Dead And SudBuried Returns with Gore, Guests and Genre Icons

The market town of Sudbury in Suffolk will once again transform into a haven for horror this October, as the Dead And SudBuried film festival returns for its ninth edition. Running from 17 to 19 October at The Quay Theatre, the three-day event is set to welcome international guests, host multiple UK premieres, and showcase a curated blend of independent horror features, cult classics and short films from around the world.

What began in 2016 as a modest one-day celebration of classic horror has grown into one of the most ambitious genre events in the UK’s regional festival calendar. Initially screening seven established titles to a local audience, the festival steadily expanded, introducing new independent features, shorts, guest Q&As and merchandise in later years. By 2021, Dead And SudBuried had evolved into a three-day programme, drawing attendees from across the country and attracting interest from filmmakers worldwide.

This year’s programme features nine new horror films currently on the international circuit. These include the workplace satire Kombucha, the child-led thriller The Rows, creature feature Pig Hill, and giallo-inspired revenge tale Death Cycle. Other entries span subgenres and styles: The Arbiter delivers high-impact British action-horror, The Last Podcast offers a satirical take on the afterlife, while Southern Nightmare pays homage to 1970s exploitation cinema. Audiences can also expect ghostly intrigue in The Caretaker and dimension-hopping murder in Redux Redux, a multiverse serial killer film already praised at SXSW and FrightFest.

Classic selections, chosen via public vote, lean heavily into cult territory. Highlights include Tobe Hooper’s 1979 adaptation of Salem’s Lot, Romero’s Day of the Dead, and French extremity hallmark Martyrs. Other titles such as Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Candyman, Scanners, and the notorious Ebola Syndrome round out a retrospective that spans decades and styles.

Complementing the feature programme are eighteen short films, each paired with a main screening. In-person Q&As are scheduled for several features, with filmmakers from as far afield as the United States travelling to Sudbury to meet local audiences. Seth Daly, director of The Rows, is among those confirmed to appear.

Beyond the screen, the event promises a festival atmosphere with food trucks, horror-themed merchandise, a licensed bar and discount partnerships with local businesses. With tickets for recent editions selling out, the 2025 festival is expected to continue that trend.

More details, including the full screening schedule and ticket information, are available at www.deadandsudburied.co.uk