In the wake of FrightFest, the UK horror film festival season really begins in earnest, and at Warped Perspective one of our favourites is Abertoir, the international horror festival of Wales. (Full disclosure for those who don’t already know: our writer Nia Edwards-Behi is the festival’s co-director.) Abertoir is always a celebration of horror cinema new and old, and they’ve always had a particular fondness for the genre output of Italy – so it’s very exciting to see that they will be hosting two bona fide Italian legends as their guests of honour at this year’s event.
As was announced today at the festival’s official website, “it is with great pleasure that we can reveal the festival’s two guests of honour this year – directors Lamberto Bava and Sergio Martino!
“Opening the festival on Tuesday, November 14th is Sergio Martino’s stylish and sensual thriller, Your Vice is a Locked Room and Only I Have the Key. With its mesmerising visuals and intricate plot, Your Vice is a definitive example of the classic Italian murder mystery, and a prominent entry in the career of our first guest.
“Over the weekend we’ll also be joined by Lamberto Bava, son of the father of the giallo himself, Mario Bava, and filmmaker in his own right. Lamberto will join us in conversation with expert Stephen Thrower to celebrate the genre and the magnificent contribution both Bavas have given to Italian horror cinema – and of course, you’ll be seeing plenty of examples from both!”
Martino and Bava are in good company, as previous guests of honour at Abertoir have included the late Richard Johnson (The Haunting, Zombie Flesh Eaters), composer Fabio Frizzi, Catriona MacColl (The Beyond, City of the Living Dead) and Lynn Lowry (Shivers).
Abertoir 2017 runs from 14th-19th November at the Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Tickets and passes are not yet on sale, but you can keep track of things at the Abertoir site and by following them on Twitter and Facebook.