Fantastic Fest News and special events!

Things are starting to move, screeners are pouring in and we've mapped out the first part of our acquisition trips for 2007. By popular demand, we are seriously jacking up the animated film content, both shorts and features, and we have already seen some amazing entries. By the end of May we will make our first of four content announcements, to give you a taste of the treats to come.On the festival horizon, we'll be attending the Cannes Film Festival Market, a veritable hotbed of genre gold. This is where the European Fantastic festivals pick up a large chunk of their programming each year. We'll also be attending the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, a huge fest, one of the old guard, founding members of the Melies Fantastic Film Festival Federation.

First thing: Fantastic Fest badges go on sale at noon on February 6, 2007. We had a brief period of discounted earlybird badges a while back, but we are ready to roll out the regularly priced badges (both VIP and general admission).

We also have two very special Fantastic Fest events slated for March that 2007 Fantastic Fest Badge Holders will have first crack at: Cop Fest Marathon/Hot Fuzz Sneak Preview (Mar 31) with Edgar Wright and Nick Frost live in person and the Joe Dante Weekend (Mar 24). Tickets for both of these events go on sale TO 2007 FANTASTIC FEST AND HEROES OF THE ALAMO MEMBERS ONLY at noon on February 13. The rank and file get their chance for tickets a week after, if there are any left.

If you don't have your 2007 Fantastic Fest badge yet, buy it on February 6, or you may miss out on your chance to hang out with Joe Dante or the Sean of the Dead creators creators and O.D. on a marathon of some of our all-time favorite cop flicks: Freebie and the Bean, Sudden Impact, Police Story 2 and Electra Glide in Blue (all of which, by the way, are influences on Hot Fuzz).

We'll email you guys with new information from time to time, or you can subscribe to the Fantastic Fest blog, where the news hits first. Once we get closer to the festival, the blog entries will be fast and furious and will allow you to keep your finger on the pulse of what's happening. Subscribe to our blog here.

One last item of business on this update - Austin 360 is conducting an online poll: "What's your favorite film festival in Austin." I know I am biased, but I for one had more fun at Fantastic Fest this year than just about anything I can think of. We're a small festival, I know, and may not be able to run with the big boys yet, but if you want to do so, please vote for us.