Abertoir Choice Cuts takes the horror online

Continuing with a virtual presence since its entirely online 2020 edition, Abertoir’s aim is to reach horror fans in Wales and beyond who might not otherwise have an opportunity to attend a festival this year.

“We never imagined we’d be taking the festival online, but then 2020 happened,” festival director Gaz Bailey said. “But we learned so much from being forced to do so, primarily the accessibility an online option offers to so many people.”

The Choice Cuts programme includes brand new features, a cult classic, short films, and special events, all of which will have screened at the festival main event in Aberystwyth a week earlier. Nia Edwards-Behi, Abertoir co-director, said: “We know travelling away from home for a film festival is expensive – both financially and in terms of the time spent doing so. With the cost of living impacting so many people too, we’ve been keen to continue offering an alternative with our Choice Cuts weekend.”

The vast majority of the Abertoir Choice Cuts programme will feature descriptive subtitles, making the films and events more accessible for D/deaf audiences. “We’re really grateful to Film Hub Wales for funding to help us ensure our online screenings are more accessible,” said Gaz. “It’s a really important aspect of offering our Choice Cuts and something we hope we can continue to keep working on and improving.” New subtitling is commissioned by Abertoir from Matchbox, an award-winning organisation working on making film more accessible to wider audiences.

Five brand-new, pre-release feature films will be available to watch online: Red Rooms (Pascal Plante, Canada), Monolith (Matt Vesely, Australia), The Moor (Chris Cronin, UK), Psychosis (Pirie Martin, Australia) and Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (Ariane Louis-Seize, Canada). The American cult classic If Footmen Tire You, What Will Horses Do? (Ron Ormond, 1971) will also screen, with a recorded Q&A with author Jimmy McDonough, recorded live during the main festival.

Other events recorded from the 2023 edition of Abertoir which will make up part of the Choice Cuts programme are folklorist Dr. Delyth Badder’s presentation on Welsh death customs and morbid folk beliefs; and a special Abertoir edition of broadcaster Robin Ince’s podcast An Uncanny Hour. Choice Cuts will also include a live, online version of Nicko and Joe’s Bad Film Club.

The Choice Cuts will also include a programme of 21 short films from Abertoir’s annual short film competition. The short film programme includes a variety of ‘fantastic’ genres beyond horror from around the world, including fantasy and science-fiction.