Short course
Cine-Excess International Film Festival and Conference 2026: Legends Never Die
The Cine-Excess International Film Festival returns to Birmingham for its 19th annual exploration of global cult and horror film traditions. Cine-Excess 2026 is entitled ‘Legends Never Die’ and celebrates, dissects and critically evaluates some of the key legends, myths and legacies that have come to underpin cult cinema.
Overview
The event comprises of visiting international filmmakers including the stars of The Hills Have Eyes Michael Berryman and Janus Blythe (appearing via streamed online attendance), and Wrong Turn (2003) director Rob Schmidt, who will be flying into the UK to participate in screenings and a discussion on rural American horror traditions.
For further event information and full schedule, please visit the Cine-Excess website.
Course in depth
Alongside guest filmmaker appearances, Cine-Excess 2026 also features an online conference comprised of international scholars which runs from 19-22 October 2026 and features a keynote address from Professor Aviva Briefel (Bowdoin College, Maine). An additional in-person symposium also takes place in Birmingham on 23 October 2026.
Cine-Excess 2026 also continues the festival’s commitment to developing new filmmaking talent through the annual Soska Sisters Tales of Terror pitching competition. This session takes place on 21 October and sees filmmaking duo Jennifer and Sylvia Soska (American Mary [2012], Rabid [2019]) mentoring a range of film students on how to create the perfect horror film pitch.
Rounding off Cine-Excess 2026 is the Legends, Myths & Legacies Screening Season: (running 19-24 October), which comprises UK film premieres screened in cinemas and streamed online (age verification required).
Learning outcomes
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Learn about key cult cinema traditions and practices relevant to this year’s theme.
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Gain an awareness of new cult cinema trends through the provision of in-person and streamed film premieres.
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Learn about current theoretical debates in the field through the online conference and in-person symposium elements of this year’s event.
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Gain exposure to leading filmmaker perspectives via masterclass and mentoring sessions provided by this year’s event.
Who will benefit?
The Cine-Excess 2026 conference is open to scholars, students and members of the public (aged 18 and over). Age verification protocols are required to access the streamed screenings presented at Cine-Excess 2026.
What is included?
Delegate Pass 1: Online Conference
Includes virtual access to the online conference, related online screenings and filmmaker talks.
Delegate Pass 2: Online Conference and In-Person Symposium
Includes all the benefits of the online conference delegate pass as well as admittance to the in-person symposium on Friday 23 October and lunch/buffet/refreshments on the day of the event. This pass also allows access to listed Cine-Excess screenings at the ODEON Birmingham New Street (prior booking required).
Schedule and location
- Online International Conference: 19-22 October 2026 (takes place on Zoom)
- In-person Symposium (Birmingham, UK): 23 October 2026 (takes place at Birmingham School of Art, Margaret Street, Birmingham B3 3BX)
- Cine-Excess Branded Cinema Screenings: 19-22 October 2026 (take place at the Odeon New Street Cinema, Birmingham, B2 4NU)
- Cine-Excess Streamed Screenings: 19-23 October 2026 (take place on the Cine-Excess Vimeo Showcase and require age verification to watch)
Fees and enrolment
If you're interested in finding out more about this course or would like more information before you enrol, please register your interest and we'll be in touch with more information.