We proudly present six fierce films in competition for this year's Best Feature Film award at Grossmann Fantastic Film and Wine Festival, taking place from the 10th to the 14th of July in Ljutomer, Slovenia.
If you were drawn into the abyss of rural horror with Robert Eggers' The Witch at our 2016 edition, Lukas Feigefeld's HAGAZUSSA – A HEATHEN'S CURSE will take you over the edge of madness and psychological dread with its stunning display of pagan beliefs and hopeless cruelty of life in the Alps in the 15th century. Hagazussa is a prime example of arty folk-horror for the 21st century which will continue to haunt you long after the screening.
After zombie comedy Attack of the Lederhosen Zombies, which received a special mention of the Vicious Cat jury at Grossmann 2016, Austrian director Dominik Hartl strikes again with slasher comedy PARTY HARD DIE YOUNG. Shot at Croatian seaside, this is an extremely amusing film, full of juicy jokes and gory killings, tightly paced and with plenty of twists to make sure that there isn't a dull moment on this thrilling ride.
Inspired by a traditional Basque folk tale, director Paul Urkijo Alijo's first feature ERREMENTARI (his short film Black Forest was screened in Melies d'argent competition program at Grossmann 2015) offers an immensely enjoyable blend of fairytale, comedy and horror. Its production value is on par with Hollywood blockbusters (one of the producers is Alex de la Iglesia), but its authenticity, wits and huge heart leaves any of them far behind.
TRAUMA is the most shocking, brutal and extreme horror film in recent times. From the opening scene, set in the times of military dictatorship, it is clear that director Lucio A. Rojas will put the viewers through a terrible ordeal. But this shock therapy of countless extremely disturbing scenes has its purpose and forces the audience to think about the nature of violence and the consequences it has on the next generations. You have been warned!
Police thriller blends with psychological horror in tense British film CHARISMATA, underlined by an abundance of dark humour and splashes of grisly gore. Directors Andy Collier and Toor Mian don't try to reinvent the genre rules, instead they offer a thrilling ride, made with astounding technical skill and precise building of tension which culminates in a terrifying finale that will knock you off the edge of your seat.
Nothing is sacred in low-budget black comedy masterpiece VIDAR THE VAMPIRE where Troma meets Kaurismäki. Religion, political correctness and good taste in general are torn apart, dragged through the mud and ruthlessly stepped upon by the writer/director duo Thomas Aske Berg & Fredrik Waldeland, who provide the unsuspecting audience with numerous unforgettable scenes, backed by a marvelous musical score.
Dominik Hartl, Paul Urkijo Alijo, Andy Collier and Thomas Aske Berg are coming to Ljutomer to announce the screenings of their films and will also gladly answer any questions from the audience.
More info on this year's film program can be found here:
