The Midnight and Fanastic portions of SXSW are always something to behold, whether it’s truly bizarre visions, exciting new international cinema or premieres from amazing young directors. The roster for 2011 has been officially announced and includes some seriously heavy hitters in the genre and a Polish Hedgehog film that just might be the most insane thing I see this year!

Taking place from March 11-19, the film festival within SXSW holds plenty of genre treats including premieres from FRONTIERS’ Xavier Gens, RED WHITE & BLUE’s Simon Rumley and highly anticipated works from James Wan and Jason Eisner.

Here are the Midnighters:

ATTACK THE BLOCK (UK-England) Director & Writer: Joe Cornish

A funny, frightening action adventure movie that pits a teen gang against an invasion of alien monsters. It turns a tower block into a sci-fi playground. It’s inner city versus outer space.

Cast: Jodie Whittaker, John Boyega, Alex Esmail, Franz Drameh, Leeon Jones, Simon Howard, Luke Treadaway, Jumayn Hunter and Nick Frost (World Premiere)

THE DIVIDE (US-Canada) Director: Xavier Gens, Writers: Karl Mueller & Eron Sheean

To survive the end of the world...you must first survive each other.

Cast: Michael Biehn, Milo Ventimiglia, Lauren German, Rosanna Arquette, Courtney B. Vance (World Premiere)

HOBO WITH A SHOTGUN Director: Jason Eisner, Writer: John Davies

A Hobo finds himself in an urban hell. When he witnesses a brutal robbery, he realizes the only way to deliver justice is with a shotgun.

Cast: Rutger Hauer, Gregory Smith, Molly Dunsworth, Brian Downey, Nick Bateman

INSIDIOUS Director: James Wan, Writer: Leigh Whannell

Dark spirits have possessed the home of a family whose son has fallen into a coma. Trying to save him, the family moves only to realize that it was not their house that was haunted.

Cast: Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Ty Simpkins, Barbara Hershey

(U.S. Premiere)

PHASE 7 / FASE 7 (Argentina) Director & Writer: Nicolas Goldbart

Coco just moved to his new apartment with 7-month pregnant wife. When the building is in quarantined for a deadly flue. The neighbors became unexpected enemies.

Cast: Daniel Hendler, Federico Luppi, Jazmin Stuart, Jose "Yayo" Guridi

(North American Premiere)

 

One of Austin’s other main attractions, September’s Fantastic Fest, also has a hand in March’s proceedings, handpicking some truly exciting and terribly odd sounding films (pay special attention to Poland’s GEORGE THE HEDGEHOG

Here are the films in SXFANTASTIC:

COLD SWEAT / SUDOR FRIO Director: Adrian Garcia Bogliano, Writers: Adri·n Garcia Bogliano, Ramiro GarcÌa Bogliano, Hernan Moyano

What do you do if you are a right-wing Argentinean terrorist and your state-sanctioned organization is disbanded? We can’t say, but it involves chat rooms, bare breasts and a generous slathering of nitro-glycerine.

Cast: Facundo Espinosa, Marina Glezer, Camila Velasco, Omar Musa, Noelia Vergini (International Premiere)

GEORGE THE HEDGEHOG / JEZ JERZY (Poland) Director: Wojciech Wawszczyk, Writer: Rafal Skarzycki

Jez Jerzy is a skateboardng hedgehog who lkes to drink beer and fondle breasts. He finds it hard to pursuehis passions, however, while being tormented by neo-nazi skinheads, mad scientists and a drooling, flatulent clone of himself.

Cast: Borys Szyc, Maria Peszek, Maciej Malenczuk, Sokol, Michal Koterski (International Premiere)

KILL LIST (UK) Director: Ben Wheatley, Writers: Ben Wheatley & Amy Jump

A dark and twisted horror from the mind of director Ben Wheatley.

Cast: Neil Maskell, Michael Smiley, MyAnna Buring (World Premiere)

 

LITTLE DEATHS (UK) Directors & Writers: Sean Hogan, Andrew Parkinson & Simon Rumley

A psychosexual horror anthology comprised of three separate stories dealing with the twin themes of sex and death. Cast: Kate Braithewaite, Daniel Brocklebank, Brendan Gregory, Siubhan Harrison, Jodie Jameson

(North American Premiere)

You can see our past coverage of LITTLE DEATHS here, here and here!

THE FP Directors & Writers: Jason Trost & Brandon Trost

For years an underground war has raged for dominance over the town of Frazier Park between two clans.Dominance isn't determined through fistfights or petty brawls, but the dancing video game Beat-Beat Revelation.

Cast: Jason Trost, Lee Valamassy, Caitlyn Folley, Art Hsu, Nick Principe (World Premiere)

It's going to be a busy, intriguing and downright mad year for sure. Look for plenty of SXSW coverage and reports right here at FANGORIA in the coming weeks!

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