The film adaptation of US horror author Brian Keene‘s novel Dark Hollow took another step towards the big screen by being picked as one of only 14 film projects selected for Frontières: The 2012 Fantasia Film Festival Co-production Market.

Part of Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival, Frontières will be held from 26 to 29 July 2012 and will feature an exciting array of filmmakers, from gifted newcomers to world-renowned masters, who will be able to present their projects to international producers, sales agents and distributors in an environment focused on genre film production.

About the film:  “On a walk through local woods rumoured to be haunted, writer Adam Shay come across a strange sight: a statue of a half-man, half- goat creature, a satyr from ancient legends, that comes to life before his eyes. Soon, women in the town begin disappearing, summoned to the woods by the satyr’s hypnotic piping. When Adam gathers his friends to hunt down the satyr and save the women, what they uncover is an unholy evil hell-bent on protecting itself and spreading its seed… “

The film is directed by Paul Campion with the screenplay by Paul Finch (both of  whom also worked on The Devil’s Rock). Brian Keene has shown his support for the adaptation.

More information about the Fantasia Industry Co-Production Market can be found HERE

The full line-up has now been announced and tickets are on sale for the 11th Fantastic Films Weekend from 15 – 17 June 2012 at the National Media Museum, Bradford. Here, from the website, is just a taste of what’s in store:

“We will be schlocking and rolling you with some of the most outrageous horror and fantasy ever committed to celluloid. Fans of schlocky horror should look out for an ultra rare print of 70′s Grindhouse classic I Drink Your Blood, our Troma triple-bill, and our Saturday night special guest Harley Cokeliss talking about his career in the genre alongside a screening of the Roger Corman-produced Battletruck. Cokeliss’ career in the genre has spanned decades and features second unit directorial duties on The Empire Strikes Back.

We’ll also be proving that sisters are certainly doing it for themselves with screenings celebrating women in the genre including Grace Jones’ classic Vamp, saucy sci-fi opus Barbarella and the soon-to-be-remade Red Sonja. We will also peek behind the scenes of Hammer with Renée Glynne, script supervisor on many of the studio’s classics including The Quatermass Xperiment which will screen alongside her interview.

One of FFW’s trademarks is its love of genre retro and we have recruited guest curator, Hammer film historian, writer and publisher, Robert Simpson to programme a unique and premiere-packed Hammer strand. We are also proud to present a FFW first – a not-to-be-missed, 3-strip widescreen Cinerama presentation of The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm. While TV Heaven will be going timelord-tastic with a Doctor Who takeover celebrating every Doctor across one weekend.

FFW also teams up with Leeds International Film Festival’s Fanomenon for an evening of giallo including a rare screening of an archive 35mm print of Four Flies On Grey Velvet and an onstage interview with new heir to the giallo crown Andreas Marschall, followed by a screening of his new films Masks.”

For further programming details and to buy tickets visit the website HERE

Raven Waiting is a new British fantasy adventure film being made in the North West by fantasy film fans. Dan Rowbottom is the director and brains behind the film which he hopes will entertain people as well as provide opportunities for UK talent.

Dan is a comics book illustrator and filmmaker whose inspiration for Raven Waiting comes from his love of films like The Dark Crystal, Pan’s Labyrinth, Lord of the Rings and Brazil.

The story of Raven Waiting takes us within the confines of a decaying Dickensian town where the inhabitants live in fear of creatures attacking in the night. The film follows Juliette as she is drawn into a story of underground societies and creatures that protect the night.

“The film at first appears to be a Dickensian drama but quickly reveals itself to be a fantasy adventure full of creatures, sprites and adventurers,” says director Dan Rowbottom.

The film will work with local talent in the North West, and is currently featured on www.sponsume.com as part of a crowd funding campaign.

Check out the film’s blog HERE

Jonathan Frid, the Canadian actor best known for playing the lead role of Barnabas Collins in the 1960s vampire ‘soap opera’ Dark Shadows, has died at the age of 87.

