This year, Bristol’s biggest repertory genre film festival will return to Bristol Megascreen from 23-26 April to celebrate fantasy films from all over the world including screenings of a new 4K restoration of Arthurian classic Excalibur; French horror-adventure The Brotherhood of the Wolf; prehistoric adventure The Clan of the Cave Bear; fantasy Samurai adventure The Legend of the 8 Samurai.
The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation will also be attending to present a special 45th anniversary screening of the 1981 version of Clash of the Titans.
Prepare for high adventure as Forbidden Worlds celebrates the cinematic world of fantastical myths and legends from around the world.
This April, Forbidden Worlds is unleashing a line-up of classic and cult films featuring everything from mythical realms and otherworldly landscapes to ferocious beasts and heroic warriors.
Screenings include a new 4K restoration of Arthurian classic Excalibur; a special 40th anniversary screening of Highlander; French horror-adventure The Brotherhood of the Wolf; prehistoric adventure The Clan of the Cave Bear; fantasy Samurai adventure The Legend of the 8 Samurai; new restorations of European fantasy curios Conquest (from Italian horror maestro Lucio Fulci) and Star Knight that sees a Spanish medieval town visited by an alien spacecraft; cult animated fantasy adventure Fire and Ice; and a special 45th anniversary screening of Clash of the Titans and a lot more.
The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation, headed by Ray’s daughter Vanessa Harryhausen and Foundation Collections Manager Connor Heaney, will also be attending to introduce Clash of the Titans and reveal behind-the-scenes imagery and stories from its making and discuss the longstanding influence of classic mythology upon the stop-motion master.
Alongside King Kong (1933), The Thief of Bagdad was probably the greatest influence upon Ray Harryhausen’s filmography, and is a landmark in fantasy filmmaking. As such, Vanessa and Connor will also discuss how the classic Arabian Nights’ tale would heavily influence Harryhausen’s fantasy worlds.
Both panels will feature a Q&A, featuring the chance to win an exclusive Star Ace Toys Harryhausen replica model for best question asked. Official merchandise will also be available for purchase, with all revenue being put towards the restoration of Ray’s original creatures.
Connor Heaney says: “With an incredible lineup of fantasy films, Forbidden Worlds Film Festival delivers yet another deep dive into genre cinema. The Thief of Bagdad and Clash of the Titans bookend over forty years of screen magic and there can be no better way of experiencing Ray Harryhausen’s legendary creations than the Bristol Megascreen!”
For the full line-up, visit www.forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk/2026
