The Paracinema Cult FIlm Festival is back for 2023

midlandsmovies • August 26, 2023

The Paracinema Cult Film Festival is back next month with its usual eclectic mix of films and events that blend the horror, sci-fi and fantasy genres with movies and documentaries from all over the world.


Taking place at Derby QUAD, the programme runs from 22nd-25th September and also includes a short film showcase, the legendary Paracinema Film Quiz, puppet shows and lots more.


The Paracinema team are delighted to welcome special guest Mick Gariss (Masters of Horror, Sleepwalkers, The Stand) for an online interview, along with a screening of his 2004 movie Riding The Bullet for their Friday night programme.


The Cult Cinema Club will be bringing a Japanese classic to the Paracinema platform, and will introduce a screening of Battle Royale on Saturday 23rd September.


Saturday will also be taking audiences back to the days of VHS with the fascinating documentary Kim’s Video (2023). In addition, the screening will also have a panel exploring some of those favourite video store memories.


Other special shows include the world premiere of Incessant, the UK premiere of the Australian psychological horror movie Psychosis and the first UK screening of the Japanese body horror The Sound of Summer.


As well as the international, the festival are also focusing on the best of British independent genre cinema too. There will be showings of the surreal Ozma, the dark (and Stoke-made) Watch Me Sleep, the hilarious Haunted Ulster Live and a documentary on cult legend filmmaker Cliff Twemlow, Mancunian Man.


And 2023’s line-up includes three programmes of amazing shorts from around the world – Frightfully Funny, Monstrous Visions and Dark Corners Of The Mind.


Last but by no means least, the team welcomes back the Pop Up Puppet Cinema. This special Puppet show recreates your beloved cult movies as a 20-minute Punch and Judy style show. The event takes place on the Saturday where they will lovingly recreate Jaws and Back To The Future in their own inimitable fashion.


For more information and all the latest news please check out the office Paracinema website here: https://paracinema.co.uk

By midlandsmovies • October 29, 2026
In the latest stop motion animation film from Legendary studio Laika, an impassable wilderness lays at the edge of a town, filled with mythical stories and magical warnings. A teenage lapse of judgment leads to Prue adventuring into the woods to correct her mistakes.
By midlandsmovies • October 27, 2026
John Williams is turning into a prolific director for the Midlands horror scene, having completed his third feature in the space of two years. His 2025 found-footage film Beyond the Witching Hour cranked up the horror, while this year’s Beast of Riverside Horror settled into a slightly sillier horror/comedy. A more sla
By midlandsmovies • October 26, 2026
A new horror short film has been completed by a Leicestershire-based group of filmmakers and has been released online just in time for the spookiest time of the year.
By midlandsmovies • October 24, 2026
Mockingbird Cinema is in the running for BIFA’s Cinema of the Year award after making the 15-venue UK longlist. Voters praised the Digbeth independent for its film programme, staff, events and support for filmmakers, with one calling it “the beating heart of Digbeth”.
Show More