Cine-Excess VI  - Transglobal Excess: The Art and Atrocity of Cult Adaptation

Cine-Excess VI was entitled ‘Transglobal Excess: The Art and Atrocity of Cult Adaptation’ and took place at the Odeon Covent Garden and the Italian Cultural Institute, London between the 24-26th May 2012. The event focused on global adaptations of cult narratives, genres, themes and icons across a broad range of media and fiction formats. From pulp novels into pulp horror films and recent big budget blockbuster remakes of marginal midnight movies, to nationally defined interpretations of the pre-established extreme, the cult image remains a fascinating index of adaptation, whose wide array of remakes, renditions and realisations frequently reveals fascinating issues of nation and narrative, as well cultural, regional and historical distinction.

Cine-Excess 2012 was delighted to host visits by acclaimed action director and Tarantino influence Enzo G. Castellari (The Inglorious Bastards, Keoma) as well as the iconic Euro-cult auteur Sergio Martino (Torso, Mountain of the Cannibal God) both of whose work frequently trade on themes and national traditions of cult adaption. Both Enzo G. Castellari and Sergio Martino discussed their work in light of the 1970s Italian terrorist years in a special panel discussion ‘The Years Without Lead’, convened by Professor Mary P. Wood (University of London), before receiving their Cine-Excess Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Italian Cultural Institute:

Other highlights of Cine-Excess 2012 included the special panel discussion ‘Script to Scream’, supported by Time Out Magazine. Here, both guests joined leading UK horror novelist Frazer Lee (Lamp Lighters and Panic Button) to discuss the killer elements that make up the perfect horror script. The session was chaired by Time Out film critic Tom Huddleston, who also revealed the winner of the Cine-Excess competition for budding screenwriters to have their horror movie pitch read by Kim Henkel (The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Death Trap).

Cine-Excess 2012 also featured a range of UK theatrical premieres and exclusive screenings alongside 3 days of talks and discussions by leading international critics and cult movie experts.  Selected highlights of the event can be found on the following trailer: