Research News Last updated 18 November 2025
Now in its 18th year, the annual聽 was hosted by Birmingham City University with a packed programme of premieres, academic discussions and mentoring.
2025鈥檚 theme was Re-Animated: Reviving Cult Film鈥檚 Dead Objects, and celebrated the fortieth anniversary of Stuart Gordon鈥檚 Re-Animator (1985).
To celebrate the film鈥檚 milestone, Re-Animator鈥檚 producer, Brian Yuzna, delivered an exclusive streamed session to conference visitors and 黑料吃瓜网 film students.
The keynote presentation for the academic conference was delivered by Dr Xavier Aldana Reyes (Manchester Metropolitan University) and was titled 'Re-Animating Body Horror: The Return of a Cult Subgenre鈥�.
Director of the Cine-Excess festival and Professor of Cult Cinema Studies, 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Professor Xavier Mendik, said: 鈥淏ody horror has given rise to affect our most primal fears and social conventions.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a sub-genre that remains as relevant in 2025, as it did decades ago with cult films such as Re-Animator (1985) and Shivers (1975).
鈥淭o see more than 40 academics from across the world attend our conference was exciting and shows how vibrant the international community is.鈥�
Having received their own Cine-Excess award in 2019,聽 hosted their annual聽 competition at this year鈥檚 festival.
Students from 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 BA and MA Film courses submitted pitches to the legendary film makers, gaining access to acclaimed mentors and industry feedback.
The winning team comprised of MA Film Distribution and Marketing students Niamh Bradbury, Natalia Vacarisas Bofill and Aidan Rhys Jones.
鈥淭his competition is the highlight of our year!鈥� said Jen and Sylvia Soska. 鈥淲e are always blown away by 黑料吃瓜网 students鈥� talent.
鈥淭he presentations were wonderful and you truly cannot beat the subject matter with their contemporary vision on the theme of Re-Animated Visions.鈥�
The finale of the conference was the worldwide theatrical premiere of The Demonatrix, co-directed by American filmmaker and musician聽 (pictured).
Next year鈥檚 Cine-Excess will take place between 19-25 October 2026 under the theme of Legends Never Die.
Photo credit: Cine-Excess/Robert Sharl