Grimmfest started way back in 2009. Film makers Rachel Richardson Jones and Simeon Halligan connected with Steve Balshaw, at the time Manager of Salford Film Festival, looking to explore ways to showcase their own horror movie (SPLINTERED) alongside other film makers’ work. The idea of a Halloween night of films developed, one which would highlight new horror movies. The concept quickly spiralled into a full blown three day event, encompassing brand new features and short films alongside a handful of classic screenings.
We needed a name. We liked the catch phrase ‘Its Grim up North’ but also liked the idea of a connection with the stories of the Brothers Grimm, so we styled ourselves GRIMM UP NORTH. The name stuck for a couple of years until fans started shortening it to GRIMMFEST and so that eventually became our mantle.
Over the years the main festival has been hosted at a number of different venues, including Vue Printworks, The Dancehouse theatre, and the Odeon Great Northern. On the way, weve hosted screenings at Stockport Plaza, Gorilla, The Lass O’ Gowrie, Albert Hall, John Rylands Library, MOSI, MMU, Manchester Cathedral and many more venues.
We have screened literally hundreds of movie premieres since 2009. Previous World, UK and regional premières have included: PIGGY, THE HARBINGER, SHE WILL, VESPER, THE SADNESS, THE DEEP HOUSE, THE WRETCHED, LITTLE MONSTERS, 1BR, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, THE BABADOOK, THE DESCENT 2, SINISTER, DEAD SNOW 2, VHS, COHERENCE, THE WOMAN, AMERICAN MARY, CURSE OF CHUCKY, BIG BAD WOLVES, JOHN DIES AT THE END, THE HALLOW, EXCISION, THE MACHINE, COCKNEYS VS ZOMBIES, THE DEAD, LET US PREY, VHS, THE ABCs OF DEATH, WHITE SETTLERS and many more.
Previous Remastered classic screenings include: THE THING, THE WICKER MAN, PSYCHO, NIGHTBREED: THE CABAL CUT, THE DESCENT, AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON, HELLRAISER, HALLOWEEN, THE SHINING, THE DEADZONE, THE FLY, THE EXORCIST, THE DEVIL RIDES OUT, THE HAUNTING, RE-ANIMATOR, THE HOWLING, TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, LA BELLE A LE BETTE, THE INNOCENTS, DAWN OF THE DEAD, SCREAM, SLEEPWALKERS, E.T. and many more.
Previous guests have included: Reece Shearsmith (Inside No.9), Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers, The Stand), Alice Krige (Startrek: First contact, She Will), Neil Marshall (Dog Soldiers), AJ Bowen (The Signal), Ramsey Campbell (Author), Charlotte Kirk (The Reckoning), (Barbara Crampton (Re-Animator), Dee Wallace (E.T.), Mick Garris (Stephen King’s The Stand), Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones), Johnny Vegas (Tales from the lodge), Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin, Steve Oram (Sightseers), Ross Noble (Stiches, QI), Martin Kemp (Spandau Ballet), Patrick Mower (The Devil Rides out), Dominic Brunt (Before Dawn, Emmerdale), Robin Hardy (The Wicker Man), Pollyanna McIntosh (The Woman), Matthew Holness (Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace), Alice Lowe (Sightseers), Shaun Evans (Endeavour), The cast of Clive Barker’s HELLRAISER, Myanna Buring (Ripper Street, The Decent), Kier-la Janisse (House of Psychotic Women) and many many more.