The eagerly awaited Romford Horror Festival is poised to captivate audiences once
again, as it returns for an extended four-day spectacle starting on Thursday, 29th
February. Now in its fourth triumphant year, this festival, born from the Romford Film Festival, promises to be an unparalleled experience, boasting its most impressive lineup to date.
With a staggering repertoire of 168 feature films and shorts, including eight enduring classic horror masterpieces, this year's festival promises an immersive journey into the macabre. Spanning two screens and featuring an exclusive third screen for riveting talks, the festival continues its tradition of premiering global cinematic gems, with an outstanding 33 world premieres set to thrill attendees. Returning favourites such as "Short, Sharp Shocks" and "Cheap Thrills" are back, alongside two exciting new additions: "Student Bodies", showcasing student films including seven from New City College, and the exhilarating "Horror Roulette", an unpredictable party where filmmakers unveil short films under 15 minutes to an unsuspecting audience.
While the festival officially kicks off on Thursday, the true crescendo awaits on
Friday, 1st March, featuring a live singer, the suspenseful horror roulette, stylized
photo shoots for attendees, and invaluable networking opportunities, complete with dedicated breakout spaces for meetings.
Esteemed director Kenichi Ugana takes centre stage this year, presenting two
gripping films, Visitors – The Complete Edition and Love Will Tear Us Apart.
Southend-based TIS Films showcases Mosaic with scenes shot at Romford’s
Mercury Shopping Centre and along the scenic Southend coast. A local filmmaker
lineup of over 35 films, including titles like Yellow, Sunday Driver, Newsgrid, Punch, and Sour Milk promises to captivate the audience. Classic horror
aficionados can rejoice as big-screen showings of acclaimed titles like Possession, The Medusa Touch, The Entity, and Cannibal Apocalypse are set to send shivers down spines.
The festival is set to host a slew of special guests, including the esteemed Cinizia
Monreale flying in from Rome, renowned for her role in the once-banned 1980 film The Beyond. Caroline Munro and Pauline Peart, with illustrious careers spanning Hammer films, Carry On movies, and James Bond, will join for a screening of The Pocket Film Of Superstitions. Graham Cole OBE, famed as Tony Stamp from The Bill, and indie film actress Dani Thompson, alongside various other horror luminaries, will grace the event. Stalls offering Blu-rays, DVDs, jewelry, art, magazines, books, and special effects add an extra layer of intrigue to the festival atmosphere.
Festival co-director Spencer Hawken expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We are truly
pulling out all the stops this year, doubling the number of films and screens, curating a jam-packed agenda to cater to every horror taste. We want attendees to revel in an outstanding experience that remains accessible; a full festival pass is available for just £36, equating to an unbeatable £9 per day.”
For those opting for a selective festival experience, day passes are available for £15, and individual sessions can be enjoyed at a nominal cost of £3.50 per session, with sales commencing on February 1st. Attendees can also engage in post-screening Q&A sessions with esteemed actors and directors.
Following last year's phenomenal success, with 1000 attendees filling local hotels,
organizers anticipate surpassing that number this year. Festival co-director Natalie
Bays asserted, “Ticket sales have been exceptionally strong this year, signalling our expectation to exceed last year's attendance.”
Last week the festival was heralded by industry website Screen Daily as one of the 50 most important festivals in the UK.
This year’s film lineup promises a star-studded affair, featuring Tony Todd, Prunella Scales, Sean Young, Jamie Lomas, Kane Hodder, Kierston Wareing, Lynn Lowry, Caroline Munro, Graham Cole, Diane Franklin, Caroline Pickles, Pauline Peart, Guy Henry, Dani Thompson, Ayvianna Snow, and a myriad of other captivating talents.
Tickets and detailed information about the film lineup are available at