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The Music Box Theatre is proud to announce their full slate of 2018 programming and guests for the sophomore year of CINEPOCALYPSE, which will take place June 21 - 28 at Chicago’s majestic Music Box Theatre. The Midwest’s largest gathering of genre films and fans, the festival’s organizers are proud to have Doctor Strange director Scott Derrickson and screenwriter C. Robert Cargill as Co-Presidents of their 2018 Feature Film Jury. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, FilmFreeway, and Twitter for regular updates.

Alongside the previously-announced Derrickson and Cargill, the festival is deeply proud to welcome writer-director Lana Wachowski, who will host a special screening of her debut 1996 film Bound. Wachowski, along with her sister Lilly, changed the face of science fiction cinema with 1999's The Matrix, and continue to open eyes and drop jaws with Netflix's acclaimed Sense8, which comes to an epic close this June. 

Accepting Cinepocalypse's 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award is the legendary Ernest R. Dickerson. The director of 1995's Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight, Dickerson began his career as a Director of Photography on John Sayles' Brother from Another Planet (1984) and George A. Romero's Tales from the Darkside television series (1985) before lensing the first five films from director Spike Lee. Having also directed the Tupac-starring gang drama Juice (1992) and Snoop Dogg horror title Bones(2001), Dickerson now regularly terrifies TV audiences as a director on Under the Dome, Dexter, and The Walking Dead. The festival is deeply humbled to also have Dickerson join them in hosting special 35mm screenings of both Juice and Demon Knight.

Closing out the festival with a bang, Cinepocalypse celebrates the 30th anniversary of one of the most iconic cult films of all time, KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE with the Chiodo Brothers in attendance! Also joining the festival this year is director Stephen Hopkins, who will host a special 25th Anniversary screening of his phenomenal Chicago-shot thriller, Judgment Night; and comedian Jonah Ray (Netflix's Mystery Science Theater 3000), who will appear on the first-ever live recording of Drew McWeeny and Scott Weinberg's acclaimed, nostalgia-fueled podcast, "80s All Over." 

In addition to the previously-announced World Premiere of Michael Winnick's Malicious (from Get Out producer Shaun Redick), Cinepocalypse is proud to host the first looks at eight other features, including our Opening Night film, Orion's The Domestics; Blumhouse's Boogeyman Pop (produced by Rogue One: A Star Wars Story screenwriter Chris Weitz); and Snowfort Pictures' killer drone thriller Hover, starring The Last Man on Earth's Cleopatra Coleman. The full slate of phenomenal feature films are being released today, with this year's incredible selection of horror, sci-fi, fantasy, and action representing the latest and greatest in genre cinema from around the globe.

Cinepocalypse 2018's stunning poster is from legendary album artist Ed Repka. The creative director of NECA, Ed is best-known for creating the cover art to Megadeth's "Peace Sells But Who's Buying" and "Rust in Peace". To celebrate his incredible contributions to the world of heavy metal, the festival is releasing its 2018 guide as a collectible 7" vinyl sleeve, with their lineup information inside the pocket.

Also Showing During Cinepocalypse 2018

Doctor X (Rare 35mm Screening) - USA, 1932 | Dir. Michael Curtiz

The great granddaddy of body horror movies, Doctor X is a 1932 genre mash-up that may as well have been grafted together on the operating table with a healthy dollop of synthetic flesh. Simultaneously a gruesome moonlight murder mystery and a saucy pre-Code newspaper comedy, Doctor X was photographed in the two-strip Technicolor process, which renders the morgue visits and grisly medical experiments in an eerily unreal color palette. Starring Fay Wray (King Kong) and Lionell Atwill (Mystery at the Wax Museum). Says Hollywood Babylon's Kenneth Anger, "There is something for everyone in this picture: cannibalism, dismemberment, rape, and necrophilia -- and a piquant kinky bonus when Atwill displays erotic arousal at the sight of Preston Foster unscrewing his artificial arm.”

PRICING AND PASS INFORMATION

4-day All-Access Pass $125 GA / $100 MBT Member 

Admits 1 to all film screenings, events, and parties from June 21-24, 2018 of Cinepocalypse at the Music Box Theatre.  

Full Festival All Access Pass $175 GA / $150 MBT Member

Admits 1 to all film screenings, events, and parties from June 21-28, 2018 of Cinepocalypse at the Music Box Theatre

CINEPOCALYPSE is looking for Volunteers! Volunteer duties at CINEPOCALYPSE include ushering, handing out brochures and ballots, collecting audience ballots, assisting with small tasks, set-up and clean-up, and any needs at the after parties.  As a CINEPOCALYPSE volunteer you will receive a complimentary ticket for a screening of your choice during CINEPOCALYPSE or for any regular programmed screening at the Music Box. Shifts that are 4 hours or more qualify for 2 complimentary tickets. 

We are also looking for Volunteers BEFORE the festival on June 1st from 10am – 2pm to help stuff all the promotional materials into the programs. Lunch will be provided this day and it does count as a CINEPOCALYPSE shift so you can get a comp ticket.

Any questions can be directed to Claire Alden claire@musicboxtheatre.com