Icon Film Distribution (IFD) and FrightFest, the UK’s leading horror fantasy film festival, have entered into an exclusive partnership that will see IFD releasing FrightFest curated films under the banner ‘FrightFest Presents’.
Since FrightFest was set up 15 years ago, it has grown in size and stature, and today is internationally renowned for discovering exciting and original horror fantasy genre films. Last August, the festival screened 63 of the best horror films from around the world to UK audiences, with many world and European premieres. Over the years the festival directors, Greg Day, Alan Jones, Paul McEvoy and Ian Rattray, have also brought masters of the genre to the festival including Guillermo del Toro, George Romero, Dario Argento and Sam Raimi. FrightFest has developed into a brand leader for horror film, expanding its footprint in the UK by hosting special strands at other festivals to great success, such as the established three-day event at the Glasgow Film Festival.
IFD has a longstanding track record in releasing genre films, from breakout hit PARANORMAL ACTIVITY which grossed a phenomenal £10 million at the UK box office to the cult vampire thriller 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, as well as re-issues of classic Hammer titles including DRACULA and THE MUMMY. Most recently, IFD released the critical and box office hit IT FOLLOWS as well as THE BABADOOK, Jennifer Kent’s psychological horror story, which burst out of FrightFest’s August festival to become one of the most talked about horrors of 2014.
So with both going strength to strength this partnership will expand their brands nationwide. In addition select FrightFest endorsed films will be made available across the UK and Ireland via IFD’s digital partners (including Sky, iTunes, Amazon, Blinkbox, Film4OD, VirginMovies, TalkTalk, Google, Volta, and Eircom) giving film fans instant access to some of their favourite FrightFest titles. Each release will have the collective backing of both IFD and FrightFest across all social channels. The partnership deal was negotiated by Zak Brilliant, Head of Theatrical, and Sophie Wong, TV and Digital Sales Manager, for Icon, and Greg Day and Ian Rattray, Directors of FrightFest.
Paul McEvoy, Co-Director of FrightFest says, “In expanding the FrightFest brand we are opening up new audiences for horror and fantasy, a genre which already has a clear, devoted and almost fanatical fan base. With Icon as our partner and using their distribution channels, we are looking forward to talking to producers and sales companies about how FrightFest can get their films to more film fans.”
Ian Dawson, Icon Film Distribution CEO says, “Icon has always had a strong relationship with the FrightFest team, never more so than over the past 12 months when they, and their supporters, have been an integral part of our launches for The Guest, The Babadook and It Follows. We have long admired their commitment to genre and the loyal community they have built up over the years. This partnership offers a great opportunity to work together behind new and exciting content, taking it to the widest possible audience, making their community a whole lot bigger.”
Select titles for the joint venture will be announced soon and we here at CinemaChords can’t wait to hear more about this.
