Abertoir Celebrates 20 Years of Terror with Killer Line-Up of Horror Greats

The Abertoir Horror Festival is turning twenty and pulling out all the stops for its milestone edition this November. Taking place from 12–16 November at Aberystwyth Arts Centre, the festival promises five days of fearsome delights, world premieres and gothic masterpieces, cementing its reputation as one of the UK’s most distinctive celebrations of horror cinema.

Opening the anniversary edition is The Bride of Frankenstein, James Whale’s 1935 masterpiece, which itself celebrates its 90th year. Whale’s presence looms large over the gothic strand, with screenings of his moody chamber thriller The Old Dark House and Georges Franju’s haunting Eyes Without a Face, alongside the UK premiere of Severin Films’ 4K restoration of Riccardo Freda’s The Ghost.

In keeping with its tradition of blending heritage with the new, Abertoir will also host the UK premiere of M?rama, a modern M?ori gothic from director Taratoa Stappard, who will attend the festival for a post-screening Q&A. Stappard’s film has already drawn attention for its striking reimagining of folklore through an indigenous lens.

Among this year’s highly anticipated premieres are Touch Me, an otherworldly drama from Addison Heimann, Indian folk horror Bokshi from Bhargav Saikia, and Theatre of Horrors, a documentary from David Gregory chronicling the bloody history of Paris’ infamous Grand Guignol theatre. Also on the slate is Mag Mag, the directorial debut of Japanese comedian Yuriyan Retriever, and Reflection in a Dead Diamond, a stylised Eurospy homage from Belgian filmmakers Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani. The festival will close with Tina Romero’s Queens of the Damned, a follow-up to her acclaimed Queens of the Dead, bringing an electrifying finish to the event.

Adding a live dimension to the festivities, BAFTA-nominated composer Simon Boswell will perform with his full band in what’s promised to be an immersive, genre-defying concert experience. Meanwhile, cult horror author Garth Marenghi will bring his latest one-man show This Bursted Earth to the stage, following the sell-out success of his Terrortome and Incarcerat tours.

Classic horror fans can look forward to a screening of George A. Romero’s The Crazies, featuring special guest Lynn Lowry, and an appearance from Victoria Price, daughter of Vincent Price, who will present a live commentary screening of Theatre of Blood and deliver a talk exploring her father’s golden years in cinema.

In a fitting tribute to cult filmmaking, Abertoir will also celebrate Michael Mann’s The Keep with a screening and the UK premiere of the new documentary A World War II Fairy Tale by Stewart Buck and Stéphane Piter. The film delves into the troubled production of Mann’s cult classic, accompanied by a featurette Into the Darkness: On-set in Wales, exploring the movie’s surprising local connection.

As ever, the festival’s short film competition will showcase 28 new works from across the globe, with European entries competing for the prestigious Méliès d’argent award.

Founded in 2006 by Gaz Bailey, Abertoir has grown from a local gathering into one of the most respected genre festivals in the UK, known for blending history, artistry and community spirit. This year’s programme, with its mix of timeless gothic, international premieres and live performance, reflects two decades of creative passion and a continuing commitment to the weird and wonderful.

Festival passes are priced at £85, with day passes at £35 and individual tickets also available via abertoir.co.uk