Cinepocalypse Is Coming To Chicago

Friend of BMD Josh Goldbloom is one busy dude. He's not only a burgeoning film producer and devoted Fantastic Fest regular, but he founded the Bruce Campbell Horror Film Fest and was also behind Philly's Awesome Fest. These events are marked by their passion and their keen sense of programming by cinephiles like Josh who know their stuff. So when Josh told us he's partnering with Chicago's famed Music Box Theatre for a new genre film fest, we knew it would be something worth sharing.

The skinny: The Bruce Campbell Horror Film Festival is evolving into CINEPOCALYPSE, and it's going to happen at one of the best venues in the United States. We're telling you this now so that you can get your affairs in order in time for the fest, which is happening from November 2nd - 9th. 

Below is the full press release. Get hyped, Chicago.

Music Box Theatre announces 2017 Genre Film Festival, CINEPOCALYPSE; November 2nd-9th, 2017.

June 14th, 2017- The Music Box Theatre today announces an extraordinary new partnership and film festival slated for November 2017. Taking place November 2-9, the newly christened CINEPOCALYPSE (an evolution to the program design of Bruce Campbell's Horror Film Festival held in suburban Rosemont, IL) will make Chicago’s Music Box Theatre its new home. The Midwest’s largest gathering of horror films and fans alike, organizers promise a full week of ass-kicking genre movies, special guests and events.

Josh Goldbloom, Founder & Artistic Director of The Awesome Fest and what had been known as Bruce Campbell’s Horror Film Festival, and Ryan Oestreich, General Manager of The Music Box Theatre, aim to make this year bigger, better and scarier than any in the festival’s history. Since 2014, the festival has terrorized audiences with an annual slate of premiere films, guests, and bloodcurdling entertainment. Leaving a trail of apocalyptic annihilation in the suburbs, as CINEPOCALYPSE, the festival sheds its suburban skin, forms an epic alliance with the city’s historic Music Box Theatre and reemerges as a brand new horror behemoth for Chicago.

The Music Box Theatre stands as one of the nation’s most prestigious art house theatres, and has recently made a concerted effort to diversify programming and bolster local audiences. Located on the city’s Northside at 3733 North Southport Ave, The Music Box's year-round programming has consistently offered genre fans some of the very finest cinematic experiences in digital, 35mm, and 70mm formats. “We’re beyond thrilled to host this next iteration of the horror film festival,” said Oestreich. “We pride ourselves on taking risks in our programming and offering a diverse slate of films. Partnering with Josh to create CINEPOCALYPSE makes perfect sense for us as we continue our commitment to great film in Chicago”.

In just three short years, what was previously the Bruce Campbell Horror Festival has played host to dozens of horror, thriller and genre legends, including John Carpenter, Fede Alvarez, Eli Roth, Christopher Lloyd, Fred Dekker, Tom Holland, Barbara Crampton, William Sadler, Stephen Lang, comedian Doug Benson, and many more. “CINEPOCALYPSE will take this iconic film festival to horrific new heights,” said Goldbloom. “We plan on presenting Chicago an unrivaled offering of bloody international badassery & terror with our friends at the Music Box.”

This year’s Cinepocalypse, November 2-9, will features scary-good world & regional premieres, repertory screenings, special guests, parties, and much more. A full schedule will be announced in October; for more information, visit www.musicboxtheatre.com. To purchase early bird badges, please visit https://www.musicboxtheatre.com/events/cinepocalypse. For shorts and full length feature submissions, please visit www.filmfreeway.com/festival/cinepocalypse.