Legendary George A. Romero will visit Ljutomer

Festival will take place from 11 to 15 July

George A. Romero will attend the screening of his most famous, recently digitally restored horror film The Night of the Living Dead and participate in a special public debate at Ljutomer’s horror film festival. Photo: EPA Foto: EPA

A little less than three month before the start of this year’s Grossmann Festival of Fantastic Film, the organisers have revealed its honorary guest. George A. Romero, the film director who did not only give the history of film one of its most renowned horror films of all times in 1968 but also sparked a real revolution with it, is coming to Ljutomer.

The genre of horror film transitioned into its modern era owing to Romero’s cult film The Night of the Living Dead, making older horror films suddenly look old-fashioned, not dangerous and even naïve. The Night of the Living Dead remains one of the most profitable independent films in the history of cinematography – it was made for 114,000 dollars and earned 12 million dollars in American cinemas and 18 million dollars in other countries.

Last year the film was digitally restored and shown as a visually improved version at the festivals in Venice and Berlin. At Ljutomer its film director will attend the screening. The 13^th edition of the Festival of Fantastic Film will take place from 11^th to 15^th July and will also feature a special retrospective of Romero’s films. Additionally, the honorary guest will also take part in a special public debate. His possibly most famous long-time fan Quentin Tarantino once called Romero a genius.

M. K., MMC; translated by K. Z.