Hey folks, Harry here with the last nips and tucks on FANTASTIC FEST. This has been a lot of work to put together for all of us, but nothing in comparison to the work these various filmmakers have dedicated themselves to, to bring the films to our bouncing baby festival that we're raising with love and goodness.

Now - we got our opener - which I'm happy to say I've seen and absolutely loved - in the way one loves to see Leatherface killing the beautiful people of the world. You go, Apron-Boy! But also - I nabbed something... astonishingly cool for an AICN SECRET SNEAK PREVIEW - with a very special Guest as well. For those of you that love BNAT - this screening is your little taste of BNAT magic. What "Fantasy/Horror/SciFi/Animated type film" would you hope to see? Well, it might be that. You'll just have to see. BUT - EVEN MORE COOL - wait till you experience the awesome fun that Tim and I and everyone at the Drafthouse are cooking up for that opening night film. One - we have R LEE ERMEY there to humiliate every last one of us... And to feel better about it all, we'll have Jordana Brewster there to grace us with her beauty and charm.

In addition - we've got tons of new talent coming in... people that could very well be the names we worship in the future. We Got MICHAEL SHANNON coming in with Friedkin's BUG. He's the star of the film and the performer who originated the character on stage. Word is, he's absolutely brilliant in BUG - which is a lot more than a horror film. And I'm positive that Michael will creep us all out with his Q&A afterwards.

Lastly - Tim in scheduling the fest has managed to find more room - so we have a very limited amount of FANTASTIC FEST Badges left. Also - the entire schedule is up at FantasticFest.Com - where you can find the entire line-up, pics, trailers, and descriptions... as well as a place to open your own blog and reviewing line up for the films you see at this festival... as well as Filmmaker's Blogs that are coming to the fest. And while - this is pretty much the fest - Tim, Tim, Paul, Matt, Kier-La and I are all working to pull a couple more rabbits out of hats to make this... the best goddamn festival we can. SEE YOU LUCKY FUCKERS THERE!

2006 Fantastic Fest opening night film announced: TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING R. LEE ERMEY AND JORDANA BREWSTER LIVE IN PERSON! Where: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar, Austin, TX Fantastic Fest, September 21-28 FANTASTIC FEST OPENING NIGHT FILM ANNOUNCED! We are extremely pleased to announce the premiere of TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING at the 2006 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Print courtesy of New Line CInema. Live in person in support of the film will be director Jonathan Liebesman and producers Andrew Form and Brad Fuller as well as stars R. Lee Ermey and Jordana Brewster live in person.

TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING synopsis:

Horror, 2006, 100 min, USA

On one last road trip before they're sent to serve in Vietnam, two friends (Handley and Bomer) and their girlfriends (Baird and Brewster) get into an accident that calls their local sheriff (Ermey) to the scene. Thus begins a terrifying experience where the teens are taken to a secluded house of horrors, where a young, would-be killer is being nurtured.

ADDITIONAL FANTASTIC FILMS AND GUEST ROSTER ANNOUNCED:

In addition to TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE we are pleased to announce the following features which will be screening as part of the 2006 Fantastic Fest. We still have a few surprise announcements for this year's schedule that cannot be announced at this time. Check back to www.fantasticfest.com for more details as well as details on the confirmed shorts and previously confirmed features. Press kits and screeners are available for select films below. For press photos or screeners, please contact kier-la@originalalamo.com.

We have also launched the new website, developed in association with Austin's Bside Entertainment. The new web interface allows for scheduling of films, tracks festival buzz, allows the audience to interact with the filmmakers and post reviews and comments about the festival films. Check it out at FantasticFest.Com.

Other confirmed films:

THE HOST :: Regional Premiere

Horror, 2006, South Korea

Something rather large, deadly, and mysterious is living under Seoul's Han River. An otherwise peaceful day at the park turns into a bloody mess, when this giant beast emerges from the water to lay waste. While the premise may sound well-worn, Bong Joon-ho's The Host ends up being one of the most refreshing monster movies in years. Already a sensational hit overseas, the film (to be released stateside in 2007) is more JAWS than Godzilla, wrapping human drama inside a thrilling, and action-packed, universe. Following the monster's first ascension to present-day Seoul, the dysfunctional Park family is forced to band together in hopes of recovering the youngest of the clan, who may or may not be alive. Neither conventional, nor stale, The Host will undoubtedly become a monster-movie classic for the decade.

SEVERANCE :: Regional Premiere

Horror/Comedy, 2006, UK

SCREENWRITER JAMES MORAN LIVE IN PERSON

Christopher Smith, whose CREEP played Fantastic Fest last year, returns with SEVERANCE, a blackly comic survivalist film about what happens when the sales force of a multinational arms manufacturer is sent on a team-building weekend in central Europe. Stranded at a sinister hunting lodge in the middle of the forest, they get a less than friendly welcome...

HATCHET :: Regional Premiere

Horror/Comedy, 2006, USA

DIRECTOR ADAM GREEN LIVE IN PERSON

When a group of tourists on a New Orleans haunted swamp tour find themselves stranded in the wilderness, their evening of fun and spooks turns into a horrific nightmare. With loads of horror cameos and heavy doses of gore, this good old fashioned American horror film will surely please genre fans.

CONFIRMED FESTIVAL GUESTS

In addition to the guests for TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE: THE BEGINNING and THE FOUNTAIN, we are proud to announce MICHAEL SHANNON, star of William Friedkin's BUG will be in attendance at Fantastic Fest. Also, Lucky McKee and Angela Bettis, for THE WOODS and ROMAN, Adam Green, director of HATCHET, the cast and crew of FIREFLY, Larry Kent, legendary Canadian indie director will be in attendance with THE HAMSTER CAGE, Jeff Mahler, director of INSIDE, Sean Hogan, director of LIE STILL, Simon Rumley, director of THE LIVING AND THE DEAD, William Dear, director of SIMON SAYS, Roy Frumkes, director of THE MELTDOWN MEMOIRS, Joseph Bakshiev, producer of ZHEST, Michael Bassett, director of WILDERNESS, and Charles Band, veteran genre director/producer.

More guest announcements are expected in the next week. Check back to FantasticFest.Com for more details.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL:

Fantastic Fest is an eight day festival of the best new sci-fi, horror, fantasy and genre films, as well as choice classic and obscure cult titles from all over the world. The festival director is Tim League (Alamo Drafthouse Cinema). Programmers include Harry Knowles (Ain't It Cool News), Kier-la Janisse (Big Smash, Cinemuerte), Matt Dentler (SXSW) and Paul Alvarado-Dykstra. Festival co-chairs are Paul Alvarado-Dykstra and Tim McCanlies (screenwriter, Iron Giant). This year's festival will feature over 60 premiere features and 30 shorts. Festival Badges are currently on sale at FantasticFest.Com. The festival is co-sponsored by Ain't It Cool News and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema South Lamar.

Please note: there are still a limited number of festival badges available for this year. We do anticipate selling out of badges this year, so advance purchase is highly recommended. Badges are available online at FantasticFest.Com.