinema strand of the festival’s programme

Short Film Competition Finalists 2022 (International)
2022-10-27 20:15 - 22:30 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix at the Strand Arts Centre as they showcase the International finalists for their Dark Hedges Film Festival’s 2022 short film competition.

Bram Stoker's Dracula (In Dreams are Monsters)
2022-10-26 20:00 - 23:00 | The Belfast Barge, Lanyon Quay, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 3LG, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix at the Belfast Barge as they transform it into The Demeter for one night only for a screening of Francis Ford Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992) to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary as part of the BFI’s In Dreams Are Monsters season.

Gary Oldman plays Dracula whose lonely soul is determined to reunite with his lost love. He travels to England to seduce his barrister Jonathan Harker’s (Keanu Reeves) fiancée and soon begins a reign of terror.

Anyone who pre-books a ticket will receive a free print by local artist Chris Ellis commissioned specially for this event.

Screening as part of In Dreams Are Monsters: A Season of Horror Films, a UK-wide film season supported by the National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. indreamsaremonsters.co.uk

Short Film Competition Finalists 2022 (Irish)
2022-10-25 20:15 - 22:30 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix at the Strand Arts Centre as they showcase the Irish finalists for their Dark Hedges Film Festival’s 2022 short film competition.

Prince of Darkness
2022-10-24 21:00 - 23:00 | The Sunflower Public House, 65 Union Street, Belfast, BT1 2JG, United Kingdom
Join BanterFlix at the Sunflower Open House In Belfast for a special screening of John Carpenter’s Prince of Darkness on the opening night of this year’s festival as they celebrate the film’s 35th anniversary.

A group of graduate students and scientists uncover an ancient canister in an abandoned church, but when they open the container, they inadvertently unleash a strange liquid and an evil force on all humanity.

An American Werewolf in London/ The Howling (Double Bill)
2021-10-31 19:00 - 23:00 | The Black Box Belfast, 18-22 Hill Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT1 2LA, United Kingdom
Join us at the Black Box in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter on Halloween night for a double-bill screening of two iconic werewolf movies, John Landis’ An American Werewolf in London and Joe Dante’s The Howling.

In Landis’ An American Werewolf in London David and Jack, two American college students backpacking through Britain are attacked by a large wolf late one night. David survives with a bite, but Jack is brutally killed. As David heals in the hospital, he’s plagued by violent nightmares of his mutilated friend, who warns David that he is becoming a werewolf and soon enough his warnings come true.

In Joe Dante’s The Howling Dee Williams’ television reporter Karen is sent to a remote mountain retreat to recuperate after surviving a brutal attack, but she soon discovers that the residents may not be what they seem.

Doors open at 6:30 pm with the first film beginning promptly at 7 pm after a brief introduction by a member of the festival’s team. There will be a brief intermission between each screening.

Anyone who pre-books a ticket for our double-bill screening will receive a print we’ve specially commissioned local artist Chris Ellis (Ellistration) to celebrate the occasion.

Running Order

The Howling – 7 pmAn American Werewolf in London – 8:45pm

Frankenstein (90th Anniversary)
2021-10-31 16:10 - 17:30 | The Strand Arts Centre, 152-154 Holywood Road, Belfast, United Kingdom
Join us at the Strand Arts Centre for a one-off screening of James Whale’s Frankenstein starring Boris Karloff on Halloween as we celebrate the film’s 90th anniversary.

A member of the festival’s team will introduce the film prior to the screening

Blade
2021-10-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Movie House Cinemas City Side, 100-150 York Street, Belfast, Antrim, BT15 1WA, United Kingdom
Date: Saturday 30 October 2021

Time: 7 pm

Venue: Movie House Cinemas, Cityside

Running Time: 120 minutes

More Info

Before Black Panther, there was Blade!

Travel back to 1998 as the Dark Hedges Film Festival screens Stephen Norrington’s Blade as part of Black History Month.

The film stars Wesley Snipes as the aforementioned Blade, a half-vampire, half-mortal man determined to protect the human race from a group of blood-sucking vampires led by Stephen Dorff’s Deacon Frost.

Blade was the first film to feature a black superhero and as such was a trailblazing achievement back in 1998, laying the foundations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we know it today.
