Paul Golder writes for the Brentwood Gazette
It might be 9 months until Halloween but we’ve still got lots of horror fun on Phoenix FM.
Sharing the mic with presenter (and festival barmaid!) Natalie Bays on last week’s Arts Programme was local Festival Director Spencer Hawken and their two guests, Peter Blunden from the festival’s selections team and Southend based filmmaker Alex Churchyard.
Having Alex in the studio promoting his film was a great conclusion to an interview from last August where The Arts Programme shed light on the production of ‘Video Shop Tales of Terror’ – the project bringing six cult directors together to create a low budget horror anthology.
You can hear from the interview with Alex that the project has been going from strength to strength and has already had sold out local screenings, as well as further raising the status of it’s projects contributors.
There is a chance to see this great anthology along with 101 other international films, including world premieres, during the horror festival weekend, which takes place from 23 to 26 February. You can mix with independent horror film directors, participate in interviews with horror celebrities such as Silvia Collatina (House By the Cemetery) and Giovanni Lombardo Radice (Cannibal Ferox / The Omen) and even enjoy the horror-themed cocktail bar.
You can hear the interview with the team again, including film chat, reviews, and a philosophical perspective on the categorisation of horror at www.phoenixfm.com. You can find out more about the festival itself at www.romfordhorrorfestival.com.
