16/06/2026
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST ’2026 FILM FESTIVAL
The masters of celluloid are back for GRINDFEST the EIGTH edition! Join us for 3 days of classic genre film and share the ultimate cinematic experience in the luxurious Art-Deco surroundings of the Regent, Christchurch!
We’ve once again tirelessly searched archives and collections the world over to present to you, rare film prints, some of which you just won’t see anywhere else projected on these shores from the beloved 35mm format.
This year we’re delighted to announce our headline sponsor, Arrow Video. This is a perfect collaboration with a mutual shared passion for genre film. Weekend Passholders will be in for some special treats!
The Horror Research Group based at Northumbria University are once again supporting GRINDFEST and will be introducing selected films across the weekend.
As always, a heartfelt thanks to BFI Film Hub South West for their continued and much valued support.
A massive thanks to Dead Good Tees for another inspired poster design!
Some of the highlights this year include another 1980’s 3D classic rarely ever screened in the UK in its original 35mm over/under 3D process, STARCHASER: THE LEGEND OF ORIN. Long out of circulation and with special arrangement with the producers, this animated sci-fi classic promises to be a cinema adventure you won’t forget, and we’re delighted to be able to bring it to GRINDFEST.
Presumed wiped during the BBC’s routine tape‑erasure policies of the 1960s and 70s, “No Such Thing as a Vampire” has lived for decades as a rumour, a footnote, and a ghost story whispered among British television historians. Thanks to the recent discovery of a 16mm film recording print at The Regent and in association with Film Is Fabulous who implemented the restoration work, this screening resurrects a rare survivor from LATE NIGHT HORROR, the BBC’s short‑lived but influential attempt to bring adult, after‑hours terror to the nation.
Our Mystery Movie slot on Saturday 19th September is always a thrill. This year is no exception. DON’T miss it!
Also, championing emerging and established film making talent from around the world, we’re thrilled to include our well-established SHORT FILM SHOWCASE. Last year we were honoured to screen some incredible short films in our line-up from some exceptionally talented film makers including the UK Premiere of THE COMPLETE PACKAGE from Director Wyn Wallace. We can’t wait to share this year’s exceptional short film line up with you on the big screen.
So, join us, share the love, give streaming a break, come and get your GRIND ON and immerse yourself in 3 days of mind melting genre filmic action and enjoy classic and contemporary film as it’s meant to be seen, theatrically on the big screen with friends.
3 Day pass on sale now here -> https://linktr.ee/dirtinthegate
Individual tickets and day passes will be available end of June.
(Please note, you must be 18 years old or over to purchase and use a single day or 3 Day pass)
**Friday 18th September**
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – eXistenZ (1999) - [35mm]
Directed by David Cronenberg
Starring Jude Law Jennifer Jason Leigh Ian Holm
1999| 91m| CANADA | (18) | 1.85:1 | DOLBY SR|
“He’s only a game character!”
GRINDFEST day one starts with DAVID CRONENBERG’S eXistenZ which plunges into a surreal, bio tech future where virtual reality gaming blurs dangerously with real life.
When visionary game designer Allegra Geller becomes the target of assassins during a test run of her new organic game system, she and a reluctant marketing trainee are forced to jack into eXistenZ to uncover who’s hunting her—and why. As layers of reality peel away, the characters (and the audience) are left questioning what’s real, what’s programmed, and whether the game has already taken control.
Screening form an original theatrical 35mm print!
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – VAMP (1986) - [35mm]
Directed by Richard Wenk
Starring Chris Makepeace Sandy Baron Robert Rusler
1986| 93m| USA | (15) | 1.85:1 | Mono|
“This has been one wacky night!”
We continue our 3-day genre event with the classic and criminally underrated horror comedy, VAMP.
This 1986 cult classic is a perfect cocktail of gothic glamour and ’80s attitude.
When two students venture into the city after dark to secure entertainment for their frat, they wander into a mysterious nightclub ruled by a seductive vampire queen and her undead entourage. What begins as a simple errand, spirals into a night of danger, dark humour, and unforgettable style. Prepare to step into a world where the neon glows bright and the shadows bite back..
The DITG team are thrilled to screen this from an original 35mm print!
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – BASKET CASE (1982) - [35mm]
Directed by Frank Henenlotter
Starring Kevin Vanhentenryck Terri Susan Smith Beverly Bonner
1982| 95m|USA (18) | 1.85:1 | Mono|
“What’s in the basket?”
Day one of GRINDFEST ’26 concludes with the perfect late-night movie, BASKET CASE!
