Grimmfest’s Grim Tidings Stefan Lernous writer and director of Hotel Poseidon

Grimmfest is back and even better than ever with more movies and madness to make the 13th edition one to remember. Taking place between the 7th to the 10th of October at Odeon Great Northern in Manchester UK there is also a hybrid online Grimmfest edition running 14th to the 17th Oct for people unable to attend the cinema event. You can find the full 2021 line up right HERE.

Recently voted one of best genre film festivals in the World by Movie maker magazine, Grimmfest is a truly independent film festival that started in 2009. Since then the fantastic festival has grown to become one of the most prestigious genre film festivals in Europe premiering the very best new movies from both new and established filmmakers from across the world.

This year our exclusive interview feature is back bringing you some insidious insights into the frightful folks whose horror films will be blowing audiences away at Grimmfest 2021.

Below we get some Grim Tidings from Stefan Lernous writer and director of Hotel Poseidon

1. Tell us why you are at Grimmfest?
Grimmfest is one of those festivals that stands out by it’s robust programming. It’s colourful and gutsy (no pun intended) and they have the coolest guests. Also; it’s Manchester. Mancunian being the best accent and dialect EVER.

2. How did you get into horror?
I was left alone at home a lot when I was a kid as both of my parents where out working. And when I was twelve I found a VHS tape in a living room closet. It had no cover or label and I just put in the vcr. It turned out to be The Evil Dead.
I was repulsed by the atmosphere but I also found it terribly appealing. From then on, everytime we went to rent videotapes I was the one choosing the movies
me and my parents where going to see. And I mostly choose horror movies. I remember looking at the colourful artwork and choosing Squirm, Mausoleum, Neon Maniacs and Return of the Living Dead to name but a few. My parents hardly ever complained and kept letting me choose. I’m still very thankful for that.

3. What scares you the most?In real life? Being very straight forward: my own death. I try not to think to much of it because then I’ll go to a dark place. Death’s inevitabilty can be overpowering. Loosing grip on reality is another one that is very frightening. Alzheimer for example. Other things that scare me are the sometimes quite harsh opinions of people that are so easily thrown into the world.

4. Who or what is your favourite horror character?
This one is to tough. I would never be able to choose one. I’ll give you a couple. I just love Brad Dourif in Exorcist 3. Polyanna McIntosh in The Woman. Ernest Thesiger and Brember Wills in The Old Dark House. Lupita Nyong’o in Us. I guess these are all such clear but layered and intense performances. I could go on for quite a while.

5. What is the grimmest thing you ever saw?
Another tough one. At night on a roadtrip through the American South, in Georgia, the headlights of our car caught a young woman standing next to the road crying. We slowed down to check on her and she kept on repeating we should keep on driving otherwise another accident would happen. A bit further there was a car that was severly damaged stuck at the side of the road. A young man a few meters further all dressed in white was happiliy cheering. It was a delerious moment somexhat reminiscent of Sherilyn Fenn looking for her wallet in the car accident scene in Wild At Heart.

Hotel Poseidon plays Fri, Oct 8th, 10:30 AM @ Odeon Screen 5 and Fri, Oct 8th, 9:00 PM @ Odeon Screen 5 on and you can find out more and book your ticket HERE.