Leeds International Film Festival Returns with Horror, Sci-Fi and Genre Marathons

Leeds International Film Festival (LIFF) is set to return this November for its 38th edition, offering an exciting showcase of international cinema with a strong focus on fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and dark comedy through its Fanomenon strand. Running from 1 to 17 November 2024, the festival will take place in various venues across Leeds, including Everyman Leeds, Vue Leeds, Hyde Park Picture House, and the Howard Assembly Room.

The Fanomenon section of the festival, renowned for spotlighting films that push boundaries, will feature a variety of UK premieres, retrospectives, and thrilling movie marathons that celebrate global cinematic creativity. This year’s Fanomenon opens with Escape from the 21st Century, a UK premiere from writer-director Yang Li. This fast-paced sci-fi film blends comic-book animation with high-octane martial arts, setting the tone for the festival’s more unconventional offerings. The closing film, The Killers, hails from South Korea and brings together four inventive crime stories in a gripping, inventive anthology format.

The ever-popular Fanathon marathons will also make a return. The Sci-Fi marathon, scheduled for 2 November, will present a captivating selection of films, including the UK premieres of The A-Frame and U Are the Universe, the latter of which offers a compelling narrative of an astronaut’s existential journey after Earth’s demise. Horror fans can look forward to the Day of the Dead marathon on 9 November, featuring four films from around the world, including Else, Dead Talents Society, and Dead Mail. Each one offers a fresh take on the genre, from psychological horror to surreal thrillers.

Night of the Dead, LIFF’s infamous all-night horror extravaganza, returns with a new slate of wild and gory films designed to keep audiences on edge. Highlights include Monkey’s Magic Merry Go Round, produced by Joe Swanberg, and Dark Match, an action-packed horror featuring ’80s-style pro wrestlers battling for survival.

This year’s Fanomenon competition will showcase daring films from rising filmmakers, such as Niles Atallah’s modern fairytale Animalia Paradoxa and Thibault Emin’s body horror debut Else. Other standout entries include Ivana Gloria’s Chlorophyll, Benjamin Pfohl’s coming-of-age film Jupiter, and Yannis Veslemes’s psychedelic time-travel horror She Loved Blossoms More.

One of the retrospectives this year is The Weird of Oz, which explores Australian New Wave cinema. Films such as Mad Max 2, Road Games, BeDevil, and Razorback are among those being celebrated for their significant cultural impact. The collection pays homage to the innovative spirit of Australian filmmakers who helped shape genre cinema.

With over 250 features and shorts from more than 120 countries, LIFF 2024 promises a vibrant and diverse celebration of cinema. For genre lovers, the Fanomenon strand is a key highlight, offering a rich mix of premieres, retrospectives, and immersive marathons. Tickets and passes for the festival are on sale now, with plenty of options for those wanting to dive into the world of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror. leedsfilm.com