A must-see video rental of the 1980s, Basket Case follows Duane Bradley, a shy young man who arrives in New York City carrying a locked wicker basket that hides a horrifying secret: his deformed, once conjoined twin brother Belial, who survived their separation and now communicates with him telepathically. Together, the brothers hunt down the doctors who forcibly split them apart, leaving a trail of grisly revenge through the city’s sleazy underbelly. As Duane struggles between protecting his monstrous sibling and pursuing a normal life, the film spirals into a mix of dark humour, raw practical effects, and unforgettable grindhouse energy and is one of the most outrageously bizarre, gory and insanely enjoyable horror films of its time.
The DITG team are thrilled to screen BASKET CASE from an original 35mm print!
**Saturday 19th September**
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – STARCHASER THE LEGEND OF ORIN 3D (1985) - [35mm]
Directed by Steven Hahn
Starring the voices of Joe Colligan Carmen Argenziano Noelle North
1985| 100m| USA | (PG) | 2.35:1 Over/Under 3D| Dolby Stereo|
“Never dig up. Up is hell..”
We’re proud to have been able to recently resurrect the experience of projecting original 35mm over/under 3D prints, titles including AMITYVILLE 3D, JAWS 3D, FRIDAY THE 13th 3D, FLESH FOR FRANKENSTEIN 3D, SPACEHUNTER 3D, TREASURE OF THE FOUR CROWNS 3D and PARASITE 3D at last year’s GRINDFEST. Using modern chromatic filtered lenses and matching 3D glasses by Panavision, naturally we’re stoked to bring another of the 1970’s/80’s 3D revival era to this year’s festival!
GRINDFEST day two starts with a special Over/Under 3D 35mm screening and rare theatrical outing of this seminal 1985 animated classic STRACHASER: THE LEGEND OF ORIN.
A pioneer in 3D stereoscopic animation, this 1985 space opera is a visual spectacle that pushed the boundaries of the medium. Set on the subterranean Mine-World, the story follows Orin (Joe Colligan), a young slave who discovers the hilt of a legendary sword and escapes to the surface to lead a rebellion against the robotic "god" Zygon.
This screening presents a rare opportunity to experience the film in its original 35mm 3D format using the over/under (single-strip) process, which captured the film's ambitious mix of traditional hand-drawn art and early computer-generated imagery. Often compared to Star Wars for its heroic archetypes—including the cynical smuggler Dagg Dibrimi and the feisty fembot Silica—Starchaser: The Legend of Orin remains a landmark achievement as the first full-length animated feature to be produced and released in 3D.
DITG are thrilled to screen this in its original 35mm 3D process at GRINDFEST thanks to the writer Jeffrey Scott and Director Steven Hahn.
(3D Glasses will be loaned for the screening)
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM SHOWCASE
Directed by Various
Starring TBC
Various | Worldwide | (18)| DCP
Championing emerging and established genre film making talent from around the world, we’re proud to present a meticulously curated short film programme to inspire and engage but ultimately showcase the importance of short film as a medium up on the big screen with an audience in a special, unique environment.
Keep a watch on Dirt in the Gate Movies Social Media channels to discover more as and when more titles are announced.
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND (1990) – [35mm]
Directed by Roger Corman
Starring John Hurt Raul Julia Nick Brimble Bridget Fonda
1990| 90m|USA| (18) | 1.85:1 | Dolby Stereo
“Iam..Frankenstein!”
Dirt in the Gate Movies are thrilled to bring this ambitious 1990 sci-fi horror hybrid underseen classic to GRINDFEST! Directed by legendary schlock-meister Roger Corman, John Hurt stars as Dr. Joe Buchanan, a 21st-century scientist who invents a particle weapon that accidentally fractures the space-time continuum. Transported from 2031 to 1817 Switzerland, Buchanan comes face-to-face with his intellectual counterpart, Dr. Victor Frankenstein (Raul Julia), and the literal embodiment of his creation (Nick Brimble). As the modern scientist witnesses the unfolding gothic horror, he attempts to intervene in the tragic loop, engaging with a fictionalised Mary Shelley (Bridget Fonda) and facing the catastrophic consequences of technological irresponsibility. Based on the novel by Brian Aldiss, this cult curiosity blends thoughtful philosophical debate with visceral horror and marks a unique, post-modern return to the director's chair for Corman.
