FAQs
General
What is the Forbidden Worlds Film Festival?
Forbidden Worlds Film Festival has been created by a group of Bristol-based cinephiles in order to establish a film festival dedicated to their mutual love of classic and obscure genre films and a desire to screen many of these films on the big screen.
What are ‘genre films’?
“Genre films” is a term used for pulpy movies that generally can’t be simply referred to as ‘dramas’ or ‘comedies’. Genre films are often horror, science fiction, fantasy, action and the cinematically unbelievable.
All films are certified for your guidance, but please be aware that due to their subject matter some of these titles will contain scenes of violence, explicit language, sexism, gore, snakes, scenes of peril, killer puppets, devil worship, sexual assault, outdated racial stereotypes, mullets, spiders, child endangerment, explosives being handled in an unsafe manner, rodents of unusual size, nudity and sexual content, religious profanity, drug use and other tropes and scenes that some people might find disturbing. Please do your own research into the film if any of these themes are of concern.
From 2024, Forbidden Worlds Film Festival will be taking short genre film submissions from film-makers around the world. Please look at our Film Freeway page to find out more about deadlines and the terms and conditions.
How do I find out more about Forbidden Worlds Film Festival?
If you would like more information about our events, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for the latest news. If you have a specific question, please feel free to email us at team@forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk.
How do I purchase tickets?
Individual screening tickets or day and weekend passes can be purchased from the specific event page in EVENTS.
Your e-tickets will be sent to your email account following your payment being processed. If you encounter any problems, please email us at team@forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk
Tickets will be available on the door of the event, but it will be card only and we cannot promise availability, so it is best to get them in advance.
I have bought tickets for an event, but can no longer attend. Can I get a refund?
We operate a ‘no refunds’ policy, but if you are unable to attend the event, please contact us at team@forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk as soon as possible and we’ll see what we can do to help. Please make sure to provide your email address and the order number.
An event I wanted to attend has now sold out – what can I do?
If an event you are looking to attend has sold out, please add your name to the mailing list and if additional tickets become available, we’ll let you know.
Is there allocated seating?
Seats are unassigned in the auditorium. The theatre space is cleared in between screenings, so any coats and/or bags are left at your own risk.
Seats cannot be reserved for attendees throughout the day/weekend, however if you require have special access at all, please contact the team on team@forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk
What concessionary rates do you offer?
We offer a concessions ticket for £5, which is for students and for those in receipt of state benefits (JSA, employment support allowance, disability and incapacity benefits, and income support). Unfortunately, there is no concession rate for weekend and day passes.
Are your events suitable for children?
For the most part, all screenings are for adults however we have been known to put on the odd family favourite earlier in the day.
For children under the age of 12, £5 concession tickets are able to purchased for screenings.
All the films are rated and if a film is rated ‘18’, I.D. will be required for any patrons who are blessed with youthful looks.
Are vendors permitted at Forbidden Worlds?
This year, we will have vendors selling their wares throughout the festival. If you are a vendor and sell a product that might be suitable for the festival, please get in touch with the team at team@forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk and we can provide more information.
Screening information
What time should I arrive for a screening?
The time stated on the schedule is when the programme begins, so please arrive at least 15 minutes beforehand so you can get a drink, find a seat and get comfy! Please note that seats are not assigned unless you have certain accessibility considerations.
There is often an introduction and only a couple of trailers before the film, so the feature will often start promptly, so don’t be late!
Will there be breaks between films?
There are breaks between films so people can get some fresh air, refresh their drinks or use the facilities. Around lunchtime and dinner time, there will be longer breaks so people can get food.
Are food and drink permitted at your screenings?
Bristol Aquarium will be selling snacks and refreshments, and New Bristol Brewery will be providing a selection of their own beers. Externally purchased alcohol will not be permitted in the auditorium.
