Fantastic Fest Parties On

Dragon Sound: Please, let them do 'Against the Ninja' at Fantastic Fest

With Fantastic Fest, it's not just the films: It's the parties too. Now the annual celebration of all things weird has announced themed parties for Frankenweenie, Red Dawn, and The American Scream, plus added two extra flicks into the mix: Doug Benson's potumentary The Greatest Movie Ever Rolled and Norway's new show Helljford.

For the world premiere of Tim Burton's latest, badge holders head to the Highball as it becomes the good Dr Frankenstein's lab for a Monster's Ball (black and white attire recommended, natch). Closing night sees American Legion Hall converted into a North Korean prison camp to celebrate the premiere of Red Dawn (complete with wild-game bulgogi, kimchi, and delousing stations). In the midst of that, there'll be a party for Helljford, the new seven-part TV series from the creators of Nazi zombie shocker Dead Snow and last year's goofball wonder You Said What?.

And since this is a festival with horror in its veins, there's no surprise that there'll be a haunted house created by Manny "The Halloween Guy" Souza, star of new home haunt doc The American Scream.

Attendees with a sense of rhythm (hey, don't look at me) might hit The Dancingularity, curated by experimental game collective Kokoromi and Venus Patrol. If your dancing shoes don't get worn out then, you could try the 8-bit love of Austin's own Data Pop (in their alternate universe, the Q-bert hop is the real Dougie).

Get bored of all the drinking and dancing? Film critic/Twitter killer Scott E. Weinberg will be running the best international critics' brains through the trivia ringer for the Fantastic Feud. That's for pros, so the amateurs might want to make their brain assplode for a special Fantastic Fest edition of Geeks Who Drink. (They aren't the only Highball regulars with a treat for the out-of-towners: Yes, porn minus the porn plus bingo equals Tittie Bingo.) Those of your with a more, a-hem, relaxed take on life might join Doug Benson at the Highball for cocktails and his trivia tribute to one of America's great critics, the Leonard Maltin game.

We already had word on the Fantastic Fest Arcade lineup of indie games. Now we know that the one and only Wiley Wiggins will be hosting the award ceremony and Starcade classic video game challenge, followed by the Nerdrap Showdown (first prize, an FF 2013 badge – woot!). And, of course, what would FF be without the Chaos Reigns Karaoke Party, this year reuniting martial arts synth rockers Dragon Sound for the upcoming Drafthouse Films release of Miami Connection. After that, Air Sex gets all thrusty in your direction... And, of course, the inevitable Fantastic Debates (two film buffs enter; two film buffs leave – albeit a little out of breath)... And everyone's favorite gory mash-up, 100 Best Kills (submit your own favorite kill and you too could win a 2013 badge).

Fantastic Fest 2012 runs Sept. 20-27. More info at www.fantasticfest.com

Sept. 20
5pm Fantastic Arcade Happy Hour @ The Highball
8:30pm Monster's Ball @ The Highball

Sept. 21
5pm Fantastic Arcade Happy Hour @ The Highball
9pm Kokoromi + Venus Patrol present: The Dancingularity @ The Highball
11pm Asian Invasion: Chaos Reigns Karaoke Party @ The Highball

Sept. 22
5pm Fantastic Arcade Happy Hour @ The Highball
10pm Air Sex @ The Highball

Sept. 23
5pm Fantastic Arcade Happy Hour @ The Highball
7pm Fantastic Arcade Award: Starcade @ The Highball
11:30pm Nerd Rap Throw Down @ The Highball
11:30pm The American Scream Homemade Haunted House Hellbash @ Alamo South Lamar
11:55pm Fantastic Debate @ South Austin Gym

Sept. 24
9:30pm Fantastic Fest Award @ Alamo South Lamar
10pm Data Pop @ The Highball
11:55pm Fantastic Feud @ Alamo South Lamar

Sept. 25
10pm Tittie Bingo @ The Highball
11:55pm 100 Best Kills @ Alamo South Lamar

Sept. 26
4:20pm Doug Loves Movies @ The Highball
7pm Fantastic Trivia presented by Geeks Who Drink @ The Highball
10pm Welcome to Helljford Norwegian Party @ The Highball

Sept. 27
10pm Closing Night Party: Wolverines! @ The American Legion Hall