The Southeast's largest genre film festival returns with world premieres, horror icons, anniversary screenings, and an expanded virtual lineup.
Popcorn Frights is returning bigger than ever this summer. The 12th annual festival will take over South Florida from Aug. 6 through Aug. 16 with 11 days of horror, sci-fi, thrillers, cult classics, and special events featuring filmmakers and genre icons from around the world.
Popcorn Frights is bringing its biggest lineup yet to South Florida this August.
This year's festival includes 14 feature premieres, seven special presentations, live guest appearances, anniversary screenings, and a nationwide virtual program featuring more than 20 films. Screenings will once again take place at Savor Cinema in Fort Lauderdale and the Classic Gateway Theater, while movie fans across the country can also participate through the festival's online platform.
Opening Night belongs to acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, whose latest zombie thriller Colony will make its Florida premiere alongside a special 10th anniversary presentation of Train to Busan in a new 4K restoration.
Stephen Lang headlines this year's guest lineup with multiple appearances throughout the festival. The veteran actor will introduce the 40th anniversary screening of Michael Mann-produced cult favorite Band of the Hand, celebrate the 10th anniversary of Don't Breathe, and attend the premiere of Remains, directed by his son, Noah Lang.
Horror and science-fiction favorite Michael Ironside will also appear during the festival for anniversary screenings of David Cronenberg's Scanners and Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall, both returning in restored 4K presentations.
Several classic films are also receiving anniversary celebrations, including John Waters' Polyester, which returns with its famous Odorama scratch-and-sniff experience, and Frank Oz's Little Shop of Horrors, accompanied by a live shadowcast performance from Infinite Abyss Productions.
Florida filmmaking remains a major part of the festival through its Florida Focus program. Among this year's highlights are the world premiere of Padraig Reynolds' Gator Face, a practical-effects creature feature filmed in Florida swamps, and Best Served Cold: How a Revenge Film Was Buried for Decades, a documentary exploring the remarkable rediscovery of the cult thriller The Farmer.
The festival also continues showcasing emerging filmmakers. Russell Goldman's psychological thriller Sender stars Britt Lower, Rhea Seehorn, David Dastmalchian, and Jamie Lee Curtis, while Caleb Phillips returns to Popcorn Frights with his feature directorial debut, Imposters, after previously winning the festival's Scariest Short Film Award.
Additional premieres include Marrow, starring Michael Ironside and Danielle Harris, along with Hallowarrior, featuring Hereditary breakout Milly Shapiro in a post-apocalyptic Halloween horror story.
For audiences unable to attend in person, Popcorn Frights will again offer a nationwide virtual lineup featuring more than 20 streaming titles. The online program includes the U.S. premiere of Armageddon Road, New Zealand body-horror film Broken Beak, anthology feature If It Bleeds, thriller Incubation, psychological horror film Mary Kwon, Mary Kwon, Variations of Violence, and creature feature Woozy, starring Emile Hirsch.
Festival organizers say additional programming is still on the way, with a second wave announcement expected next week that will add more than two dozen feature premieres across the theatrical and virtual lineups.
Individual tickets and all-access badges for the in-theater festival are now on sale. Virtual passes are also available for audiences who want access to the complete online lineup. Filmmakers can still submit features, shorts, documentaries, animation, and video projects through FilmFreeway until the July 12 final deadline.
Now in its 12th year, Popcorn Frights has established itself as the Southeast's premier genre film festival, showcasing contemporary horror, thriller, sci-fi, and fantasy films while celebrating emerging and established voices in genre storytelling.
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