Hey folks, Harry here... Joyously hectic days for me these days! First off - the utterly fantastic NACHO LIBRE event has had a slight scheduling snafu occur. It almost threatened to cause the entire event to implode, but due to the wonderful folks at Paramount and Tim League and mine's efforts... we were able to make it all work - albeit a few days later. Shucks. I wanted Luchador Madness NOW! - But - we will be calm... till it is time to unleash luchador inspired screams of glee! Also - due to this slight delay in the timing of the event... a special rare treat will be unleashed. Cartuna - has been tooling away at his Disney Animation Studio Desk - that he got for cheap when those fools canceled their 2D animation department... creating the NACHO vs ROJO wrestling animation. Now - you good folks will see the corner animation version of this micro-masterpiece... but... At this event - a special ANIMATORS-CUT version will be seen on the THEATRICAL SCREEN - where the animation will premiere. I can say... with the utmost confidence that this is amongst the top 3 or 4 funniest Harry animations ever. You have not lived - till you've seen Cartuna's animated version of Jack Black's Nacho. It is... BRILLIANT!
Lastly - here we have the beginnings of FANTASTIC FEST 2006. We had the first meeting of the madmen and woman behind the programming and planning of this festival at my new Fortress of Geek Non-Solitude - around my sci fi table from Denmark and popped Espresso Beans while dividing up the various responsibilities for the Festival. This was supposed to go out about 2 weeks ago, but I've been insanely captivated by personal engagements, so to speak, so you'll have to forgive the lateness of this... Having said that - tickets are officially available in mass limited quantities right now this very second!
FILMMAKERS!!! -- If you have created a film that qualifies as one of the following... Horror, Fantasy, Suspense, Science Fiction or Animation... or that the word FANTASTIC would apply - we're looking for films that have yet to be discovered and the very best that has been discussed. We're also working to make sure we have a few "acquisitions" folks in attendance to help your chances of possibly breaking your film from the world of obscurity into the realm of the widely known.
STUDIOS!!! -- Last year's selection of FANTASTIC fare was very well received. In addition the panel we did on NARNIA with props and a special sneak peek at the film was exceptionally well received. If you'd like to get some great buzz and coverage going on your FANTASTIC films... and if you'd like FANTASTIC associated with your "film" contact me to discuss the various FANTASTIC options you have in mind.
Without further ado - here's the official release...
FANTASTIC FEST
SEPTEMBER 21-28, 2006
AUSTIN, TX
a 7 day festival of horror, sci-fi, fantasy and genre films.
Fantastic Fest 2006 is kicking off a promotion drive this week!
Year two of Fantastic Fest brings forth a number of exciting changes. We have expanded from 4 to 7 days and will be doubling the amount of film content. Plus, we'll have more official parties, more shorts, more panels, more visiting filmmakers and celebrities. And with all that, the cost of festival badges has actually gone down!
VIP Badges and Festival passes are available for sale this week. Monday, May 1 at noon at FantasticFest.Com.
Festival passes are available from May 1 until July 15 at the price of $110. VIP Badges are also available until July 15 for $160 and include a limited edition T-shirt and poster as well as guaranteed admission to all screenings, panels, 3 VIP parties and the awards ceremony. The first announcement of 2006 Festival content will be on July 15, 2006.
Call for Entries.
Fantastic Fest is now accepting submissions for the 2006 Festival. There is a downloadable PDF submission form, or filmmakers can submit via WithoutABox.Com. The 2006 Fantastic Fest features both Jury and Audience Awards for selected competition shorts and features.
More information on the 2006 Fantastic Fest:
WHAT?
The Fantastic Fest is a seven day festival of the best new Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy and genre films, as well as choice classic and obscure cult titles from all over the world. Among other films, last year's Fantastic Fest featured U.S. premieres of John Favreau's Zathura, Eli Roth's Hostel, Robert Rodriguez's Sin City: The Director's Cut, Werner Herzog's Wild Blue Yonder and John Gulager's Feast (Project Greenlight).
WHY?
Fantastic Fest was created to offer exposure to genre films which are often overlooked by the traditional festival circuit. We strive to offer acquisition, media and exhibition opportunities for undistributed films as well as to spotlight upcoming genre theatrical releases and give audiences a chance to see 35mm prints of repertory genre classics.
WHERE?
All Fantastic Fest screenings are held on multiple screens of one venue, the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema located on South Lamar in Austin, Texas. The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was named the best theater in America by Entertainment Weekly in 2005.
WHEN?
The 2006 Fantastic Fest runs from September 21-28. Badges go on sale at noon on May 1. Badge pickup begins at 1 PM on September 21. We are currently accepting submissions. The submission deadline for competition shorts and features is July 15, 2006.
WHO?
The Fantastic Fest is presented by the Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, and sponsored by Ain't It Cool News and Jackson Walker. Co-chairs are Paul Alvarado-Dykstra and Tim McCanlies, and the festival director is Tim League, with a programming team that includes AICN's Harry Knowles, Big Smash and Cinemuerte Film Festival founder Kier-La Janisse, SXSW Film's Matt Dentler, and the Alamo Drafthouse's Lars Nilsen.
For more information, please visit FantasticFest.Com