Frid made many stage, film and TV appearances during his career, but it was his Dark Shadows role that turned him into a household name and kept him busy throughout his career with reunions and fan events.

His other credits include the 1973 TV movie The Devil’s Daughter, co-starring Shelley Winters, and Oliver Stone’s directorial debut, Seizure. He also starred in the Broadway revival of Arsenic and Old Lace in the 1980s.

The role of Barnabas Collins is to be played by Johnny Depp in the forthcoming Tim Burton film adaptation of Dark Shadows, due in cinemas in May 2012. Frid makes a cameo appearance in the film. His character meets Depp’s character in a party scene along with two other original actors from the show.

Read the BBC obituary HERE

Photo (c) ABC/Associated Press

HarperCollins has acquired exclusive worldwide publishing rights from Warner Bros Consumer Products for tie-in books to the two highly anticipated films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, directed by Peter Jackson and productions of New Line Cinema and MGM.

“Inspired by the two films based on The Hobbit, the HarperCollins companion books are a fantastic way for fans of the world of Middle-earth to immerse themselves in the film experience,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing and Worldwide Marketing for Warner Bros Consumer Products. “HarperCollins has a strong history with the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, and we know that the detailed tie-in books will bring The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again to life in an in-depth and imaginative way.”

The Hobbit, first published by George Allen & Unwin in 1937, has been a perennial bestseller since starting life with a very modest 1,500-copy print run. Since then, it has gone on to sell many millions of copies in more than 50 languages, and in this 75th anniversary year of its publication, is set to captivate another generation of readers. HarperCollins acquired the publishing rights to The Hobbit and its sequel The Lord of the Rings when it bought Unwin Hyman publishers in 1990, revitalizing the books’ sales and steering their publishing and book licensing through the unprecedented heights of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy in 2001-2003.

Author, biographer and broadcaster Brian Sibley, who recently won the BBC Audio Drama Award for his dramatization of The History of Titus Groan, has returned to New Zealand to write the behind-the-scenes Official Movie Guides, while novelist and former Tolkien editor Jane Johnson is writing essential Visual Companions to introduce filmgoers to the remarkable world of the two films, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again. Bestselling New Zealand author and photographer Ian Brodie is writing the Location Guide which highlights the spectacular locations in New Zealand that have provided the settings for the films. In addition, HarperCollins will be breaking new ground with a range of children’s books in the form of annuals, movie storybooks and feature titles, as well as a new series of lavish hardbacks written and designed by the award-winning team at Weta, who are working closely with the production team to guarantee that these books will be bursting with insider information and stunning visual imagery.

Brought to you by the FrightFest convention organisation team, issue 10 of FrightFest, the UK’s free online fantasy and horror magazine, is now ready to download.

This issue contains a feature on the much-hyped Cabin in the Woods, which hits UK cinemas on 13 April 2012. In the first of two reports from the sets of upcoming horror films, Alan Jones recalls his trip to Italy to the set of Dario Argento’s Dracula 3D, while Nina Romain looks at the Count’s popularity with moviegoers. Russ Gomm travelled to America to speak to the Blair Witch team on the set of their latest film Lovely Molly. There is also a preview of the upcoming Terracotta Film Festival, and many other articles of interest to fantasy and horror film fans.

Download a free copy HERE

After The Woman in Black became the highest-grosssing UK horror film of the past 20 years at the box office, Hammer Films has announced plans to make a sequel. Events in The Woman in Black: Angels of Death will take place 40 years on from the first film. Susan Hill, who penned the original novel of The Woman in Black, is involved in its production.

Hammer also recently announced two more films going into production this year – The Quiet Ones and Gaslight.

Read the BBC story HERE

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror Films has announced the nominees for its 38th annual Saturn Awards. Leading contenders in film include Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Hugo, The Adjustment Bureau and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. TV nominations include Doctor Who, Torchwood: Miracle Day, Being Human and American Horror Story. The winners will be announced on 20 June 2012.

In additon to the Saturn Awards, filmmaker Martin Scorsese will receive The George Pal Memorial Award in recognition of his career achievements.

Full story HERE