Film4 FrightFest have announced this year’s guest line-up and it’s bloody fantastic. Italian horror maestro, Dario Argento, is pitching up for a chat as part of the Total Film Icon slot (I wrote my dissertation on Argento) along with appearances by the Soska sisters (American Mary); The Manetti Brothers; (Paura 3D); Federico Zampaglione (Tulpa); Jennifer Lynch (Chained), Paco Plaza ([REC]3 Genesis); Glenn McQuaid and David Bruckner (V/H/S), Eron Sheean (Errors of the Human Body); Peter Strickland (Berberian Sound Studio); Jaume Balaguero (Sleep Tight); Eoin Macken, plus many more!

Film4 FrightFest runs from August 23rd to 27th and will showcase 48 films on three screens. Yesterday festival co-director, Paul McEvoy, tweeted the Empire theatre (where the festival is held) is being upgraded with Dolby Atmos 31.1 sound.

Also last week, the short film showcase schedule was announced which you can read right here.

Full press release announcement with all guests listed:

As individual tickets go on sale tomorrow (Saturday 28 July), Film4 FrightFest announces its guest list, which boasts a whole host of directors from around the world including: The Manetti Brothers. (PAURA 3D), Federico Zampaglione (TULPA), Paul Hyett (THE SEASONING HOUSE), co-directors James Nunn and Ronnie Thompson (TOWER BLOCK), Jennifer Lynch (CHAINED), Paco Plaza ([REC]3 GENESIS), Matthias Hoene (COCKNEYS VS. ZOMBIES), Jon Wright (GRABBERS), Conor MacMahon (STITCHES), Glenn McQuaid and David Bruckner (V/H/S), Eron Sheean (ERRORS OF THE HUMAN BODY), Stig Svendsen (ELEVATOR), Jen and Sylvia Soska (AMERICAN MARY), Buddy Giovinazzo (A NIGHT OF NIGHTMARES), Ricky Wood Jr (SAWNEY – FLESH OF MAN), Stuart Urban (MAY I KILL U?), Peter Strickland (BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO), Jaume Balaguero (SLEEP TIGHT), Eoin Macken (THE INSIDE), Jason Ford (COMMUNITY), Dominic Brunt (BEFORE DAWN), Alex Chandon (INBRED), and Patricio Valladares (HIDDEN IN THE WOODS).

As for the stars of the movies, they have turned out in force this year, with Italian acting royalty Claudia Gerini and Michele Placido attending for TULPA, alongside producer Maria Grazia Cucinotta (star of IL POSTINO). Then there’s Rosie Day, Sean Pertwee, Kevin Howarth, Anna Walton, Jemma Powell, David Lemberg, Dominique Provost-Chalkley and Ryan Olivia from THE SEASONING HOUSE, Sheridan Smith, Russell Tovey, Ralph Brown and Kane Robinson from TOWER BLOCK), Letitca Dolera from [REC]3, Alan Ford, Ashley Thomas, Dudley Sutton, Georgia King, Harry Treadaway, Jack Doolan, Michelle Ryan and Rasmus Hardiker from COCKNEYS VS. ZOMBIES), Ross Noble from STITCHES, Katherine Isabelle (AMERICAN MARY), Kevin Bishop and Hayley-Marie Axe from MAY I KILL U?, Joanne Mitchell and Nicky Evans from BEFORE DAWN, Catherine Steadmanfrom OUTPOST II: BLACK SUN, Emmett Scanlon, Tereza Srbova and Brian Fortune from THE INSIDE, Terry Bird, Elliot Jordan and Jemma Dallender from COMMUNITY, Simon Bamford, Nick Vince and Hugh Ross from NIGHTBREED: THE CABAL CUT and Elizabeth Henstridge, Daniel O’Meara, Sean Browne, Tom Holloway, Selina Giles and Jeff Stewart from THE THOMPSONS.