Audience conduct and safety
Forbidden Worlds Film Festival is all about bringing genre cinema to new and passionate audiences and we aim to provide a safe, respectful, inclusive, and fun environment for everyone to enjoy the films.
We take cinema etiquette seriously and urge you to be part of our attempts to nurture a conscientious movie-going culture.
Persistent talking (loud or whispered), continued mobile phone usage or other behaviour likely to disturb the enjoyment of your fellow film fans is deeply uncool, and Forbidden Worlds Film Festival reserves the right to remove or ban anyone from attending the festival if they become disruptive for audience members. If you experience or witness bad behaviour, don't hesitate to contact the nearest staff member. We will address the situation and take appropriate action.
Forbidden Worlds Film Festival does not tolerate harassment or harmful behaviour in any form.
By attending the festival you agree to abide by the spirit of the guidance and principles of the BFI and BAFTA that seek to professionalise behaviour and conduct within the screen industries.
Harassment can include, but is not limited to:
Abusive comments and insults
Prejudice (e.g. related to gender identity and expression, sexuality, age, race, religion/belief, disability, or socio-economic background, as well as the intersections between.
Deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following
Unwelcome touching or sexual attention
Invasions of private space and personal boundaries
Violence or aggression
Harassing photography or recording
Sustained disruption of talks or other events, through trolling or other methods
Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behaviour
Anyone violating these principles will be asked to stop and are expected to comply immediately. They may, at the discretion of venue and/or staff, be expelled from the event without refund and be ineligible to attend in future years.
During the festival, if you are made to feel unsafe or unwelcome, notice someone else being harassed, or have any other concerns, you can tell a member of our staff, volunteer, or security teams. They will help, or find someone who can.
Accommodation and travel
How do I get there and where can I stay?
Bristol Aquarium is just off Millennium Square in the centre of Bristol. The closest station is Bristol Temple Meads. From there, the Aquarium is a 20 minute walk, a 5 minute taxi ride, a 17 minute ferry ride or a 10 minute bus ride. If you’re driving, Millennium Square car park is a safe and secure 24hr underground car park, open 24 hours a day with on site security. Find out more about Millennium Square car park.
If you’re looking for somewhere to stay, there are a host of hotels very close to Millennium Square from The Bristol Hotel to a Travel Lodge a few minutes walk away.
Where is the entrance to the festival?
The entrance to the festival is via the Anchor Road entrance to the Aquarium. It will be probably sign-posted, but do not use the Aquarium’s main entrance (near the Stag Beetle statue), instead walk round the building to the entrance on the main road.
Accessibility
Are your events accessible for disabled guests?
The former Bristol IMAX is fully accessible for disabled guests. If you have specific access requirements, or require seating in a specific location, please contact us directly at team@forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk. For more information on Bristol Aquarium’s accessibility, click here.
If you have accessibility concerns, the auditorium is accessible via rear doors that can be reached via a lift. Simply ask members of staff about this upon arriving and we can show you the easiest way into the theatre space without having to take the stairs!
Is there an online version of the festival?
As the former IMAX screen is our festival’s USP and we’re all about celebrating watching these cult films theatrically, there is not currently an online version of the festival.
Do you host subtitled screenings?
Please look at the film description to see if the film is subtitled or not.
Press
Forbidden Worlds Film Festival welcomes film press based in the UK currently reporting and/or reviewing, in a professional capacity, in the UK film industry and wider screen sectors to apply for press accreditation.
Press accreditation gives you access to:
the full festival
interviews with the festival team and visiting talent (subject to their availability)
Once approved you will be sent a confirmation email and a press festival lanyard will be available for collection upon arrival at the festival.
For more information or interview opportunities, please contact team@forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk
Covid
What are your Covid policies?
As with all things Covid, the situation is constantly in flux and we’ll follow all current guidelines to ensure audience safety. We won’t be enforcing mask wearing unless government guidance change, so we ask all attendees to treat each other with respect and to be considerate to your fellow festival goers.