South Africa’s Celludroid Film Festival Announces Full Line-up with Special Guest Richard Stanley

Films that will be shown during the fest include:

HARDWARE
In a post-apocalyptic future the wreckage of an unstoppable Mark 13 robot is sold as scrap to a wasteland wanderer. He gives it to his metal artist girlfriend. But it reassembles itself, going on a bloody rampage in a building complex. Richard Stanley’s debut feature film stars Dylan McDermott, John Lynch, Stacey Travis, cameos by music legends like Lemmy from Motörhead & Carl McCoy from Fields Of The Nephilim, and the voice of Iggy Pop. Soundtrack by Simon Boswell and songs incl. Ministry and Public Image Limited.

DUST DEVIL
He came from the beginning of time – to take their soul.
A woman on the run from her abusive husband encounters a mysterious hitchhiker, unfolding a dark mystery of demonic possession and the threat of an indiscriminate Soultaker. Richard Stanley’s follow-up feature film to Hardware was shot in Namibia & South Africa, starring (future RoboCop) Robert Burke, Chelsea Field, Zakes Mokae, Rufus Swart

SCREAM 4
New decade. New rules.
A special premiere pre-release screening of Wes Craven’s 4th installment of the very popular Scream series will kick off the festival (on 5 July). Starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette

INSIDIOUS
It’s not the house that’s haunted…
Another movie to catch at Celludroid before its official theatrical release (in association with the upcoming August edition of the X Fest Film Festival). Insidious involves a family fighting to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm known as The Further. Insidious will close the Celludroid festival (on 14 July). Directed by James Wan (Saw), starring Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Barbara Hershey and Ty Simpkins

GODKILLER
When free will is outlawed, only outlaws will have free will.
This unique animated Sci-Fi odyssey has a boy searching the post-nuclear wasteland to find a replacement heart for his sister. Produced like an animated graphic novel, this dark, thrilling and intense movie’s violence, nudity and strong language is no kid’s cartoon. Directed by Matt Pizzolo, featuring legendary voices like Lance Henriksen, Bill Moseley, Lydia Lunch, Davey Havoc (from the band AFI), as well as Tiffany Shepis, Danielle Harris and Justin Courtney Pierre

ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS
aka Gamera vs Guiron
Two kids enter a spaceship they discover in their Japanese neighbourhood. It takes off, transporting them to the planet Terra (on the opposite side of the sun) where sexy space chicks plan to scoop out their brains. Can the gigantic space turtle save the day?!
Features legendary post-Godzilla king-size monsters Gamera, Guiron and Gaos, in true ’60s Sci-Fi style.
Directed by Noriaki Yuasa. Starring Nobuhiro Kajima, Miyuki Akiyama, Christopher Murphy

CELLUDROID Short Films Volume 1
As with Flamedrop’s tradition of compiling feature length collections of amazing short films for the HORRORFEST and X FEST, this will be the inaugural compendium of Sci-Fi, Animation and Fantasy shorts from around the universe. These are not lifted from the web or picked up at a DVD store (as some may think a film festival is put together), but as with the feature films, these shorts are officially submitted by the movie-makers and production companies. Volume 1 will include:
R.O.A.C.H.
INSIDE US
NO FACE
ECHO
TWO YEAR GUARANTEE
CAPTAIN AMAZING LAD Part 1 & 2
DOLL FACTORY

CELLUDROID Short Films Volume 2
Volume 2 will include:
LAST STARSHIP TO VENUS
MANUAL PRACTICO DEL AMIGO IMAGINARIO
SONS OF CHAOS
SITIS
THE STORY MAKER
CAPTAIN AMAZING LAD Part 3

THE NAGLOPER vs. DR. MOREAU
Richard Stanley spearheaded the remake of The Island of Dr Moreau, adapting the screenplay, securing Marlon Brando, and signed on to direct – but then, the studio removed him from his own project… Come get the full inside story from the man himself with a live commentary, pulling no punches.

SEX GALAXY
From the producers of X Fest Best Picture winner Pervert! comes the world’s first “green film”, consisting of “recycled” cheesy and hilarious public domain movie clips to create a brand new spaced-out adventure (for adults only). Produced by Mike Davis.

PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE
Unspeakable horrors from outer space paralyze the living and resurrect the dead!
Back by popular demand – The legendary Ed Wood Jr. production is one of the classic bad movies everyone loves to watch. Featuring Bela Lugosi and Vampira.

Richard Stanley Documentaries:

THE SECRET GLORY
aka: The Secret Glory of SS Obersturmfuhrer Otto Rahn
“Stanley manages to conjure up the vision of a grand quest, which began in the 13th century and hasn’t lost its alluring power” – Oldenburg Film Festival
Combining rare archival footage, old letters and photographs to tell the story of Otto Rahn (1904 – 1939), who worked in the Occult division of the Nazi hierarchy. Rahn was convinced that he knew where to find the Holy Grail and, after being nominated as an SS officer, he finally had the resources to pursue his quest. What he discovered remains as mysterious as his untimely demise in 1939. This documentary will be followed by a Richard Stanley talk on his related book Shadow of the Grail.

