X Fest Film Festival

Grab your popcorn and dim the lights for the Mother City’s most extreme alternative movie fiesta


Billed as Mzansi’s wildest motion picture affair, the annual X Fest Film Festival hits the screens of Cape Town’s historic Labia Theatre for a four day-long cinematic feast of off-centre movies and extreme short films from Thursday, 3 to Sunday, 6 April 2014.

Now in its seventh year, the audio-visual buffet offers cinephiles the exclusive chance to view documentaries and features that tackle sub-culture topics like goths, vampires, box wars, tattoos and much more. This year’s fiesta incorporates flicks usually seen in the Daring Doccies documentary and Sound on Screen music film festivals and, as always, features a number of African premieres – this time around audiences can look forward to the continent’s first screenings of the music documentaries Lamb Of God: As The Palaces Burn and March of the Gods: Botswana Metalheads.

In short, if you’re looking for an alternative movie theatre experience, the bloodiest horror flicks, killer band doccies and films that will have you gripping the edge of your seat, then this ultimate underground showcase is just what the (mad) doctor ordered.

LINE-UP FOR THE 2014 X FEST FILM FESTIVAL

X Flix: Short Films

An assortment of awesome, out-there and mind-boggling short flicks from around the globe that you won’t find in mainstream South African cinemas.

Lamb Of God: As The Palaces Burn
African Premiere

What started out as a documentary intended to follow metal band Lamb of God around the world to reveal how music ties people together took a dramatic turn for the worse. During the filming process in 2012, lead singer Randy Blythe was arrested on charges of manslaughter. He was held in connection with the death of a young fan in the Czech Republic. What followed was a heart-wrenching courtroom saga that kept fans, friends, and intrigued bystanders on the edge of their seats.

Zombie Island
South African Premiere

To flee a mob of angry villagers, two grave looters sail to a desolate island. The perfect escape plan? Perhaps, if the island wasn’t teaming with a bunch of zombie pirates! The undead were originally hired by an American scientist to kidnap the isle’s inhabitants to decipher ancient texts on a mystical meteorite. After stealing the meteor from the scientist, the thugs were infected with an alien contagion living inside the space rock.

March of the Gods: Botswana Metalheads
South African Premiere

This fascinating documentary focuses on the band Wrust and takes a look at the unexpected thriving metal scene in Botswana. See interviews with local bands, fans, musicians and people who offer anthropological insight into the history of the subculture as well as shed light on the passion of the people who live for their hardcore tunes.Director Raffaele Mosca will be present on the night for a Q&A after the screening.

Tight
African Premiere

Under the management of industry guru Bree Olsen, four of the hottest adult stars endeavor to break into the rock world to form the first all-girl porn star rock band. This saucy film is a Howard Stern XXX Factor-approved flick, which, according to the New York Post, is “the best mockumentary since Spinal Tap”.

House of 
Forbidden Secrets

South African Premiere

Jacob Hunt is down on his luck: his wife deserted him, he hardly sees his children and his friends have all given up on him. Though, after Jacob lands a job as the overnight security officer at the old ShadowView Manor, which is now a commercial office and retail building, it seems his life is back on track. Or is it? Jacob is about to learn that this old location holds many secrets. His first night on the job falls on the anniversary of a dark tragedy, and the building’s sordid past is leaking through the boundaries of time to taint the present.

Blood Tokoloshe: Dawn of the Beast

An Mzansi original, Blood Tokoloshe is one of the first South African B-grade horror films. The movie tackles the subject of the legendary boogeyman: the Tokoloshe monster. Written and directed by Jordan Harland, the film was shot entirely on location in the township of Orange Farm outside Soweto, Johannesburg.

SCHEDULE FOR THE 2014 X FEST FILM FESTIVAL

 

4PM

6:15PM

8:30PM

THURSDAY, 3 APRIL

 

 

X Flix - Short Films

FRIDAY, 4 APRIL

 

Zombie Island

Lamb Of God: As The Palaces Burn

SATURDAY, 5 APRIL

House of 
Forbidden Secrets

Lamb Of God: As The Palaces Burn

March of the Gods: Botswana Metalheads

SUNDAY, 6 APRIL

Tight

Blood Tokoloshe

Lamb Of God: As The Palaces Burn

TICKETS TO THE 2014 X FEST FILM FESTIVAL

Tickets are available via Quicket.co.za at R35p/p (excludes booking fee) and at the Labia Theatre ticket office at R40p/p for each screening.

ABOUT FLAMEDROP PRODUCTIONS

Brought to you by Flamedrop Productions, the X Fest Film Festival was established in 2008 in an attempt to fill the cinematic cultural gap. The festival scours the globe’s film reels for only the best in rare, classic and new movies that push the boundaries and defy the mould used to craft mainstream films. Aside from this festival, be sure to not miss out on the other great film festivals taking place throughout the year, namely the Halloween HorrorfestCelludroid Sci-Fi Festival and special theatrical events.
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Also, have a look at our overview of annual April events to find out about more hot happenings taking place during the month.

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