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (1989) - [35mm]
Directed by Dwight H. Little
Starring Robert Englund Jill Schoelen Alex Hyde-Whyte
1989| 90m| USA| (18) | 1.85:1 | Dolby Stereo|
“Only love and music are forever”
Diverging from the romantic grandeur of the stage musical, Dwight H. Little’s 1989 adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera reinvents the Gaston Leroux classic as a visceral, time-shifting gothic slasher. Starring horror icon Robert Englund as Erik Destler, a disfigured composer who sells his soul to the devil so his music will be immortal—at the price of a face he must "stitch" together with the skin of his victims. When modern-day Juilliard student Christine Day (Jill Schoelen) unearths his lost score, a mysterious accident transports her back to 19th-century London, where she becomes the muse and prisoner of the murderous maestro. Featuring early appearances by Bill Nighy and Molly Shannon, this rare 35mm screening highlights the film’s sumptuous, Hammer-homage palette and its gruesome, practical makeup effects by Kevin Yagher.
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – TENEBRAE (1982) - [35mm]
Directed by Dario Argento
Starring Anthony Fanciosa Christian Borromeo John Saxon Daria Nicolodi
1983| 100m| ITALY | (18) | 1.85:1 | Mono|
“Let me ask you something? If someone is killed with a Smith & Wesson revolver... Do you go and interview the president of Smith & Wesson?”
Following his surreal supernatural odysseys Suspiria and Inferno, director Dario Argento returned to the giallo roots that made him famous with this 1982 masterpiece of style and suspense. The film stars Anthony Franciosa as Peter Neal, an American mystery novelist who arrives in Rome to promote his latest bestseller, Tenebrae, only to find himself stalked by a razor-wielding serial killer who mirrors the gruesome murders in his book. Abandoning the technicolour phantasmagoria of his previous work for a cold, clinical, and ultra-modern aesthetic, Argento—working with cinematographer Luciano Tovoli—uses Rome's brutalist architecture as a sterile backdrop for some of the most elaborate and technical sequences of his career, including a legendary, gravity-defying crane shot. This 35mm screening offers a rare chance to experience the film’s blindingly bright visuals and pulse-pounding score by Goblin (Simonetti-Morante-Pignatelli) in its original format, showcasing why Tenebrae remains a definitive, metafictional peak of Italian horror and DITG are delighted to bring it to GRINDFEST.
Dirt In The Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – MYSTERY MOVIE (????) - [????]
Directed by ????
Starring ????
????| ??m|???? | (18) | ?? | ??|
No clues, no hints. What WILL the MYSTERY MOVIE be?
**Sunday 20th September**
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – SILVER BULLET - (1985) – [35mm]
Directed by Daniel Attias
Starring Corey Haim Gary Busey Everett McGill
1985| 95m| USA | (15) | 2.35:1| Mono|
“It looked like Bigfoot had used it for a toothpick!”
A small Maine town is gripped by fear as a series of brutal murders sparks rumours of something far more sinister than a human killer. When Marty (Corey Haim) becomes convinced a werewolf is stalking the streets, he sets out to expose the truth before the next full moon. Stephen King’s novel, Silver Bullet roars back to life in a rare 35mm outing, showcasing a unique blend of suspense, heart, and creature‑feature spectacle.
The DITG team are thrilled to screen this from an original 35mm print in the UK!
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – BILLY THE KID AND THE GREEN BAIZE VAMPIRE (1985) – [35mm]
Directed by Alan Clarke
Starring Phil Daniels Bruce Payne Alun Armstrong
1985| 95m| UK | (PG) | 1.85:1 | Dolby Stereo
“When I've finished with the Green Baize Vampire, he's gonna need a blood transfusion, a brain transplant and a set of National Health railings”
A film so defiantly strange it feels like it slipped in from a parallel universe, Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire stands as one of the boldest, most unclassifiable entries in British cinema. Part rock opera, part horror‑tinged sports melodrama, part social satire, it transforms the world of professional snooker into a mythic battleground where youth, class, and superstition collide under neon lights.
The story follows Billy the Kid, a brash young hustler whose rise threatens the dominance of the Green Baize Vampire — an immortal, aristocratic cue‑sport legend whose theatrical presence borders on the supernatural. Their rivalry builds toward a high‑stakes showdown staged like a ritual sacrifice, complete with pounding musical numbers, surreal choreography, and a visual palette that swings between music‑hall camp and gothic excess.
But beneath the spectacle lies a sharp commentary on 1980s Britain: the old guard clinging to power, the working‑class upstart fighting for a place at the table, and a media circus eager to turn everything into a spectacle.
Long misunderstood and often dismissed on release, Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire has since earned its place as a cult treasure: a musical horror western about snooker that shouldn’t work, yet somehow does so brilliantly. This 35mm screening invites audiences to rediscover — or finally discover — a film that remains as audacious, playful, and utterly singular as the day it premiered and we’re delighted to bring it to GRINDFEST.
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – LOST FILM SPECIAL BBC’s LATE-NIGHT HORROR ‘NO SUCH THING AS A VAMPIRE’
Directed by Paddy Russell
Starring Andrew Keir Meg Wyn Owen Peter Blythe
1968| 30m + Introduction| UK | (18) | 1.37:1 |
Long presumed wiped during the BBC’s routine tape‑erasure policies of the 1960s and 70s, “No Such Thing as a Vampire” has lived for decades as a rumour, a footnote, and a ghost story whispered among British television historians. Thanks to a recent discovery of a 16mm film recording print at The Regent and in association with Film Is Fabulous who implemented the restoration work, this screening resurrects a rare survivor from Late Night Horror, the BBC’s short‑lived but influential attempt to bring adult, after‑hours terror to the small screen.
Adapted from Richard Matheson’s taut psychological tale, the episode unfolds within the confines of a troubled household where fear, superstition, and manipulation intertwine. A woman becomes convinced she is being preyed upon by a vampire, while her husband insists on rational explanations. What follows is a tense, claustrophobic dance between belief and denial, where the threat may be supernatural — or may be something far more human. Even in fragmentary form, the story’s power lies in its ambiguity, its slow tightening of dread, and its refusal to offer easy answers.
As with much of British television from this era, the production was originally shot on videotape, giving it a distinctive immediacy — a sense of live theatre captured in close‑up. Seeing it now, after decades of absence, offers a rare glimpse into the BBC’s willingness to experiment with horror at a time when the genre was still considered transgressive for broadcast. The performances, staging, and atmosphere speak to a moment when television was discovering how to unsettle viewers not with spectacle, but with suggestion.
This screening is both a celebration and a reminder: a celebration of the archivists, collectors, and enthusiasts who keep lost media alive, and a reminder of how much cultural history vanished in the era of wiped tapes. No Such Thing as a Vampire stands as a testament to what survives — and what might still be out there, waiting to be found.
We’re delighted to bring this long-lost episode to GRINDFEST.
Dirt In the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – THE PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS (1991) - [35mm]
Directed by Wes Craven
Starring Everett McGill Wendy Robie Brandon Quintin Adams Ving Rhames
1991| 100m| USA | (18) | 1.85:1 | Dolby Stereo|
“My name is Fool, what’s yours?”
Wes Craven’s darkly comic urban nightmare follows Fool, a young boy who breaks into the fortified home of his ruthless landlords only to discover a labyrinth of secrets beneath the floorboards. What begins as a simple heist, spirals into a claustrophobic battle for survival as Fool confronts the deranged couple who rule the house — and the feral, long‑imprisoned souls hidden in the walls. Shot with Craven’s signature blend of social satire and genre mayhem, the film turns a decaying Los Angeles mansion into a living organism of paranoia, cruelty, and rebellion, making it a perfect fit for the penultimate GRINDFEST slot.
The DITG team are thrilled to screen this from an original 35mm print!
Dirt in the Gate Movies // Arrow Video Presents: GRINDFEST – THE WICKER MAN (1973) - [35mm]
Directed by Robin Hardy
Starring Edward Woodward Christopher Lee Diane Cliento
1973| 90m| UK | (15) | 1.85:1 | Mono|
“What religion can they possibly be learning jumping over bonfires?”
GRINDFEST 2026 concludes with Robin Hardy’s all time classic folk horror, THE WICKER MAN. Few films have grown in stature as dramatically, a work once dismissed as an oddity and now revered as a cornerstone of British folk horror. Robin Hardy’s 1973 masterpiece unfolds with a slow, sunlit unease, drawing its power not from shadows but from the bright, disquieting normality of Summer isle — a place where ancient rituals thrive in plain sight and the modern world feels strangely out of place.
Sergeant Neil Howie (Edward Woodward), a devout Christian policeman who arrives on the remote island to investigate a missing girl. What he encounters instead is a community bound by pagan traditions, erotic energy, and a worldview that challenges every certainty he carries with him. As Howie’s search deepens, the islanders’ songs, dances, and celebrations take on a sinister resonance, building toward one of the most unforgettable climaxes in British cinema.
Beyond its surface mystery, The Wicker Man endures because it is a film about belief: the clash between faiths, the seduction of community, and the terrifying certainty of those who think they are right. It is a story that grows richer with each viewing, revealing new layers of satire, spirituality, and psychological tension.
This 35mm screening offers a rare chance to experience The Wicker Man as audiences first did — as a folk parable, a musical, a thriller, and a cultural provocation all at once. It remains one of the most singular films ever produced in Britain, a work whose flames still burn brightly more than fifty years on.
The DITG team are thrilled to screen this from an original 35mm IB Technicolor print!
