Forbidden Worlds Film Festival celebrates myths and legends

Billed as “Bristol’s biggest repertory film festival”, this year’s Forbidden Worlds celebrates fantasy films from around the globe on the city’s biggest cinema screen.

Highlights include a new 4K restoration of John Boorman’s 1981 Arthurian classic Excalibur; Clan of the Cave Bear, in which a prehistoric Daryl Hannah is adopted by a bunch of grunting Neanderthals; brilliant French horror-adventure The Brotherhood of the Wolf; Samurai romp The Legend of the 8 Samurai; new restorations of European fantasy curios Conquest (from Italian horror maestro Lucio Fulci) and Star Knight, in which 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.

“With Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey out later this year, the recent success of the 25th anniversary re-release of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a new Masters of the Universe film on the horizon and the assorted spin-offs and ongoing popularity of the Game of Thrones and Outlander TV shows, it’s clear that the fantasy genre has never been bigger,” says Forbidden Worlds co-director Timon Singh. “However when it comes to film festivals, it is very rarely represented, with genre programmers often tending to favour sci-fi or horror. That is why this year, we’re all out with a wide range of classic and cult films featuring swords and sorcery.”

“‘Tis but a flesh wound!” John Boorman’s ‘Excalibur’

A number of special guests will be in attendance at this year’s Forbidden Worlds. These include world-renowned armourer Terry English, who made the stunning armour for Excalibur as well as swords and weapons for hit films like Aliens, First Knight, The 13th Warrior, Gladiator and more.  Attendees will be able to examine some of his hand-made armour and props from numerous films. He will also be introducing the screening of Excalibur and explaining what it’s like to make bespoke armour for the likes of Dame Helen Mirren and Liam Neeson.

Clash of the Titans. Pic: Park Circus/Warner Bros

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, reveal behind-the-scenes imagery and stories from its making, and discuss the longstanding influence of classic mythology upon the stop-motion master.

Once again, the festival will be celebrating the Genre Film-makers of the Future with the return of its short film showcase featuring new action, horror, sci-fi and fantasy shorts from local and international filmmakers.

Forbidden Worlds 2026 run from April 23-26 at Bristol Megascreen. Go here for tickets and further information.

Main pic from ‘Brotherhood of the Wolf’ . All images supplied by Forbidden Worlds Film Festival.