The Big Scream Returns: Why Bristol Girls Are Heading to Forbidden Worlds Film Festival 2025
This October, Bristol’s biggest screen transforms once again for a weekend of cult classics, cinematic chaos and community vibes. The Forbidden Worlds Film Festival returns to the Bristol Megascreen (formerly the IMAX) on 24–25 October 2025, bringing with it two full days of big-screen thrills, horror gems and gloriously weird movie moments.
We’ve covered this festival for the last few years — and as our 2024 review put it, “Forbidden Worlds isn’t just a film festival; it’s a celebration of everything offbeat, eerie and electric about cinema itself.”
This Year’s Theme: “The Big Scream – Six Feet Down Under”
Each year, Forbidden Worlds chooses a theme that sets the tone for every screening, short film and side event. This year’s? Ozploitation — a celebration of the bold, bloody and bizarre wave of Australian genre films that took the world by storm in the 1970s and ’80s.
Expect roaring muscle cars, mutant creatures, supernatural chaos and more fake blood than a kangaroo slasher could handle. These low-budget cult films pushed boundaries, broke taboos, and made movie magic out of madness — and this year, you’ll get to experience them in all their gritty, cinematic glory on one of the UK’s biggest screens.
If 2024’s “Of the Deep” theme plunged us into eerie underwater horror, this one promises sun-bleached terror, outback survival stories and sand-blasted revenge flicks straight from the wildest corners of Australian cinema.
What to Expect at Forbidden Worlds 2025
Whether you’re a lifelong horror fan or just love discovering something different, Forbidden Worlds is about more than just watching films — it’s about being immersed in them. Here’s what you can look forward to:
Giant Screen, Giant Atmosphere
You don’t just watch a movie here — you live it. As we wrote in last year’s review, “Seeing cult classics on the 19 metre x 15 metre Megascreen is a sensory experience — every scream, explosion and plot twist hits harder.”
Curated Cult Classics and Hidden Gems
From Australian horror staples like Razorback to lesser-known midnight-movie treasures, the festival team carefully selects every screening to celebrate the best (and weirdest) of genre cinema.
Short Film Showcase
Back by popular demand, the “Genre Filmmakers of the Future” programme spotlights emerging directors in horror and sci-fi — an exciting chance to catch tomorrow’s cult favourites before anyone else.
Local Vibes and Film Fans
Expect Bristol’s friendliest (and most passionate) film crowd, plus themed vendors, merch stalls, and even the occasional tarot reader. As we noted in our 2024 Big Scream review, “The sense of community makes the whole thing feel like a cinematic reunion for Bristol’s genre fans.”
Why Bristol Girls Love It
Bristol Girl Reviewer, Amy, at last year’s Forbidden World Festival!
As a city full of creatives, cinephiles and adventure-seekers, Bristol’s the perfect home for a festival like this. Here’s why we’ll be there — and why you should, too:
It’s social, not serious. Whether you’re coming solo or with friends, the crowd is welcoming, witty and wonderfully weird. You’ll end up chatting between screenings or sharing popcorn with your new favourite film buddy.
It’s accessible for newcomers. You don’t need to be a horror expert — the programming mixes classics and first-time discoveries, so there’s something for everyone.
It’s the perfect autumn escape. As we said last year, “Forbidden Worlds is the ultimate pre-Halloween fix — a two-day celebration of strange stories, big screens and brave filmmaking.”
It celebrates creativity. These films show what’s possible when filmmakers dare to be different — something we’ll always champion at Bristol Girl.
How to Make the Most of Your Weekend
Book early: Tickets and passes are available now via forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk. The best sessions sell out quickly.
Get there early: The Megascreen’s central Bristol location means plenty of nearby cafés and bars to hang out between films.
Plan your schedule: With so much on, you won’t catch everything — so pick your highlights and allow time to recharge.
Get involved: The festival thrives on conversation. Chat to the organisers, join the crowd reactions, and follow @FWFilmFestival on social for updates.
Embrace the theme: Fancy dress, cult-film tees or just an open mind — it all adds to the experience.
Final Cut
If you love your cinema a little strange, a little loud, and a lot of fun, the Forbidden Worlds Film Festival 2025 deserves a spot on your autumn calendar.
With its Ozploitation theme, epic screen size, and one-of-a-kind community vibe, this year’s edition is shaping up to be the most thrilling yet.
24–25 October 2025
Bristol Megascreen (Formerly IMAX)
Tickets at forbiddenworldsfilmfestival.co.uk