Manchester’s very own annual horror film festival will be taking place online later this year and tickets are available to get your hands on now.
GRIMMFEST: Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Films is becoming a virtual event for the first time ever in October.
The 12th edition of the ever-popular annual event was due to take place at ODEON Great Northern, but of course, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the decision has been taken to transform it into a virtual festival and postpone the next live event to April 2021.
Horror film fans need fear not though, because a tantalising selection of feature film premieres, movie shorts and more will all be available to stream on a new online platform that audiences can enjoy from home.
Just like the festival is known to usually play out, viewing events will run from a schedule of advertised times, but this year, they’ll also be available for a longer window of time too, so you have the opportunity to watch them all at your leisure.
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So, what screenings are in store for the virtual event then?
There’s the UK premiere of Unearth – a horror confronting a Faustian pact with a fracking company, the #MeToo era-influenced vampire experience film in Ten Minutes To Midnight, and a tale of biker vengeance in Revenge Ride, to name only a few.
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As well as online screenings of 20 feature films and two short film showcases, there will also be plenty of Q&As to take part in, an exclusive talk with filmmaker Mick Garris – most-know for Masters of Horror & Stephen King’s The Stand – who will also be receiving a Lifetime achievement award, and also a special live-hosted panel session on Iconic Women in Horror.
It’s going to be a jam-packed five days of film.
Tickets for individual films will go on sale in August, but full film festival passes are available now.
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GRIMMFEST
Steve Balshaw, Chief Programmer of GRIMMFEST, said: “We are selecting some fantastic genre movie premieres that people can enjoy from the safety of their own home.”
“With so many titles already confirmed, this is shaping up to be a fine alternative.”
Simeon Halligan, Festival Director of GRIMMFEST, added: “We are indebted to the ODEON, who have worked with us to offer alternative ways to present the festival and are pulling out all the stops to help us make sure Grimmfest 2020/21 is a success.”
“We are also pleased that our key Sponsor ‘Horror Channel’ are able to continue their support throughout 2020, enabling us to put on an amazing post lockdown celebration of genre cinema”.
It sounds like it really will be GRIMM up north in October then.
GRIMMFEST: Manchester’s International Festival of Fantastic Films is taking place online from 7th – 11th October 2020. For more information on schedules, film guides and to buy your tickets/passes to the online festival, visit the GRIMMFEST website here.
What's On
Five places to watch The Traitors finale live on the big screen in and around Manchester
Danny Jones
With this year’s The Traitors finale just around the corner, Greater Manchester and the rest of the UK are preparing for one very big United Kingdom watchalong, including live viewing parties on the big screen.
Some places showed the grand finale last time around, and with the conclusion of series four fast approaching, even more have organised their own Traitors screenings in central Manchester and further afield, too.
We know plenty of you will be more than happy watching it at home, but there’s something about the idea of watching it in a room with a load of excited people over a few pints that just gets us buzzing.
All that being said, here are some places in town and beyond that are hosting screenings of The Traitors’ grand final this coming Friday, 23 January.
Live screening of The Traitors finale in Greater Manchester
1. Nell’s – Northern Quarter
First up on our list is the pizza palace that is Nell’s, specifically the one located inside beloved neighbourhood bar Common in NQ.
The place will be filling up from 8pm, ahead of the show starting half an hour later, and the full food and drinks menu will be available as normal. It’s selling out fast, so book your spot at ‘the roundtable’ now, whilst you still can.
Heading across the city centre to Gay Village, just a road over from the main throughfare of Canal Street, Richmond St’s Cockatoo Club is also holding a Traitors watch party.
Not only being played on the large projector, but also being hosted by cult favourite drag queen, Annabelle Hecter, this one should be a hoot and a half.
3. Fairfield Social Club – Greengate
Next up is one of the first ones not only to announce this year, but hop on the bandwagon of The Traitors watchalongs to begin with.
Fairfield Social Club (also the home of GRUB) are one of the experts when it comes to events like these, and it’s no surprise tickets are also disappearing rapidly. Find out more down below.
There are freebies for quiz winners, as well as the best fancy dress and Claudia Winkleman doubles.
4. Cultplex – Cheetham Hill
Our penultimate spot on the list is fellow royalty when it comes to grassroots events and championing alternative entertainment – they also happen to be the toast of Red Bank.
The Cultplex cinema team are used to smaller screenings, and if anything, this might pull in one of the most mainstream crowds all year, but they always deliver no matter what’s on the box. You can reserve your seats HERE.
5. The Light – Stockport
Last but not least, if you want to see how this season’s drama ends on a REALLY big telly, then you can always book yourself in for a trip to your nearest Light cinema location.
The Stockport branch has great food and drink, comfy recliner seats, plus plenty more – and if you’ve never done one of these live screening events before, this is a great place to start.
Featured Images — Publicity pictures (supplied)/BBC
What's On
Manchester’s biggest live yoga class with a string quartet playing calming music is back for 2026
Emily Sergeant
Manchester’s biggest live yoga class is back for 2026 to celebrate International Women’s Day.
After the first event sold out in days, Yoga Social Club has now announced an additional morning date for its highly anticipated International Women’s Day Yoga + String Quartet celebration, giving even more women the chance to take part in the unique yoga and live music experience right here in Manchester.
Taking place the day before International Women’s Day 2026, the second session has now been released following ‘overwhelming demand’ from the local community.
The two-hour immersive experience combines 50-minutes of breathwork and yoga set to live music from the Manchester String Quartet, performing works by female composers and artists like Beyoncé, Celine Dion, and plenty other iconic female music artists.
It’s then followed by an hour of ‘relaxed’ networking with refreshments.
The session – led by Yoga Social Club, Christina Whittingham – is designed to bring people together through movement, music, and meaningful connection.
“This event isn’t just about yoga,” Christina commented. “It’s about creating space to pause, breathe, connect and celebrate women in a really uplifting and joyful way, all while being surrounded by beautiful live music.
“Whether you come with friends or on your own, you’ll leave feeling connected, energised and part of something really special.”
Manchester’s biggest live yoga class with a string quartet is back for 2026 / Credit: Supplied
Yoga Social Club has gone from strength to strength since first launching.
What started as a small community-focused concept has expanded into a much wider network of classes and events led by trained community leaders – with sessions now running across more than 30 areas throughout Manchester, the North West, and the UK.
The International Women’s Day Yoga + String Quartet experience is taking place on Saturday 7 March from 9:30-11:30am at Hallé St Peter’s in Ancoats, and participants of all abilities and yoga experience levels are welcome.
Emily Sergeant -
16th July 2020 
