University News Last updated 14 October
An international horror and cult cinema festival is returning to Birmingham City University (BCU) this month.
Cine-Excess 2026 will be hosted at locations across Birmingham, including screenings, workshops and a symposium from 19-24 October.
This year's festival's theme is 'Legends Never Die', celebrating and evaluating some of the legacies and myths that underpin cult cinema.
“The annual Cine-Excess International Film Festival has now been running for 19 years,” said Festival Director and BCU Professor of Cult Cinema Studies, Professor Xavier Mendik. “And every year we aim to unite visiting international filmmakers with critics and scholars in order to critically evaluate global cult film cultures.
“This is not just about ‘what goes bump in the night’, but rather how cinema changes and inspires its viewers.
“I am delighted to welcome guests from across the world and give honours to some of the industry’s most influential creators and performers but also see how they help shape future filmmakers.”
This year’s Cine-Excess screening season will include theatrical and streaming premieres of some of horror’s most exciting new films, shorts and documentaries. The ‘Legends, Myths and Legacies’ screening season includes the Canadian folk horror film Skeleton Park and The Wicker Man sequel Wrath of the Gods.
BCU-funded documentary Scum of the Earth, is having its UK cinematic premiere on Thursday 22 October following its showing at the Sitges Film Festival in Spain this week (Thursday 15 October). The documentary features filmmakers such as John Boorman and Eli Roth discussing the impact of rural American horror cinema.
As well as featuring as a contributor in Scum of the Earth, American director and writer, Rob Schmidt (Wrong Turn [2003]) attending the festival to receive a Cine-Excess Innovator of Horror Award.
“I consider myself a storyteller and I have been lucky that my stories have resonated with others,” Rob said.
“Films like Wrong Turn, or fairytales like Hanzel and Gretel are significant in that they allow us to safely process our fear of the dark and ‘what’s outside’. Stories give us a chance to feel that inborn fear in safety.”
Rob will also be delivering a masterclass to BCU students, staff and attendees during the festival.
“Mentoring filmmakers is a joy to me,” Rob added. “I was mentored by many wonderful teachers and I pass on the knowledge they gave same as it was passed on to me.”
One of the stars of The Hills Have Eyes, Janus Blythe, will attend a streamed Q&A session, where she, and co-star Michael Berryman, will be given their Cine-Excess Lifetime Awards, recognising their work in horror and cult cinema.
The festival will also feature the annual Soska Sisters Tales of Terror competition, where the two Canadian directors focus on ‘horror journeys taken down the wrong road’.
The critically acclaimed filmmaking duo will judge students’ entries and provide mentorship for next generation of creative professionals.