THE WHITE DARKNESS & VOICE OF THE MOON documentary shorts will be screened together:

VOICE OF THE MOON
Recorded in Afghanistan in the late 80’s, with some Mujaheddin rebels (and also the late war journalist Carlos Mavroleon, who worked as producer), the film follows the people’s daily attempts to survive in a country being torn to pieces by the Russian invasion. During the shooting, Richard also encountered the Taliban. Originally made for UNICEF, the sound design is a mixture of Sufi poem and the incandescent music of Simon Boswell.

THE WHITE DARKNESS
Richard was commissioned by the BBC to film a Haitian segment for their documentary series Last of the Medicine Men, focusing on Voodoo practices. Wandering around the countryside and recording their observations, the crew witnessed at first hand that Voodoo, usually coined as re-animating the dead, is mostly about interacting with and being possessed by other world spirits, a tradition which has lived through the occupation and missionary eras and has just recently been acknowledged as a certified religion amongst others.

Richard Stanley Short Films:

CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM
Part of the series initiated by the Oldenburg Film Festival called Europe – 99euro Films. Essentially filmmakers were given 99euros to make a short film. Richard made his in the London underworld.
(will screen before Hardware)

THE MOTHER OF TOADS
A young American anthropology student and his girlfriend encounter a genuine old world witch while holidaying in the South of France. Their rational, essentially secular 21st century world view leaves them utterly unprepared for dealing with the reality of the supernatural evil that enthralls and seduces the hapless couple with bizarre, terrifying and ultimately tragic consequences. The film was designed as a homage to the EC and Warren horror comics of the past and forms the opening segment of the upcoming anthology film Theatre Bizarre that will showcase the work of outsider directors – Karim Hussein, Doug Buck, Buddy Giovanazzo and Tom Savini. (Will screen before Dust Devil.)

Literature/Comics/Books:

The Velocity Graphic anthology will have its official Cape Town launch at Celludroid. Velocity Graphic is a collaboration between SA & Australian artists in the Fantasy & Sci-Fi genre and contains 104 pages of fantastic art and storytelling. The project is entirely self-funded and is coordinated by Moray Rhoda in South Africa and Neville Howard in Australia. The core idea behind Velocity is to create a well-produced book showcasing the abilities of SA and Australian artists: “a portfolio or show of competence”. It is the first time anything on this scale has been attempted. The stipulation given the contributors was “to have fun!” The vision is to tell great stories with universal (or at least international) appeal and entertainment value – a shared vision with artists that are interested in Fantasy & Sci-fi storytelling. The Velocity launch will happen on Wednesday 6 July, 7pm (The Labia Theatre on Orange Street). Copies will be on sale, and artists & authors will also be present to meet & sign copies (Daniël Hugo, Rayaan Cassiem, Vincent Sammy, Ryan Carolisen, Andrew Cramer, Mark Rust, Mike Crafford).

A long-term interest of Richard Stanley has been the search for the Holy Grail and the Cathar genocide, which took place in the Languedoc, and the Nazi occult division’s search for this elusive treasure. He now lives in Montsegur, at the foot of the holy mountain on which stands the Cathar fortress itself. He has just published a book called The Shadow of the Grail – Magic and Mystery at Montsegur. Richard will introduce his book with an audience talk after the screening of his related documentary The Secret Glory.

CELLUDROID LINE-UP & SCREENING TIMES:
(while unlikely, subject to change)

Tickets: R30 each / Booking: 021 424 5927

TUESDAY 5 JULY
8:30pm SCREAM 4 (sneak preview)

WEDNESDAY 6 JULY
7pm: VELOCITY GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH

THURSDAY 7 JULY
8:30pm: THE SECRET GLORY (+ Richard Stanley discussion on his related book SHADOW OF THE GRAIL)

FRIDAY 8 JULY
6:15pm: PLAN NINE FROM OUTER SPACE
8:30pm: HARDWARE + short film CHILDREN OF THE KINGDOM (with Richard Stanley)

SATURDAY 9 JULY
4:00pm: SEX GALAXY
6:15pm: GODKILLER
8:30pm: DUST DEVIL + short film THE MOTHER OF TOADS (with Richard Stanley)

SUNDAY 10 JULY
4:00pm: ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS
6:15pm: CELLUDROID SHORT FILMS – Vol. I
8:30pm: THE NAGLOPER vs DR. MOREAU (live commentary to The Island Of Dr. Moreau remake, by Richard Stanley)

MONDAY 11 JULY
4:00pm: HARDWARE
6:15pm: SEX GALAXY
8:30pm: RICHARD STANLEY DOCUMENTARIES: The White Darkness & Voice Of The Moon (with Richard Stanley)

TUESDAY 12 JULY
4:00pm: DUST DEVIL
6:15pm: ATTACK OF THE MONSTERS
8:30pm: CELLUDROID SHORT FILMS – Vol. II

WEDNESDAY 13 JULY
4:00pm: THE SECRET GLORY
6:15pm: CELLUDROID SHORT FILMS – Vol. I
8:30pm: GODKILLER