Abertoir: The International Horror Festival of Wales is an annual horror and horror film festival held in the Aberystwyth Arts Centre in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales.
History
The festival began as a four-day event from 28th-31st October 2006, with a programme of ten feature films. This included a screening of cult horror film The Wicker Man with a talk from director Robin Hardy, as well as the British independent film Broken being screened alongside a Q&A featuring directors Adam Mason, Simon Boyes, and actress Nadja Brand.[1]
In 2014, Abertoir collaborated with the Wales One World Film Festival (WOW) for the UK premiere of the Argentinian supernatural thriller The Second Death (La Segunda Muerte).[2]
The most recent festival was held from 12th-16th November 2025, and included 20 feature films (including six UK premieres) and 30 short films, plus special guests including actress Lynn Lowry, and Garth Marenghi.[3]
Description
The festival screens new big-budget horror films, along with classics and independent films. It also includes a short film competition, screening entries from around the world. It often also features music concerts, stage productions and masterclasses.[3]
Abertoir is a member of the European Fantastic Film Festivals Federation, [3] and maintains a partnership with the Wales One World Film Festival.[4]
Notable guests
Notable guests of honour have included:[citation needed]
- Robin Hardy (2006 & 2010)
- Lloyd Kaufman (2007)
- Mark Gatiss (2008)
- Doug Bradley (2008 & 2009)
- Herschell Gordon Lewis (2009)
- Victoria Price (daughter of Vincent Price) (2011, 2015 & 2025)
- Catriona MacColl (2012)
- Richard Johnson (2013)
- Fabio Frizzi (2013, 2015, 2016 & 2024)
- Luigi Cozzi (2014 & 2016)
- Ian McCulloch (2014)
- Dario Russo and David Ashby (creators of Danger 5) (2015)
- Lynn Lowry (2016 & 2025)
- Sergio Martino (2017)
- Lamberto Bava (2017)
- Brian O'Malley (2017)
- Gary Sherman (2019 & 2023)
- John Scott (2019)
- Norman J. Warren (2019)
- Prano Bailey-Bond (2021)
- William Crain (2022)
- Robin Ince (2023 & 2024)
- Garth Marenghi (2025)
Notable premieres
The following films were premiered at the festival before general release:[citation needed]
- All The Boys Love Mandy Lane (2007)
- Dead Wood (2007)
- Planet Terror (2007)
- Colin (2008)
- The Uh! Oh! Show (2009)
- Rare Exports (2010)
Notable bands
Notable bands which have played at the film festival include:[citation needed]
- Daemonia (band of horror composer Claudio Simonetti) (2008)
- Zombina and the Skeletones (2009 and 2010)
- The Damned (2010)
- Devilish Presley (2011)
- Fabio Frizzi and the Frizzi 2 Fulci Band (2015, 2016)
See also
References
- ^ Aberystwyth Arts Centre: What's On Archived Sept 28, 2006 at the Wayback Machine, Aberystwyth Arts Centre Retrieved 30th April 2026.
- ^ Gillam, David (13 March 2014). "Preview: Wales One World Festival". Wales Arts Review. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
- ^ "About Abertoir Horror Festival". Abertoir. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
- ^ Denning, Louise (28 February 2022). "Wales One World Film Festival, The UK's Longest Running World Cinema Festival Celebrates Its 21st Birthday". Cardiff Times. Retrieved 8 October 2022.