Cult Classics Return in 35mm Glory at Christchurch Grindfest

Christchurch’s Regent Cinema is preparing to welcome back Grindfest, the UK’s only festival dedicated entirely to celebrating genre cinema on 35mm. Running from 19 to 21 September, the event is now in its seventh edition and promises a weekend of cult treasures, academic insight and communal celebration of celluloid.

Curated by Dirt in the Gate Movies, Grindfest has carved out a distinctive reputation for reviving genre cinema in its original analogue format. This year’s programme is stacked with titles that have defined cult status over decades. Festivalgoers will be able to experience Dreamscape, The Howling, XTRO, American Psycho, Videodrome and Terminator 2: Judgment Day as they were originally presented. Adding further intrigue is a mystery movie slot, while a 35mm over/under 3D screening of Charles Band’s Parasite offers a rarity even for seasoned collectors and archivists.

Alongside the features, Grindfest 2025 will also showcase an international selection of short films, spotlighting emerging filmmakers as well as established voices. The inclusion of academic contributions from the Horror Research Group at Northumbria University adds another dimension to the event, with a roundtable on Women in Horror scheduled ahead of American Psycho. This blend of critical discourse and big-screen spectacle has become a defining feature of the festival, reinforcing its place as more than just a nostalgia trip.

Darren Payne, founder of Dirt in the Gate Movies, highlights the mission as both preservation and celebration. By sourcing rare prints from archives and private collections, the festival ensures these films are not only seen but experienced as intended, complete with the texture, colour and imperfections unique to celluloid. The Regent’s art deco auditorium provides an atmospheric backdrop, aligning architecture with content to enhance the cinematic immersion.

Chris Cole, Programme and Marketing Manager at the Regent, stresses the importance of the festival’s energy and the community it draws together. Grindfest has grown into one of the cinema’s landmark events, bringing genre enthusiasts, scholars and filmmakers into the same space for three days of discovery, discussion and shared appreciation.

With day passes, full weekend tickets and individual screenings available, the festival offers flexible entry points for those looking to indulge in a single classic or immerse themselves fully in its curated programme. Grindfest continues to thrive as an event where the physicality of film remains at the centre of the celebration. If you care about seeing films the way they were originally intended, this is a film festival that you can’t afford to miss!

For more information, and tickets, visit: theregent.co.uk/whatson/grindfest