Imagine Fantastic Film Festival 2024 has begun. We’ll keep you updated on yesterday’s news and today’s highlights through this daily blog. Want tips in your inbox? Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter at the bottom of our homepage. Curious about the audience scores for the Silver Scream Award? Find those here.
Oh and don’t forget to get your tickets for The Best of Imagine on Sunday 3 November. The very best way to close the festival with us!
Yesterday’s news (Wednesday 31 Oktober)
Filmconcert: Algöl | Theremin for the win! A lot of the audience members at last night’s film concert probably saw the obscure German expressionist film Algöl (1920) for the first time yesterday. The film, rediscovered around 2000, is about a mine worker who is given complete power by a malicious alien entity. Star Emil Jannings slivers his way to a climax in which all the gorgeous sets are totally destroyed. Musician Wilco Botermans knew exactly what to do: besides the theremin (the ultimate sci-fi sound!), he had a plenty of other instrument to play with, resulting in an impressive cacophony of grunts, hums, buzzes and squeaks. What an experience.
Book talk: I Spit on Your Celluloid | Was she interested in talking about a vampire movie ‘with a Stephanie Rothman vibe’, a producer once asked Stephanie Rothman. Well, you could hire me, she answered. But the producer already has someone else in mind: Tony Scott. That film was The Hunger (1983). In I Spit on Your Celluloid, writer Heidi Honeycutt offers a historical overview of the tough, prejudice-laced road female filmmakers have had to travel within the horror film industry. Honeycutt came to Imagine yesterday to talk to Patricia Pisters, professor in film at the UvA. The title of her book is a reference to I Spit on Your Grave (1978), a well-known rape-revenge tale – that Honeycutt isn’t a fan of.
Also nice: Imagine Industry had its pitch sessions, we spoke to director Emma Benestan (Animale) about coming of age and body horror, and we recorded our third final episode in the 1984 Re:Imagined podcast series in front of a live audience, with our guests discussing possible, positive alternatives for the future. Coming to your podcast app soon!
Tips for Today (Thursday 31 October)
Halloween Drag Karaoke | 21:30 in LAB111| It’s Halloween, what could than mean? Screeaaaammm! The yearly Scream Queen Contest used to be one of Imagine’s highlights. Tonight’s event honours that tradition and elevates it: discover your inner queen during our Halloween Drag Karaoke. Host Robin Lémont (Youth Pride Ambassador 2021) will help you find the mic for your five minutes of fame. Entrance is free!
Chain Reactions |19:15 in LAB111 | Documentary filmmaker Alexandre Philippe, known for 78/52 (dissecting Psycho’s shower scene) and Lynch/Oz, returns to Imagine almost every year. For his latest, about The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Philippe matches unique archival material with new footage and the knowledge of five specialists including Karyn Kusama and Stephen King. Because who doesn’t like talking about TTCSM – which was recently crowned The Best Horror Film Ever by Variety.
Shorts |At 12:15, 17:00, 19:15 and 21:40 in LAB111 | With a bit of luck, the creators of today’s short films are the superstars of tomorrow. Famous directors like David Lynch, Ari Aster and Coralie Fargeat, but also Oddity’s Damian McCarthy, all started out directing short film. So don’t miss our shorts compilations today, from Nieuw Nederlands Peil 2 and Nieuw Nederlands Peil 3 (with Q&As) to international shorts about Small Actions, Big Consequences or Outsiders and Underdogs.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom | From 14:30 in Galerie Beeldend Gesproken | Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom is a perfect cross between VR and feature-length anime. Immerse yourself in amazing fights and political intrigue whilst driving a huge Mecha, and participate in this spectacular new chapter of the ever-expanding Mobile Suit Gundam saga, which burst onto the scene in the 1979 Japanese tv show.
