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
A hilarious and award-winning Star Wars burlesque show is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
In a galaxy not so far away, a smash-hit Star Wars parody and burlesque show is coming to Manchester city centre in the New Year.
You may have heard of the funny Star Wars stripper show or even seen clips of it online, but rumour has it that nothing can quite prepare you for the cheekiness of seeing this romp in the flesh.
In case you’ve been completely immersed in the dark side until now, here’s what you can expect:
Now well over a decade into its success and more than 200 Las Vegas shows, ‘The Empire Strips Back’ made its long-awaited transatlantic debut earlier this year.
Getting away at London’s Riverside Studios from May and enjoying a run until this past August, the comedy-driven twist on the classic Star Wars stories and beloved sci-fi characters was an instant hit with us Brits.
It started in Australia way back in 2011 and has gone not only to tour across Europe, but land a coveted residency at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Nevada.
Fast, funny, feisty and by all accounts, fantastic.
Now set to seek out new padawans and storm-strippers all over the cosmos, and by that we mean the UK, ‘The Empire Strips Back: Burlesque Parody’ is coming to Manchester.
Set to land at Depot Mayfield in the New Year – next spring, specifically, we cannot wait to see how this goes down with Northern crowds.
The Manc leg is scheduled to kick off on 6 March and last until 8 May, 2026, with various dates and times of day available.
It’s also worth noting that this two-hour show, including intermission, is a strictly 18+ only event; if you’re interested, you can find out more info and grab your tickets right HERE.
Manchester Open exhibition to return in 2026 with ‘biggest celebration’ of local creative talent
Emily Sergeant
The biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s creative talent is making a much-anticipated return next summer.
Taking place every two years and now in its fourth iteration, Manchester Open exhibition sees the HOME Gallery walls filled with hundreds of artworks selected by a panel consisting of art experts and community representatives.
The exhibition is open to all and welcomes entries from people of any level of experience, including established professionals, students, graduates, new and emerging talent, enthusiastic amateurs, and even first-time artists.
Artists are invited to submit work into eight different categories, with the aim of creating an exhibition ‘rich in variety’ for visitors to explore.
Manchester Open exhibition is set to return in 2026 / Credit: Jason Lock Photography
This means you’ll get to explore works of ceramics, digital/moving images, drawings, prints, paintings, photography, sculptures/installations, and textiles.
Several awards will also be up for grabs throughout the exhibition – which is set to run from Saturday 20 June and Sunday 6 September 2026 – including a prestigious new award in honour of philanthropist and business leader, Kate Voke.
Three artists will also be awarded with artist development packages, managed by HOME and Castlefield Gallery.
“Following our 10 year anniversary in 2025, we are looking forward to 2026 and welcoming applications to HOME’s biggest celebration of Greater Manchester’s artistic talent,” explained Karen O’Neill, who is the CEO of HOME.
“With a record number of applications to the last Manchester Open, we’re hoping for even more in 2026 and to demonstrate how the city continues to grow as a place where artists and creativity can thrive.”
Manchester Open exhibition is taking place in 2026 from Saturday 20 June and Sunday 6 September, and the application and submission process is now live – with all submissions being reviewed by the selection panel who make the final selection of work to be included in the exhibition.
Artists will only be able to submit one artwork, and the selection panel members will be announced in spring 2026.
Featured Image – Jason Lock Photography (Supplied)
Emily Sergeant -
16th July 2020 
